Reimagining community gardening for people, place, and planet
Nestled in the suburbs of Toronto, Lake Macquarie, the Shelley Street Community Garden is growing into something more than just a place to produce food—it’s becoming a living, breathing ecosystem that nurtures both people and the environment.
About the Garden
With guidance from Katie Ryan of The Groundswell Collective and a dedicated group of volunteers, the garden is an exciting project. While food production remains important, the garden’s purpose is expanding to reflect the needs of the area and the values of the community. Katie is helping lead this evolution, drawing on permaculture principles to support biodiversity, strengthen community connection, and create a space that is as much about habitat and healing as it is about harvest.
The garden aims to:
- Support native species through thoughtful planting and habitat creation
- Foster environmental education and connection to Country
- Embrace permaculture design for long-term sustainability
- Be a welcoming, inclusive space for all members of the community
- Shelley Street Community Garden is more than a patch of green—it’s a shared vision for a resilient future, co-created by locals who care deeply about place, people, and the planet.
