By Mikayla van Loon
For the budding green thumb comes a Sunday delight as three Yarra Ranges productive home gardens open to the public.
From a micro-seed farm garden in Montrose to a chemical-free Insta famous Mooroolbark lot and horticulture haven just a few minutes down the road, there will be lots to learn and see on 4 February.
Tranquil Buttenshaw Farm in Montrose began 10 years ago for couple Natalie and Mark Buttenshaw as they set on a path of growing as much of their own produce as possible.
“The plan was always to grow our own veggies as much as possible and that’s diversified along the way,” Natalie said.
“We started with apples and fruit trees, and then veggies and then we started getting into seed saving.”
As Natalie and Mark learnt about the limited variants of seed in Australia and heirloom varieties, their focus shifted to savouring and protecting what they could.
“A lot of the stock is brought in from overseas, the majority is and it’s one main supplier that supplies all of the resellers So trying to keep some of those different heirloom seeds alive is a lot of work,” Natalie said.
The aim of the farm is to grow varieties of fruit and vegetables not seen in standard supermarkets or grocery stores.
But getting access to some of the rarer seeds became even more of a challenge when Australia’s quarantine laws changed.
“So what was in Australia at the time was all that was going to be available,” Natalie said.
“We’ve got some squash out the back that came from one of my workmates’ tribe in New Zealand so that’s a Maori variety.
“We just pick up bits and pieces. There’s a lot of people whose grandparents have saved seed and a lot of that seed is now extinct. So sometimes somebody will contact us and say, ‘I’ve got this that my grandfather’s saved for the last 60 years’.”
Natalie and Mark appreciate and understand the legacy and history involved in growing these heirloom varieties, an important recognition of what could be lost if not continued.
“It’s important that people actually keep saving and keep growing and keep passing down otherwise we lose that diversity entirely.”
Some of the produce growing at Buttenshaw Farm this year includes different varieties of corn, chillies, pink celery, apples and Indigenous edible plants.
While the entire property is 2800 square metres, around one quarter is dedicated to fresh produce.
“We designated veggie areas mixed with more formal areas with flowers to attract all the beneficial insects to pollinate veggies,” Mark said.
Understanding the art of how to avoid cross pollination, Natalie said, was quite the “steep learning curve initially”, especially as neighbours also started to grow produce but it has become easier over time.
Although they would encourage people to attempt seed saving for future generations, Natalie said it can be unattractive for some home gardeners.
“One of the biggest problems with it is the plants have to stay planted longer for you to save seeds, so people will often miss the season,” she said.
“If we plant broad beans when they’re ready for harvesting for eating, it would be five months but if you wait until they’re ready to harvest the seed, it’s eight months, which means people will miss the opportunity to swap into summer crops as early as they would like to.”
Having been part of Open Gardens Victoria before, Mark said it’s always nice to see other gardeners responding well or gaining insight into how they could do things at home.
“The good thing is that people can come along and not do exactly what we’re doing but look at something and go, ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of doing it like that’. So it gives them some ideas,” he said.
A portion of the proceeds from ticket purchases will be donated to Lilydale SES, with over 100 people already registered for the day.
While out and about, just 10 minutes away in Mooroolbark, gardeners can find Tim Johnston’s 800 square metre The Aussie Veggie Patch, showcasing how a suburban block can provide a home for fruits and vegetables, chickens and bees.
“The best place to get the freshest produce is from your own garden,” Tim said.
“And I am passionate about helping people grow their own food so that they can share in the joy.”
Also in Mooroolbark is The Haven, owned by Jessica Peeler who brings her background in horticulture to fore, proving space is no barrier in her just 200 square metre garden.
Everything from native edibles like lemon myrtle to taro, and vegetables like asparagus can be found amongst raised garden beds which create dimension and levels to cater to the small space.
“I enjoy using this area to experiment with different species and to learn which plants grow well
together. I often throw seeds around and just see what happens,” Jessica said.
Visit all three gardens for just $20, or $10 for just one. To find out more or to book, go to opengardensvictoria.org.au/coming-open-gardens
Buttenshaw Farm is located at 27 Heathfield Grove Montrose, The Aussie Veggie Patch can be found at 49 Lancaster Road Mooroolbark and The Haven at 1 Haven Court Mooroolbark.
Parking is limited at both Buttenshaw Farm and The Haven so people are encouraged to car pool or park in surrounding streets and walk.
