Community gardens were almost fatally linked to mung beans, beards and ’60s folky idealism.

But with the last two hip again, plus the food supply and public health impacts of a changing climate – and (maybe) deteriorating urban neighbourhoods – shared gardens are back on the radar.

There is at least one in Woolloomoolloo, on the corner of Sydney Place and Dowling Street, where Mission Australia gets people suffering from mental illness to plant and tend vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Gardening has helped improve clients’ social skills and boosted their social interactions. It’s gone a long way to elevating their confidence too. Seeing the plants grow, and picking their own vegetables has given them a sense of achievement.

That garden was vandalised soon after.

Garden numbers are growing (see the council’s map).

This phenomenon on Myrtle Street, Chippendale is one of my favourites (see also Life in Chippendale and Elizabeth Farrelly).

Outside Mobbs’s house in Chippendale a little garden grows. Beside it a sign reads: “Mandarins, oranges, limes, chillies, mint, native mint, coriander, rocket, strawberries, raspberries, kaffir lime leaves, cumquats, parsley, passionfruit, bay leaves, lemon myrtle and more … Pick any fruit, berry or leaf that you want to eat. These plants provided by local residents for anyone – we need to grow food where we live and work.

I was about to say, “how do I get involved?” But I guess that last quote says, “make it happen.”