Streetside Farms

Photo: Kate Geraghty/Sydney Morning Herald

While we've heard a lot about the people of New Paltz and surrounding areas starting farms and growing their own produce, what about the city slickers who want to do the same but have jobs and lives that revolve around the city? Not everyone is willing to make an hour commute for the sake of a few fresh vegetables....

The people of Marrickville (a suburb of Sydney, Australia and my former neighbourhood!) have found a solution to the lack of garden space in the homes of cosmopolitan areas - grow them on the side walk! This article explains how residents are now growing a variety of vegetables and herbs in the small garden beds and nature stips on their sidewalk. They're growing everything from beetroot, raspberries and even passionfruit vines!

It sounds very 'Garden of Eden' to me. It's been a long time since one could pick fruit straight from the trees but it may only be a matter of time before this environmentally friendly idea takes off in many other neighbourhoods.