The Paperbark Autumn ginko was held on Wednesday 13th May at the Perth City Farm, a half hectare site devoted to providing information and education to the people of Perth about the protection and regeneration of the natural environment.
Established on a former industrial site in East Perth, this once polluted site has been rehabilitated by volunteers, and is now a welcoming oasis in the busy city.
Using Permaculture techniques volunteers grow a wide range of vegetables, herbs, plants and trees in lovingly tended beds. Deep litter is used for the chickens to fossick in, accompanied to the crowing of a beautiful cockerel and a splendid smelling compost to revitalise the soil.
A strong contingent of sixteen haiku poets attended the ginko and were able to wander around the garden, pen and paper at the ready looking for those wonderful moments of inspiration, and upon reconvening a little later shared some of their ideas with the others.
Another delightful aspect of the Farm is the children’s playground which on the day we were there was being used by several dozen children and their parents. It is to be hoped that being in such an environment rubs off onto them and they become conscious of what the farm is trying to achieve.
Everyone agreed that our visit to this site was inspirational and we should have another ginko at the farm in the future.
Barry Sanbrook
Below are a few haiku submitted by the participants:
standing by the sage
I discovered
it was lavender
Pat Johnson
borage and rosemary
so many herbs amongst
everlastings
Rose van Son
clouds begin looming
autumn winds blow
over the darkening sea
Aileen Hawkes
deep litter
a cockerel
voices approval
Barry Sanbrook
new generation
in the sandpit
a rumble of trucks
Gary De Piazzi
up and down, up and
I’ve forgotten what comes next
another sign of old age
Ruari Jack Hughes
an azure sky
the clouds all in my head
melancholia
Rita Tognini
unclouded autumn sky
understory
insects and worms
Coral Carter
the purple flower
is a cathedral
in the sun
Shae O’Reilley
Australian Haiku Society 