Lisa Tisdell
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NURTURING the community garden will make a real change to the food system, ABC television personality Costa Georgiadis says.
Hundreds of people turned out yesterday to celebrate the official opening of the Lost Plot community garden off Central Road.
Mr Georgiadis, the host of ABC's Gardening Australia, shared his enthusiasm about plants and the power of sustainability.
"This is a wonderful seed that you are standing in," Mr Georgiadis told the crowd.
"Compost it, nurture it, get everyone involved and this is going to make a real change to your food system and your community, and a step forward for the planet too."
The atmosphere-filled launch included workshops, a scarecrow competition, music and stalls.
Mr Georgiadis said he couldn't think of a bigger endorsement of the community garden than the number of families and kids at the opening.
The community garden was an opportunity, he said, to share gardening and knowledge and to create a place where people of all ages could gather.
"This is to me a community saying, right, we have put a marker in the sand, a bit like Armstrong on the moon," Mr Georgiadis said.
He said the community had made a start from which lots would grow.
And the community garden is not just about growing plants.
It will also nurture a sense of community and strengthen skills.
Mr Georgiadis said he was in a privileged position to travel the country and see what was going on.
The community garden was right on the heartbeat, he said.
"I'm not talking about maybe searching for the pulse, this is right on the pulse," he said.
The community garden took hold after Port Macquarie-Hastings Council received funding through the NSW Community Builders Program.
Federal funding through the Move, Eat Live Well program also contributed.
Non-profit group Port Macquarie Community Gardens manages the garden.
Port Macquarie Community Gardens president Adam Dean said the Lost Plot was about sustainable gardening and sustainable food production.
"It's a place where everybody is welcome to come and meet other people and form new friendships, and share any knowledge you have," he said.
Mayor Peter Besseling said the community garden was a terrific way to celebrate the outdoors and the Mid-North Coast lifestyle.
More information can be found at www.thelostplot.org.au
Mr Georgiadis will launch a seed lending initiative at Port Macquarie Library at 11am today.
