We had our first public meeting in 2006. After that it took us around two years to get things finalised with council and we finally got the lease in April 2009. From there, the Mullumbimby Community Gardens has gone from strength to strength. It is completely run by volunteers and it is very much based on the permaculture principles of building strong systems and working together. People just wanted to grow an abundance of food to share and that is where our Food for All Program came from. We have communal gardens where volunteers come and work and anyone can come and pick from them. You can leave a donation or you can participate in the gardening. Sometimes people take more than their fair share, sometimes people take things before they are ready - there are quite a few challenges that come with having a communal garden. But it is a wonderful exercise in letting go and just accepting what is. We all say we want world peace, well how about we go for peace in the community garden to start.

Jeanette