Kerryn Wildenburg has planted the seed for a permaculture ‘Food Forest’ in Kyneton.
She is donating four acres of her own land to provide vulnerable community members with a place where they can learn to grow and cook nutritious food.
“Food brings people together. It allows connection, and builds relationships and sustainable change. We want to do all of that through this project,” Ms Wildenburg said.
The food forest will also provide an ongoing stream of fresh produce to Kyneton’s food bank, which now feeds 1800 people a month across the Macedon Ranges.
Her idea has seen her named one of four Victorian finalists for the 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award that aims to build skills and offers a $10,000 bursary to help implement the winning project.
Ms Wildenburg has worked for Kyneton Caring Community for the past two years as the food bank’s operations manager, which has informed her understanding of community needs.
“Seeing the high number of people using the service and seeing the diversity of people coming through the food bank, we noticed that people are missing connection and purpose. The food forest is something that will help that,” she said.
Nectarines, peaches, plums, cherries, almonds, pears, fig and nashi pear trees are all beginning to spread their roots on the food forest floor and there are plans for native bush tucker plants but there is plenty more still ahead for the project.
Ms Wildenburg has been researching permaculture for the past two years and would use the bursary for further education and a potential immersion visit to a township in NSW with a similar concept.
“In five years time I’d love to see the beginning of a forest, I’d love to see workshops running and I’d love to see some food going back into our community,” Ms Wildenburg said.
“We do have a good sense of community in Kyneton and people take care of each other. It’s really nice.”
Kyneton has been home to the past two Victorian winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award: Melissa Connors of This Farm Needs a Farmer fame and Claire Moore with a plan to breed a genetically diverse range of queen bees.
This year’s state winner will be announced at a ceremony on March 24. The national winner will be announced at a gala dinner on September 15.
