Page 19 - Landscape SA 104

NURSERY FEATURE

with the V & A neighbourhood being
the rockpool,” explains Dommisse. This
meant that the construction technology
of the raised beds had to be such that
the material could be re-assembled and
re-used at a later stage. The concept was
recently put to the test as parts of the
garden have been demolished and rebuilt
in a nearby spot.
The shapes of the tentacles created well-
proportioned bed sizes, allowing visitors
to explore the garden and for all the plants
to be within arm’s length from an edge.
Thus no-one needs to be on the beds
at any point, compacting the soil and
removing the oxygen.
The garden’s layout follows an “octopus”
shape as a way of creating awareness
around marine protection and plastic Completed Octopus Garden seen from above
pollution. This is carried through in the
construction of the beds: the raised
vegetable and herb beds have been built
from eco-bricks and corrugated iron, filled
with just under half a tonne of plastic
waste which can’t be recycled.

The octopus tentacles are entwined by
pathways that wind through the plant
beds. The plants occupy 260 square metres
and have been placed into companion
zones, with one predominant vegetable
type and other produce assisting that
species’ growth or repelling pests.

Ceramic watering pots have been placed in
the beds and grey water from the adjacent
head office building is used to irrigate the
crops. Plants receive additional nutrition
from fertiliser created by the worm farms
that operate using the building’s food
waste.

Companion planting and rotation system
The Octopus Garden is part also of the programme in partnership with GrowSA.
Waterfront’s larger focus on systemic These farmers are being empowered
change in the food system. Using cluster with skills and resources to build more
principles, the V & A Waterfront has sustainable farming practices into their
brought a wide range of stakeholders operations, at the same time looking at
together to focus on issues within the local potential market access points.
food system such as regenerative farming
practices, access to market for small-scale To encourage staff of Merchant House
farmers and organic waste reduction. The to enjoy their lunch breaks in a natural
vision is to create an inspiring example of environment, benches built from
a locally biased, equitable and sustainable ecobricks are placed in the shaded
food system that supports health and well- dome that makes up the octopus’ head
being. and further contributes towards the
V&A’s waste reduction efforts. In this
The Octopus Garden also serves as way, the Octopus Garden addresses not
Raised ecobrick beds in the a learning space. A second cohort only local and global issues but sees
Octopus Garden of prospective farmers is currently to the needs of Waterfront employees
participating in a farmer education themselves. LSA

Landscape SA • Issue 104 2021 17