Permablitz #195 – Greening the Mall at Box Hill

The Saturday started off cool and drizzly, but quickly warmed up as eager blitz volunteers met in the brick and concrete settings of the Box Hill Central Mall with a vision of transformative action – some herb’n’veggie-filled wicking beds were going to be made!

The day had been in gestation for quite a while –  the coDesign Studio came up with the The Neighbourhood Project: a plan to utilise currently underused space and help promote local community while spreading awareness of ways to grow and share local food.

Molly from CoDesign shares how their vision for better neighbourhoods prompted the day’s activities

Once everyone had met and Cassie led us all in a series of ever-more difficult warm-ups, the first of the main wicking bed build sessions was ready to begin. Jeremy and Cassie of Very Edible Gardens led the teams, with Jeremy proving to be a hit with the young ‘uns!

Jeremy isn’t used to such a young crowd…

It wasn’t long before the first two wicking beds had their plumbing set up, and the screening filled to just the right height…

Looks like the screening level is just right

Before we knew it lunch was upon us, which was just as well as The Vegie Hut provided this hungry group of volunteers with plenty of good food that disappeared very quickly!

Whitehorse Urban Harvest volunteers shared their knowledge of propagating and seed blocks

Once our bellies were full the good people of Whitehorse Urban Harvest gave us a series of great workshops – on both plant propagation and planting with seed blocks! From there it was back to the wicking beds, although it must be said that under-age brigade were showing the grown-ups how the work was to be done. The kids were eagerly filling wheelbarrows with soil or screening for the wicking beds – even dragging some curious police into helping them!

Jasmine has brought in the big guns!

Before long it was time to plant the beds out with seedlings of herbs, veggies and plants that bring in the beneficial insects. Once again Jeremy led the charge, showing the kids how to plant out a bed (“big ones up the back, small ones in front!”) as well as offering best punnet-splitting techniques.

The kids are getting all the planting sorted out

By the end of the day the four wicking beds were fully decked out with edges and plants galore – and numerous shoppers were stopping to admire the volunteers’ handiwork – a great day with work well done!

A big thanks to the below groups for getting this initiative off the ground: