Community gardens in Bendigo

Almost all the Karen people who have come to Bendigo come from rural backgrounds and are used to growing the food they eat.

Some Karen are able to grow vegetables in their gardens, but most Karen live in rental properties and cannot dig up the lawns to replace them with vegetable gardens.

Instead many Karen have joined projects to grow vegetables in community gardens. There are community gardens at Quarry Hill, St Andrew's Uniting Church, and Harcourt Park.

Involvement in community gardens has benefits including:

• Fresh, organic vegetables at very low cost
• Contributes to a nutritious diet
• An opportunity for parents to pass cultural skills and knowledge to Karen children growing up in Australia
• An opportunity to make friends in the wider community