Sharing plants grows community spirit

Published on 03 December 2020

A fun activity to entertain the kids during lockdown quickly turned into a community bonding experience for Langwarrin locals this spring.

While out in the garden, Megan Burke helped her five youngest children pot some succulent cuttings for the neighbours.

“It wasn’t meant to be a big thing. We were out the back gardening and our succulents were getting a bit out of control so we thought we would put some cuttings out the front for people to take,” Megan said.

“They disappeared very quickly which made the kids very excited so we put some more out.”

Before long, Megan and the kids had given away 273 potted plants to local residents, who responded in kind.

“The community loved it. They left letters in our mailbox and lollies and chocolates on our doorstep which was so nice,” Megan said.

“After the first few days, when we had run out of cuttings, I put a post on the Langwarrin Locals Facebook page saying if anyone had cuttings to give away to put them out the front.

“We had a huge amount of people drop bags of cuttings and plants to give away; people got really into it.”

Megan said living with five children meant trying to find new ways to keep them entertained during lockdown.

“They were getting over the home schooling so we started getting creative but I didn’t think it would catch on like this!”

Meanwhile in Frankston, Willum Warrain Elder, Aunty Jennine ‘Jen’ Armistead

was also inspired to give away plants from her garden in a bid to spread some cheer during lockdown.

“While I was out in the yard, I noticed people looked fed up with the world and they tended to look into gardens as they walked by. I thought, what can I do?”

A friend donated Aunty Jen a bookcase, which she painted pink and stacked with Aloe Vera, Spider plants, Irises and succulents.

“I put up little signs which I changed every few days, telling people ‘take as many as you need, if it makes you happy’.”

Auntie Jen said one lady dropped off a box of plants and another, a bag of Geranium cuttings to share.

“It is all about bringing a smile to their faces.

“Some people were hesitant but I told them to take as many as they like. I told one elderly lady, ‘it is okay, take one every time you go past if you want to’. She said how lovely it was. Everyone has been quite receptive.”