Residents of the emerging suburb of Crace have already snapped up all the plots in its community garden, staying connected to the soil as the new development grows.
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Supporters say the garden not only encourages community interaction but promotes the paddock-to-the-plate philosophy in the suburbs.
The garden, to be opened on Saturday, will be managed by the Canberra Organic Growers Society, with convenor Keith Colls saying there was now a waiting list for use of the 38 plots.
''People are getting more interested in the quality of the food they're eating, the seasonality of the food and
the freshness of the food,'' he
said.
''Some of our gardeners live very close by so if they want something fresh, it's two minutes from the garden to the plate. Here you also know exactly what's put on the produce, because they grew it.''
The community garden is the first to be written into a masterplan for a new suburb in Canberra rather than retrofitted to an existing, older area.
The 2000-square-metre facility has been described as the Rolls-Royce of community gardens with raised beds, secure fencing, composting and irrigation systems, and barbecue area.
Crace Developments spent about $200,000 developing the garden and has handed it over to the community via the Canberra Organic Growers Society.
Crace is the 12th community garden in Canberra managed by the society; the first was developed in the mid-1980s.
Mr Colls said the residents grew produce for their own use or to barter, or for charity.
''We're a not-for-profit organisation so individuals can't sell their produce, but they can sell produce for fund-raising for the garden,'' he said.
Crace is developing fast with all but four of the 1600 blocks available now being sold.
Public servants Greg and Pauline Parish bought into the suburb about a year ago and were among the first to join the community garden.
While they were interested in growing some of the pricier produce offered in supermarkets such as berries and salad greens, it was the connection to fellow residents in the garden that was its biggest selling point.
''It's that community vibe that comes from working together in an informal way,'' Mr Parish said.
The garden will be launched on Saturday with the help of MasterChef season one contestant Michelle Darlington, Jason Hodges from Better Homes and Gardens and Con the Fruiterer.
''To be able to meet people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds and share recipes and ideas and perhaps gardening tips - it's just a great way to build on to a community,'' Ms Darlington said.