The Wellington Food Forest Vision
The Mt. Crawford Community Gardens Trust, which is responsible for ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the former Wellington prison garden, has come up with a plan to
save the prison property from those who would see it developed for private gain.
This plan would involve generating support for the eventual formation of a “social enterprise”, whose initial aim would be to create a large scale “Wellington food forest” on this Miramar peninsula property.
Food forests are the most sustainable, healthiest, easiest and most fun way to grow food. Lone fruit trees in a yard of grass makes
hard work for us and the tree. Trees need friends, and food forests are all about having layers of diverse edible
vegetation.
The secondary aim of this undertaking would be to upgrade the prison itself, so that some buildings could be used for
community purposes, & others for
commercial enterprises that would contribute to the financial wellbeing of this venture.
Of course turning this future orientated dream into a vibrant reality, would be dependent upon persuading the Government
to reverse its decision to dispose of this Crown owned land. This would open way for the formation of the above
mentioned social enterprise, negotiating a long term lease for the property with the Crown & securing some kind of ongoing funding agreement with both the Government & the WCC.
Wouldn’t it be great if in the not to distant future, Wellington had a sizeable “Food Forest” flourishing on its
fringes. Surely then we, the people of Wellington, with a little imagination, passion & effort can make this happen!!
ENDS