Joe and Andrew in Joe's Connected Garden

In most suburbs, people build fences to keep their yards separate. In Elizabeth Grove, residents knocked them down and created a community garden instead.

To create Joe’s Connected Garden, residents have physically connected their backyards with gates and shared pathways to create a large, productive community gardening space. What began with a few adjoining properties has grown into a network of connected gardens focused on food production, community building and sustainability.

According to Open Gardens South Australia, the project consists of several connected gardens within a larger group of around 15 nearby properties whose residents share land, resources, knowledge and friendship.

Joe’s Connected Garden began with a simple act of neighbourly support. As Elizabeth Grove resident Joe became more involved in gardening, he found it difficult to keep up with the work required while managing a full-time job.

The solution was straightforward: a section of fence between his yard and that of his neighbour, Rosanne, was removed so she could more easily help water and care for his plants.

What started as practical assistance soon grew into a thriving community project built on sharing, trust and connection.

“We would help each other,” Joe said. “I’d help Rosanne weed and she’d do the same. The guy next door gave me some ceramic pots; another one gave me a wheelbarrow.”

The spirit of cooperation quickly spread beyond their own properties. When neighbours noticed an elderly resident struggling to maintain her backyard, they asked if they could help. With her permission, they cleared the overgrown space, planted an orchard and cared for her trees. In return, she was able to enjoy fresh fruit from her own garden while gaining a stronger connection to those living around her.

As the gardens expanded, Joe and Rosanne found themselves with more plants than they could use. Their desire to share their work led them to approach Open Gardens South Australia who initially advised that, “people aren’t going to climb through a hole in the fence.”

The community members improved access with gates and pathways and eventually hosted the first open garden event.

The response exceeded expectations. More than 1,000 visitors attended the first open day and, over the years, thousands more have come through the garden. The project has also become a significant fundraiser, with all gate takings donated to charity.

Today, Joe’s Connected Garden is far more than a collection of connected backyards. It is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can contribute their skills, learn from one another and build meaningful relationships. Some members enjoy meeting new people, while others contribute through administration, social media, gardening, construction or maintenance tasks.

“Everyone needs a role in their community,” Rosanne said.

The project also serves the wider community by growing produce to share with others.

“For us, we are creating community and connection under the guise of growing food because everyone has to eat,” Rosanne said.

Joe summed up the garden’s philosophy simply: “We grow to give away.”

That culture of generosity has fostered remarkable trust, respect and belonging. By providing a shared purpose and a welcoming place to contribute, Joe’s Connected Garden has become a model of how neighbourly support can grow into a community asset that benefits everyone involved.