SPRING means the blooming of flowers and at Blackwood’s Garden of St Erth, it means the annual spring garden fair.
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Nestled in the hills of Blackwood near the Wombat State Forest, the historic garden will play host to mini workshops around soil improvement, fruit tree care, perennial combinations, information on how to combat common pests and diseases in the garden and advice around how to attract bees during the two-day festival which celebrates all things spring related.
There will be something for everybody, including lots of garden art activities for the kids, Q and A’s with the site’s gardeners and fresh produce from the garden being served at the garden cafe.
Founded by Clive and Penny Blazey with the purpose to rescue old varieties of vegetables that mainstream growers ceased growing, the Diggers Club posted its first garden guide catalogue in 1978, containing information on more than 300 varieties of flowers and vegetables. Thereafter, the club went on to purchase the Heronswood property in Dromana, Victoria, in 1983 before purchasing the Garden of St Erth in 1996.
Today, the club continues to work to encourage conservation of cultural heritage and heirloom seeds, while also speaking out against climate change, genetically modified seeds and food, industrial agriculture and corporatisation of the food industry.
Established around a heritage listed sandstone cottage, built by stonemason Mathew Rogers in 1860 after he travelled to Blackwood in a search for gold, the gardens sprawl over four hectares and are full of surprises around every corner. The property is named after Rogers’ birthplace in Cornwall.
Head gardener at the Garden of St Erth, Julian Blackhirst, said the garden was a working garden which featured half an edible vegetable garden and accompanying orchard as well as a flower garden.
He said gardening was a creative pursuit that was not only good exercise, but also good for the soul.
“It’s also a really good way to combat climate change by building up soil and putting carbon into it,” he said.
“Gardening is a great way for people to be in control of their own food production as well. The Diggers Club specialise in saving old-fashioned vegetable varieties. These heirloom pollinated seeds are publicly owned, so they are not owned by large companies. Anybody can buy them from us and help to save the seed.”
Mr Blackhirst said the garden featured over 3000 varieties of climate appropriate plants, shrubs and trees which help to attract all different types of bird life.
The Spring Festival will take place at 189 Simmons Reef Road, Blackwood, from 9am on November 3 and 4.