The Haven

The Haven is located in Mooroolbark. Owner Jessica Peeler has a background in horticulture, with a particular interest in growing unusual edible plants and plants that attract wildlife. Proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to growing your own food, this small productive garden demonstrates great diversity, focusing on growing in pots and containers, which is a great workaround for renters.

An undercover area includes native edibles such as river mint, lemon myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, and native ginger. While the main vegetable growing area is small, with a few raised beds and lots of pots, the upper level of the garden is home to an experimental ‘food forest’ (and two chooks). Jess has constructed garden beds around the fruit trees and planted perennial edibles such as taro, pineapple sage, red-veined sorrel, asparagus, and rhubarb. The gaps between are filled with annual crops as well as flowers that attract pollinators and beneficial insects.

Visit all three productive gardens (Buttenshaw Farm, The Aussie Veggie Patch, and The Haven) on the same day for $20.

The Haven is located on the lands of the Wurundjeri people. Open Gardens Victoria wish to acknowledge the Traditional custodians of this land and we pay respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging.