Who knew that a day would come when the price of bananas would be as popular a small talk as the weather and that local sporting team? Well that day has come and the price of fruit and vege has Melburnians creating their own veggie patches. Of course it's not just the yield, there's the sense of accomplishment in growing your own.

Not all of us have a yard to dig up though, or perhaps the time or skill to garden. Several pots of dried herbs on the balcony are stark reminders of my own gardening skills (or lack thereof). Now is a good time though for the time and dirt poor. Fellow Melburnians have taken up the challenge to create products and services that make gardening rad.

Eliza Donald couldn't find a large enough planter that suited her purposes, so decided to make her own. “It took two years, working with plant specialists, and industrial designers, also asking a lot of people questions. It’s important that a design functions well but it’s equally important to ask why a person would want to use it in the first place,” she says. Eliza is now director of Edible Islands – handy aesthetically lovely planters the size of a small bathtub. You can plant out your veggies and a small tree, or once all your herbs die (if you have my touch) you can pop a lid on and just sit under your tree. Ingenious.

As Eliza points out, the potential benefits are plentiful, “Sometimes people don’t have an easy access to fresh veg. The planters help with Transition Towns – educating people on how to grow their own food and prevention of depression as people swap seeds, plants and recipes, and grow plants with their grandchildren. They increase flight pathways across cities for birds, bees and butterflies as more Edible Island Planters are put on roof tops, back yards, and schools.” The planters are all made in Pakenham, Australia.

Across town two avid gardeners (or rather one landscaper one horticulturist) opened their first shop just yesterday. The Little Veggie Patch Company was created by Matthew Pember in 2008, who 
was joined by Fabian Capomolla in 2009. The pair specialise in the design, installation and 
maintenance of edible gardens. “The business exists because of our love for food; something quite natural that has been inherited and then nurtured from a very young age,” says Mat. “It stuck because we love it. We love spending time in the garden, sharing the experience and having fun with what we are doing. Whatever business decision we make has to represent that ideology, that it is more about a lifestyle than anything else.

“It's one of the few jobs where literally every client is excited about the work we are undertaking. More personally speaking, we have this opportunity to work in the perfect 'office'. Sometimes indoors, mainly outdoors, using you physicality but also your mind. Balance in work is incredibly important, and for the time being we have that balance.”

Looking back, if Mat met himself in 2009 (which would be quite outstanding), his advice would be, “Don't give too much choice. Decide what fits best and then concentrate on standardising products/services to become better and more efficient at what you do. I think everyone wins then.” Sage words.

Edible Islands
www.edibleislands.com.au

 The Little Veggie Patch Company
www.littleveggiepatchco.com.au