The Deadly Sprouts project, led by the First Nations Women’s Yarning Garden delivered twelve culturally grounded gardening workshops for First Nations children and families on Wadawurrung Country. The program created a safe and empowering space where participants learned about bush tucker, medicinal plants, soil health, traditional tools, and cultural practices such as weaving, storytelling, and cooking.
Across the year, around 350 community members participated through garden activities, school programs, and community events, including Barkly Square Children’s Week and a NAIDOC celebration. The workshops successfully increased cultural connection, health awareness, and community pride, while promoting intergenerational learning and cultural identity. Families reported greater confidence, wellbeing, and a stronger sense of belonging, with children engaging deeply in cultural knowledge and later leading their own demonstrations.
The project also strengthened partnerships between schools, families, and the Aboriginal community, reducing barriers to cultural participation and improving mutual understanding. Despite leadership changes, the group adapted and grew stronger, with emerging leaders continuing the work. The initiative has established the Yarning Garden as a valued cultural and educational hub, inspiring ongoing programs that celebrate First Nations knowledge, connection to Country, and community resilience.
