The Sunshine Coast has a new community garden, providing residents of Meridan Plains a vibrant space to grow vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit while connecting with neighbours.
Little Mountain Community Garden officially opened on January 11, following 18 months of planning, fundraising and volunteer efforts.
The garden uses 550sqm of land leased from Sunshine Coast Council on Hayman Lane, near Rebecca Street Park, and has quickly become a hub for local residents.
The project was initiated by Jody Hawkins, a Queensland Health employee who has lived in Little Mountain since 2015.
“I had visited other community gardens and thought it would be a great idea for here,” Ms Hawkins said.
“I reached out to the council, spoke with other gardeners and started gauging community interest through social media. The response was amazing — people turned up and that’s when it all began.”
Since then, Ms Hawkins has been visiting the garden nearly every afternoon, helping maintain the beds, nurture seedlings and supporting volunteers.
“I can’t believe how fast it’s grown with all the help from everyone,” she said.
“I’m super proud of it. I just love being here — I don’t know why, I just love it. It gives me a real sense of fulfilment.”
A dedicated team of volunteers has transformed the space into a vibrant garden.
“People have donating seeds, plants and even fruit trees,” Ms Hawkins said.
“Volunteers give their time, skills, and energy — without them, it wouldn’t exist. (Committee member) Patrick Fitzpatrick has been incredible. He’s usually here watering the garden and keeping everything running. He helped assemble the beds and the shed, and his energy is infectious.”
Council grants helped fund raised garden beds, a water tap and a garden shed, which were game-changers for the volunteers.
“Before the water tap, we were hand-watering everything with cans,” Ms Hawkins said.
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The raised beds include both standard heights and smaller beds for children, ensuring everyone can participate.
The garden is thriving with flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruit trees, including pumpkins, watermelon, rockmelon, sweet potatoes, pomegranates, mangoes, avocados, lemons, mulberries and bananas.
“I love the flowers the most because they attract pollinators — they help the fruit and vegetables grow,” Ms Hawkins said.
Several herbs and vegetables have already been harvested, including cucumbers, beans and sweet potatoes.
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Children are regular visitors, learning about gardening and composting, and enjoying the garden’s playful scarecrow, Humphrey, who is regularly dressed up by volunteers for different occasions.
“He had Broncos supporter gear for the grand final, Santa clothes for Christmas, and now green hair from a Hawaiian ukulele group that we had here,” Ms Hawkins said.
The garden has also fostered new friendships and connections in the community.
“I’ve met so many people I didn’t know lived nearby,” Ms Hawkins said.
“One member, Jan, told me she was scared to leave her house before, but coming to the garden has really changed her life. It’s about more than growing food — it’s about sharing knowledge, helping each other and being part of a community.”
Looking ahead, the committee hopes to expand the garden and eventually host a community market on Saturday mornings. While summer heat and watering remain challenges, the garden’s volunteers are committed to maintaining the space and keeping it welcoming for all.
For Ms Hawkins, the garden is more than just a project — it has become a part of her daily life.
“I’m usually here just about every afternoon,” she said.
“I just love it. It’s beautiful.”
The Little Mountain Community Garden is open to the public during daylight hours. Residents are encouraged to visit, volunteer, or become members to support this growing community hub.
