The Mountains’ first edible garden trail, held over the weekend, was a resounding success, with about 400 people visiting many of the 38 open gardens.
Everything from compost tactics to bee-keeping, the best variety of zucchini to seed sources was discussed in gardens from Lapstone to Hartley.
The brainchild of Wentworth Falls woman Susanne Rix, there were home gardens, school gardens, community, commercial and verge gardens on show.
In Blackheath, owner Steven Fleischmann said he thought he’d have time during the day to thin out his seedlings in preparation for planting. Instead, he said, he’d been talking to people non-stop all day.
In Mt Victoria, owners Vanessa and Terry McGarrigle were happy for people to take one of the apples off a tree groaning with fruit in their fully-netted garden.
In Katoomba, more than 100 people stopped by the garden of Susan and Peter Lammiman on Saturday alone. The Lammimans were busy handing out lemon verbena tea and honey biscuits, while fielding questions about their orchard, chooks and the greenhouse brimming with grapes.
Ms Rix said “the word I heard most was inspiring”. She plans to include more gardens next year to encourage walking trails.
The visitors came from all over the Mountains, Sydney, the Central West and the mid North Coast.