Food Garden

Green living at The Box

We worked out pretty early on that we were all interested in the environment, the arts and social justice. We integrate these issues into everything we do. The food garden is foundational to our endeavours. It teaches us humility, with all our failures, it teaches us hope that ‘out of little things, big things grow’ and it also helps us work towards a sustainable lifestyle.

At OUTSIDE THE BOX / Earth Arts Rights we have a large patch dedicated to organic food production. We are sited on 3.5 acres (1 hectare) at Mt Nelson just 8 kilometres from the Hobart CBD.

We started small with a couple of beds at the far end of the block, but very soon we began moving up the hill. The beautiful bounty attracted all the wildlife that lives here — wallabies, possums, pademelons, echidnas, bettongs, bandicoots and more. Who could resist such deliciousness?

The solution was to enclose the garden so that we could have secure, dedicated space and the animals could have the rest of it. Being at about 330 metres above sea level we experience on average 3.5 degrees Celsius cooler temperatures than down in the ‘valley’.

To allow us to enjoy all the heat-loving veggies such as tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers and basil we have installed three greenhouses that help extend the growing season. As a water wise measure, we built 12 raised boxes and set them up as wicking beds. Then came the birds and the bees — eight very gregarious chooks and two hives.

We are regular participants in the Home Harvest one day event held in March each year that is organised by the team at Good Life Permaculture. Productive gardens in and around nipaluna / Hobart open their gates to invite the public in to have a look.

We are also members of Food Garden Group (Tasmania) who maintain a wonderfully informative blog, Facebook page, newsletter and also organise food garden visits.

You can subscribe to our newsletter for information about the date of our next community open day.

Black and white photograph taken in 2011 showing the original two garden beds being planted out by Robin, Tracey and Michael. Image by Lynda.
Black and white photograph taken in 2011 showing the original two garden beds being planted out by Robin, Tracey and Michael. Image by Lynda.
Colour image showing the fenced garden and one of our greenhouses nestled into the old lawn and surrounded by mature gum trees.
Colour image showing the fenced garden and one of our greenhouses nestled into the old lawn and surrounded by mature gum trees.
Colour image showing the 12 raised wicking beds, two greenhouses and garden shed.
Colour image showing the 12 raised wicking beds, two greenhouses and garden shed.
Colour image showing the terraced beds in the enclosed garden bursting with an array of food plants including garlic, peas, onions, broad beans, artichokes and much more.
Colour image showing the terraced beds in the enclosed garden bursting with an array of food plants including garlic, peas, onions, broad beans, artichokes and much more.
Robin in her protective white bee suit pictured tending the bee hives.
Robin in her protective white bee suit pictured tending the bee hives.
A tray of ripe assorted tomatoes after harvest.
A tray of ripe assorted tomatoes after harvest.
A close up of an echidna visiting our garden.
A close up of an echidna visiting our garden.
A site map of our food garden showing our homes in the White Box in relation to the enclosed garden, three different sized greenhouses, chickens, raised wicking beds, fire tank and garden shed.
A site map of our food garden showing our homes in the White Box in relation to the enclosed garden, three different sized greenhouses, chickens, raised wicking beds, fire tank and garden shed.