Perth Voice Interactive

AN innovative Bayswater couple have transformed their verge into a vegie plot and want others to follow in their green footsteps.

Cameron Moir ran out of space in his Embleton duplex and decided to plant sweet potatoes, egg plant, tomatoes and kale in his 50sqm verge instead.

The vegie patch has gone down a storm with most of his neighbours and Mr Moir has started to experiment with corn, pumpkin and cucumber.

“Blocks are getting smaller and smaller, especially with subdivisions and infill, so I think we have to be creative and utilise as much garden space as we can,” he says.

“The practise is very common in the eastern states and in Bali, where locals grow sweet potatoes on the verge.

“If you select the correct vegetables the water usage is equivalent to having grass on the verge.”

Mr Moir says an immediate neighbour had complained to Bayswater city council, which asked him to clear a small section for easier access. It was the only negative comment he’d received.

The council does not have a formal policy on verge plots and Cr Chris Cornish wants guidelines developed to let people grow food on them.

“A great benefit of any vegie garden is that the produce is fresher and often less contaminated from chemicals—plus it’s free,” he says.

“I believe vegie gardens on verges will build interaction with neighbours and my vision is for produce to be swapped or gifted to neighbours.

“If the community embraces this opportunity it will really transform the Garden City slogan to a literal meaning.”

Cr Cornish is also pushing for sections of parks to be used as “edible gardens” by locals, and for a community garden to be established.

Mr Moir, 40, plans to experiment with other vegetables.

“My wife is due to give birth in a couple of months, but I’ll still make time for my vegie garden,” he laughs.

“Nobody’s ever stolen anything from the verge plot, so that is refreshing.

“In terms of the streetscape, I guess it might be a case of balancing greener-leafed vegetables with other ones that are not so easy on the eye.”

Last month, a law was passed in France stipulating that all new roofs must be covered with solar panels or plants.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK