Family writing at Peppergreen farm, Bendigo

Saturday was a busy day at Peppergreen farm festival- a sunny day and lots of family entertainment so it was wonderful to have so many write about treasure hunting in the garden.

Here are some snapshots-

The lines/poems were written on paper flags made by another community group and displayed along the edge of a path near an eco-pod.

Walker books donated some of my books as prizes.  Wonderful to encourage writing and reading on a late March morning in glorious autumn sunshine.

Thanks Walker, thanks Tamara.

Writing a strategy for a family festival day

Poetry is adaptable.  I've written a tiny technique called treasure hunt poetry to take families and small groups through a quick writing technique calling on found and sensory techniques in an old garden, now a commercial site on the historic precincts of Chinese Bendigo.

Its a free day- gardening ideas, preserves, solar energy and little triggers to remember a special garden association through treasure-hunt poetry.

I've been gathering things like seed pods, bits of crockery( found in gardens) feathers, and this afternoon I'll be looking at Peppergreen farm itself to see what herbs, leaves etc can be added to the treasure hunt table.

Here's a little example of what will be created, then handwritten on to paper flags and displayed around the garden.

Mint and knocking on neighbour's door

picking from the moist concrete cracks

for mum's roast Sunday lamb.

(C)  Lorraine Marwood 

What little snippets can be garnered from your garden- a certain texture or smell might take you back to a special memory?