I had heard of the Community Gardens in Busselton and had an image of one or two vegetable boxes that have as much weeds as edibles hidden away for those few people who love gardening without a garden of their own, all the same I love the idea of community gardens and had to visit myself. It took a couple of months I admit but when I finally got to them I was pleasantly surprised!
What I found was a large block of land filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables, scarecrows, compost bins, chickens, a small skate ramp, potting shed, small greenhouse and even a colourful windmill and small playground for children!! This was the most organised and best community garden I have seen, AMAZING!! I fell in love right away :) They have busy bees every weekend and markets every 2nd weekend to sell produce or for others to bring other made products to sell.
And on the edge of the garden was a wonderful little café overlooking the gardens known as Peppi Café. Naturally is has organic and fresh grown produce, with a small but wonderful selection of roasted lasagne, vegetable bakes and risotto's, salads, soups, raw cheesecakes, brownies, bliss balls and of course a wonderful variety of fruit and vegetable juices, coffee's and teas and smoothies! The quirky nature of the café was complete with an art gallery inside and a few bits and bobs for sale including home made jams and chutney... yum!
They also do all day breakfast from chocolate chai pudding to the traditional eggs benedict! I can't wait to try the breakfasts :)
It was hard to pick but I went for the chai tea with almond milk and an orange, coconut and almond cake. I loved listening to the older ladies behind me marvelling over their coffee and a raw lime cheesecake! The man opposite me was sitting with his coffee sipping away over a newspaper and lady in front had ordered a lovely warm vegetable soup with crusty bread again taking in the beauty of the green garden with her newspaper close by.
I had never been to a café by myself but this was definitely one I will be back to many times. The atmosphere is one of being thankful for the beauty of nature and simplicity life gives us in times of stress and our busy lives. I sat back with my oxford handbook of clinical medicine but found myself gazing over the gardens taking in my surrounds, a little sun and solitude thinking 'this is the simple beauty of life'. Then an authentic teapot of steaming almond milk chai tea was placed in front of with my treat of cake and I was in bliss :)
It was the best hour of the past few weeks and while it seemed to pass all too quickly, on my way back to the hospital ED for some more medical prac I was almost a different person to the hour before in my stressed and slightly down state from a those busy days that catch us in life.
1. Take the time to do or see things that interest you, you can be left pleasantly surprised with what you find and get out more than you first thought.
2. Find time for YOU, it can be as simple as a walk outside, a quick coffee break or even a massage or sit down to a favourite movie. But in our busy lives we need to remember to stop every now and then and take time to care for ourselves, pause life before it goes on fast forward.
3. Never underestimate the positive effects being involved in the community can bring to your life, you can meet new people, learn new skills and most importantly improve your well-being and health on a whole
4. When I have my café in the not too distant, it will have a community garden, windmill, wishing well, balcony overlooking the gardens, chickens and children's playground... I may even build around it my white picket fence :)
Please when you visit Busselton have a visit to the Community gardens and Peppi café! You will not regret it :)
Rockin Raw
xox
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