Tell us a little about your background; how did you become the Head Gardener at the School?
Heading into my third decade in the horticulture industry I have had many diverse roles within the field from working for boutique landscaping companies, running my own design and maintenance business to teaching short courses and workshops.
Prior to joining Fintona I spent 13 years at CERES Environment Park in Brunswick East as the Head Gardener progressing to Park Manager towards the end of my tenure. As much as I loved my work at CERES my position as Park Manager had me exchanging my secateurs for a desktop and I felt the need to return to where my passion lies, the garden. This led me to applying for the Head Gardener role at Fintona, a role which not only allows me to return to the garden but to also continue work within the sustainability field which I am equally as passionate about.
How do you incorporate sustainability into the garden management?
I have been working to create a closed loop system within the gardens at Fintona which involves things such as mulching all our garden pruning’s and autumn leaves and using this mulch in the gardens to suppress weeds, and feed and insulate the soil.
Food waste and weeds are currently collected through the council’s FOGO system, in the coming months I am hoping to change this to an in-house composting system using both worm farms and cold and hot composting systems, once in place the gardens will hopefully be self-sufficient and waste free.
A lot of work has been carried out this year to improve the irrigation systems at the school to make them more efficient and ensure we can utilise rainwater where possible. We are also currently working towards ensuring all garden beds are mulched and contoured to retain as much water as possible.
We have begun seed saving and will be propagating several of the plants in the gardens for future use, filling in a few bare patches (plants have a lifespan too!).
Many of the maintenance systems being implemented into the gardens are based on permaculture design systems, these systems look at both the macro and micro elements of the space both in the short and long term to ensure sustainable outcomes.
How does your work in the gardens integrate more broadly with the school curriculum and/or co-curricular activities?
I feel that the work myself and the maintenance team do in the gardens helps to create a sense of well-being for all students and staff at the school by creating a place for connection with the natural world.
Regarding the school curriculum during my short time at the school we have held several planting days at the junior school campus, something which we are hoping to continue seasonally. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about seasons, growing food, composting and harvesting, as well as broader topics such as the circular economy, the soil biome and how gardening can have an impact not only on the individual but also communities and local wildlife.
The middle school garden club has been on a short hiatus due to a reduction in the gardens to make way for the new performing arts building. We have however found a new garden club hub which we are hoping to open to students in the coming months.
Do you have a favourite aspect of Fintona gardens/campus that you would like to share with us: this could be an area, a time of day, a season, a particular plant?
The trees! The school is blessed with some beautiful specimens, from the welcoming purple blooms and soft fronds of the Tourmont Jacaranda to the out of this world hot pink seed pods of the Annie Houston lawn Magnolia and the gnarled yet graceful twisting limbs of our Eucalypts and Corymbias.
It would also be remiss of me if I failed to mention the mornings – walking through the campus at 7am as the sun is rising, the dew glistening, birds calling – it’s a very special time – often bitterly cold but equally beautiful.
Can you tell us a little about a special project or success story during your time at Fintona?
Transplanting the memorial Banksia marginata from the Cherry Road lawn area to the Balwyn Road gardens. Banksias are renown for being temperamental – I often give transplants a 50/50 chance – this one was a 20/80 chance (20% survival) yet it is thriving in its new home (touch wood!).
What are your interests outside of gardening?
Outside of gardening I have an active visual arts practice, my work often gravitates toward environmental and animal rights issues as well as family bonds and connections.
I became heavily involved in the spoken word scene during my late teens, I don’t perform very often these days, but I am still an avid writer and often weave my words into my visual art practice.
To relax you can find me on the dancefloor, hitting the hiking tracks or knitting up a storm whilst binge watching anything vampiric in nature (odd choice of genre for a vegan but what can I say – I was brought up on Anne Rice novels).