Project Overview
"Bring It Back to the Garden Day" is an innovative community initiative led by Ediblescapes, aiming to harmonize environmental stewardship with cultural food sovereignty. Set to take place annually in November, the event aligns with Australian Urban Agriculture Day and Community Garden Day, engaging local communities, conservation groups, and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities in a collective effort to restore local ecosystems while supporting cultural heritage.

This event focuses on managing invasive plant species—particularly culturally significant food plants—in a way that respects both ecological integrity and cultural identity. Participants will help remove invasive fruit trees and plants from local ecosystems and relocate them to controlled garden settings, where they can be cultivated sustainably. Activities also include native seed collection and syntropic planting, creating biocultural gardens that balance native and culturally significant species in a way that boosts biodiversity, climate resilience, and community education.

Objectives

1. Environmental Stewardship: Engage communities in the responsible management of invasive plants, especially those that impact biodiversity, while demonstrating sustainable agroecological practices.
2. Cultural Inclusion and Food Sovereignty: Create spaces where CALD community members can cultivate culturally important food plants, fostering food security and heritage without disrupting local ecosystems.
3. Community Education and Engagement: Offer hands-on learning experiences about biodiversity, invasive species, and regenerative gardening to inspire sustainable practices across communities.
4. Climate Resilience: Establish syntropic agroforestry systems within Ediblescapes that support water conservation, soil health, and ecosystem stability.

Anticipated Impacts

• Biocultural Diversity: Recognizes and celebrates the connection between cultural heritage and environmental conservation, allowing diverse communities to reconnect with traditional foods.
• Community Awareness and Resilience: Increases understanding of biodiversity and sustainability through experiential learning, making Ediblescapes a model for urban agriculture.
• Sustainable Ecosystems: Uses regenerative practices to create resilient ecosystems, reducing the need for external water and fertilizer inputs and contributing to local climate resilience.

"Bring It Back to the Garden Day" positions Ediblescapes as a community-driven solution for balancing cultural and ecological priorities, offering a replicable model for other urban agricultural initiatives.