A survey of remote Aboriginal horticulture and community gardens in the Northern Territory.
Hume A., O'Dea K., Brimblecombe J. K.
Author Affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 37 : 394-395
Abstract : During 2011, a total of 18 community-oriented gardens involving at least one Aboriginal person or organization in Australia's Northern Territory was surveyed. Of these gardens, two were planned, 15 were running, and one was dormant. Greatest number of running gardens was found in East Arnhem Shire (n=10), followed by Victoria Daly Shire (n=7), and 15 were funded either wholly or partially through the Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP). Of two for profit enterprises surveyed, one was a large farm owned by an Aboriginal corporation but not employing any Aboriginal people, while the other was a CDEP farm employing Aboriginal people and managed by a non-Aboriginal manager. Both enterprises were in less remote areas with access to commercial markets and transport hubs, and neither produced food for local consumption. Of the 15 running gardens surveyed, three had paid Aboriginal managers, one had an unpaid Aboriginal manager, and 10 had paid non-Aboriginal managers. There were 98 Aboriginal and 17 non-Aboriginal workers surveyed as employed in the gardens. Total surveyed garden area was 70.7 hectares. In total, 47 varieties of fruit and vegetables were identified. Watermelon, banana, pawpaw, passionfruit and mango were the most frequently grown fruits, and sweet potato, tomato, cucumber, pumpkin and sweet corn were the most commonly grown vegetables. 12 of the 15 running and surveyed gardens reported the consumption of produce either in the garden, at home or in the broader community.