Garden friends brave the elements for a souper time
Aireys Inlet Community Garden president Liz Wood with Malcolm White. Photos: MICHAEL CHAMBERS
A GROUP of hardy supporters of the Aireys Inlet Community Garden braved the cold conditions and enjoyed reviving cups of soup in the latest event on the Love Winter in Aireys calendar.
The “Soup in the Community Garden” gathering on Saturday invited people to enjoy hot home-cooked soups made with produce from the garden as well as locally baked breads.
“Despite the fact it was the coldest day of the year – according to the Bureau of Meteorology website, the maximum temperature was nine degrees in Aireys Inlet – we had an incredibly busy working bee and then handed out more than 70 cups of soup at various times,” organiser Gretel Lamont said.
“It was a wonderfully warm, happy day, despite the weather; it was great.
“Everyone was so happy to be there.
“There’s something post-last year where people actually get together and do something outside in the cold, just chatting – it’s wonderful.”
There were eight soups on the menu, including minestrone, two kinds of pumpkin soup, a broccoli and blue cheese soup, and a chicken soup.
The Aireys Inlet Community Garden has been quietly growing at its Fraser Drive home for 11 years.
“We were going to have our 10th anniversary last year, but that obviously didn’t happen, so we’re going to have a 10+1 party this year, probably in November,” Ms Lamont said.
“When I was co-ordinator, we had about 60 members, and now we’ve got about 180, so it’s just thriving.
“There’s real support in the community for a community garden.
“It’s a great way people to meet other people in the community.
“It’s very casual and there’s always something to do, even if you’re not particularly interested in gardening.”
She said the Love Winter in Aireys festival was showcasing the best of the town.
“There’s wine tasting, there’s concerts, there’ soup in the garden, there’s art galleries – it’s extraordinary that in a little community like Aireys Inlet you can have such a diversity of activities and talent.
“I think a lot of people moved here during the lockdown and realised what a wonderful place it is.
“If they’re not living here permanently, they’re spending a lot more time here than they used to pre-COVID.”
For more details about Love Winter in Aireys, which runs until August 31, head to the Aireys Inlet Tourism and Traders Association website.
Posted 08 Jul 2021
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