General News
25 September, 2025
Blooming gardens of Eden
EVEN in tropical paradise, sometimes life can get extremely hectic. Fortunately, finding a space to relax from the rest of the world is never too difficult.
Apart from the beaches, the Daintree, a day’s fishing and many other retreats, two other such sites exist in the Douglas Shire and these both provide, not only a location to ‘switch off’ for a while, but they offer a number of additional benefits.
The community garden in Port Douglas has been a thriving part of the neighbourhood centre on and off for several years, bringing people together through growing food, sharing skills and creating a welcoming green space.
Monika Prins recently took over the care and coordination of the garden from Tanya Morris and others before, each doing a fantastic job building it up and setting a strong foundation.
“I have been in this role for just two months and am excited to continue their good work, with a renewed focus on education and edible gardens,” Monika said.
“My aim is to inspire people to see how they can supplement their lifestyles with healthy, home-grown produce, while also connecting with nature and each other in a supportive environment.”
The Port Douglas garden is open to all community members and visitors, whether they want to volunteer, learn or simply enjoy the space. At the site, at the neighbourhood centre, 6-12 Mowbray Street, Port Douglas, there are productive garden beds and a recently established chook food garden.
The chickens are much-loved feathered friends and provide eggs that are used in the centre’s men’s breakfast program. In the main garden, volunteers are currently harvesting a wide range of fresh produce, including tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, salad greens (such as rocket), passionfruit and herbs.
These harvests support the community centre’s activities and contribute to the OzHarvest food program, helping provide fresh, nutritious ingredients to people in need. Volunteers also get to share in the bounty, taking home some of the herbs and vegetables they’ve helped grow.
“We meet weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 2–4pm, combining learning, friendship and fresh food for the whole community,” Monika said.
In the Mossman area, the focus is very similar, but there you will find ‘Circle of Plenty’.
This space has featured in the ‘Goss’ before, having opened in November of 2023. It provides a great place for some relaxation, while also having a focus on sustainable food cultivation, community engagement and the joy of shared learning. Overall, the project aims to inspire and educate individuals about the art of growing food in a communal setting.
Situated at the Mossman Botanic Garden, the project is supported by local organisations such as Mossman Support Services, Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre and local garden clubs.
I personally have often walked up the ‘Circle’ sat down and enjoyed the serenity of this location, together with the beautiful back drop of the hills behind Mossman. A group meets on Tuesday mornings from 8am and the third Saturday of the month, usually for an hour or for as long as the task at hand takes.
Just like in Port Douglas, the emphasis is on growing food and education, but the Circle of Plenty also runs workshops on a variety of topics such as hay bale gardens, wet tropics summer crops, and practical strategies for reducing food waste.
In addition to seasonal vegetables, the Mossman site is home to root crops, vines and fruit trees such as banana, custard apple and abiu, which provide a wider range of tropical produce.
More recently, they have been helping people understand how they can avoid sending food waste to landfill by exploring viable options even for those without access to a garden space.
Excitingly, the Circle of Plenty is soon celebrating its second birthday, a milestone that reflects how much the garden has grown as a hub of the community, learning and sustainability.
The group is also delighted to welcome small school classes to their ‘What grows here now?’ sessions.
These visits are always a highlight, as children get the chance to explore the garden, learn where food comes from, and discover the diversity of plants that thrive in our climate.
“What makes it especially rewarding is watching them taste new and unusual foods, often things they have never come across before and seeing their excitement when they realise how good fresh produce can be,” Monika Prins said.
“It’s a joy for us to host them and wonderful to know that these experiences are sparking curiosity and healthy habits in the next generation.”
Both in Port Douglas and Mossman, these gardens are more than just places to grow food, they are places to learn, share, connect, and create a healthier, more resilient community.
I’m off to finish my weeding, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
