Garden gates will swing open across the region this spring as the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail returns for its third year.

Taking place at the weekend of November 22-23, the event taps into the Illawarra’s wealth of growing knowledge by introducing new gardeners to seasoned ones.

This year’s self-guided tour stretches further than ever before, with backyard growers, schools and community gardens from Helensburgh to Shellharbour ready to share what they’ve been growing.

Trail coordinator Emily Fowler says the aim of the event is to build a strong local food network.

“We’re hoping to connect all of the Illawarra because there’s communities in Otford and Helensburgh that are growing, and then there’s a bit more agriculture going on down near Shell Cove,” she says.

“The idea is to try and connect growers across the community, so they can share knowledge whether they’re in their first year or their 10th year of gardening.”

Garden hosts also have the chance to meet each other and share their experiences at pre- and post-event dinners.

Run by Healthy Cities Australia in partnership with Food Fairness Illawarra, and sponsored this year by Gilly’s Kitchen Garden in Otford, the trail aims to strengthen local food systems.

Gardens of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to take part, from school veggie patches and balconies to verge gardens and community plots.

“In the Illawarra, we’ve got such a broad scope of terrain,” Emily says.

“There’s some tropical zones closer to the escarpment, then they’re very coastal and clay-heavy soils and drier zones as well.”

The trail started in 2023 when a small group of locals, inspired by the Blue Mountains Edible Garden Trail, opened their gardens to the public for the first time.

“The Illawarra is a good place to grow your own food because we’re surrounded by nature here,” Emily says.

“We’ve got a bit more land than you do up in Sydney. People have that care and passion, and there are people growing food, but the community needs encouragement and strengthening for others to start growing.

“People who’ve attended in past years are really excited and inspired to grow food, and the hosts definitely felt proud of what they’re putting out there, whether it’s an established or young garden.”

Emily’s edible gardening journey

Emily grew up in North Queensland, where her grandmother grew papaya, mangoes and bananas.

After moving to the Illawarra a decade ago to study nutrition science at the University of Wollongong, she began thinking more critically about food systems.

“I was interested in food before that, and always cooked with my family, but throughout my degree, I learned about food security and local food systems,” she says.

“That was the first time I was really challenging the notions of the huge monopoly in food systems, supermarkets and whatnot.”

Emily’s own growing journey began while she was running the kitchen at Moore Street General in Austinmer.

“We were trying to make the menu more local and celebrate local producers,” she says.

“We’d go visit gardens and farms that we were getting fruit and veg from, and that’s where my real excitement started.”

Momentum builds for 2025

Last year, more than 30 gardens hosted over 300 trail-goers, and interest in the 2025 event is already building.

“Council has been really amazing,” Emily says. “We’ve had three out of the four Shellharbour community gardens already saying they want to be involved, and the established community that have been involved in the past two years are really supportive.”

With the trail expanding, Emily and her team are calling on locals to help spread the word.

“We won’t be able to get to every cafe and community space from Helensburgh to Shell Cove without some more help,” she says.

“If anyone knows people who want to be involved, send them my way!”

How to get involved

To take part, register here or email Emily at gardentrail@foodfairnessillawarra.org.au. Tickets and trail maps will be available online soon.