Fabulous Australian TV gardening show covers urban agriculture stories

Costa’s Garden Odyssey

Six episodes of Season One are now on-line in brilliant colour. See what’s happening in the city of Melbourne. You must see these shows! (Mike)

Examples of stories from the show:

Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne and it’s the home of the Collingwood Children’s Farm, a special place where children enjoy the opportunity to have some “hands on” experience with farm animals. It’s also a community garden where Costa meets people like 70-year-old Harry Haralambos who grows wonderful produce for his entire family here as well as Joy McGaffrey who introduces Costa to the taste of “Worm Juice”.

Nestled amongst the concrete jungle of the largest housing commission unit facility in NSW, Riverwood Community Garden in Sydney South West is literally a united nations of gardening. With 55 individual plots cultivated by gardeners from 14 nationalities the most common language spoken here, is the language of gardening.

The cultural mix at Riverwood is astounding, and the interview between Mr Pham, a Vietnamese man of 86 years and his 80 something year old Lebanese mate Jacob, was Costa’s personal highlight of the entire series. Costa was moved to tears as (through the help of two interpreters) as these two men spoke for the first time and expressed their feelings for each other. Here, they are share garden plots, produce, and have shared time together for all these years, without ever speaking the same language. Their love and camaraderie created by the community garden is an inspiration for all. Both have come from war torn worlds, Vietnam and Lebanon, and this humble community garden 1000’s of miles away serves as a United Nations Assembly, washing away the ravages, the heartache, and the futility of war and replacing it with the cabbages, the artichokes and the fertility of gardening.

Australia is regarded as one of the most multi-cultural countries in the world, and the suburb of Cabramatta typifies this more than most. Ninety percent of the students at Cabramatta Primary School are from non-english speaking backgrounds. With this in mind teacher Joanne Laxton has implemented a program that not only exposes the students to the joys of gardening but also gives them the opportunity to retain some of their cultural heritage. The warm welcome and enthusiasm shown by the students prompts Costa to provide his own touch to this remarkable program.

About Costa’s Garden Odyssey

Costa is a man of the people. A man who can connect with all. His infectious character and passion for his subject puts people at ease and makes them shine.

A Landscape Architect with an all-consuming passion for plants and people – Costa knows how to find the best in both of them, and takes great pleasure in bringing them together.

Costa’s Garden Odyssey is a groundbreaking magazine style series that allows this unique Greek Garden Guru an opportunity to do what he does best – spread his green wisdom while communicating with people and celebrating cultures and community in a way never seen before on Australian television.

Link to show here.