Nyirripi Food Garden complete!
The Nyirripi Food Garden project aims to increase community food security and provide a space for community members to learn about nutrition and health by building a garden that is accessible for families.
With huge support from the Nyirripi Community, support from PHN Alcohol and Other Drugs Team, and long hours from the Arid Edge Environmental Services team, the Nyirripi Food Garden is finished!
Nyirripi Community is on Warlpiri Country, part of the Southern Tanami region of the Central Land Council. With only one unsealed road for access, food security is an issue for Nyirripi’s 240 residents, especially during wet season when floods can cut off road access, sometimes for weeks at a time.
Working with Nyirripi community
Community development and consultation is a key part the Arid Edge approach. Over the past few months, Arid Edge met with community members and the school to find out what people wanted from the food garden and where the best location for it was.
Taking into account the design elements the community wanted to have in the food garden, Arid Edge planted Mulberry, Lemon, Orange, Mandarin, Fig and Mango tress, built a big share structure with mesh for grape vines and Bush Banana, compost bays and a bushfoods garden bed.
Northern Town Camp Gardens Are Flourishing
Warlpiri Town Camp and Charles Creek Town Camp gardens were built by Arid Edge in partnership with Tangentyere Council.
Charles Creek garden has been bursting with a hugely successful winter crop of spinach, bok choy, broccoli, and parsley. Produce is getting cooked in the community centre kitchen and distributed to community members.
At Warlpiri town camp, the community painted and arranged tyre garden is flowering, the new food cube has been planted out with spring crops and everyone is enjoying the garden lettuce in sandwiches.
Arid Edge provides ongoing support to gardens through community engagement and maintenance activities thanks to NT’s Health’s Alcohol Action Initiative.
Bushcare Team Completes Fire Training
The Arid Edge Bushcare Team completed their Fire Fighter 1 Training with Bushfires NT. This training complements the work they do on weed management and was made possible thanks to a grant from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
