A community garden in the Tasmanian city of Launceston is helping new migrants and refugees establish their roots in Australia.
The Heritage Community Garden in the suburb of Mowbray was built for the locals, which included many new migrants from Afghanistan, Burma, Bhutan, Liberia and Eritrea.
The seasons are slightly different from their homelands, so sharing tips and farming techniques is essential to its success.
Challenges facing new migrants and refugees in regional areas include job opportunities, the lack of cultural ties and few family connections.
Head of the Northern Tasmania Migrant Resource Centre, Ella Dixon, said the garden may be a step in the right direction to create stronger community ties and even employment opportunities.
She hoped the group would eventually grow enough produce to take to the markets and sell.
"Because the garden's fairly new, we're not seeing the fruits of the labour just yet, however there's a lot of talk about what fruits and vegetables they will be growing." Ms Dixon said.
About 74,000 people live in Launceston and Ms Dixon hoped the garden would engage more of them.
"This garden is not exclusively for our clients, its for the broader community and therefore we're keen for the interactions between local people and our newly arrived migrants," she said.
At least 700 people from Bhutan have resettled in northern Tasmania under Australia's humanitarian program, many of them have a connection with farming.
Bhutanese refugee Karna Gurung came to Australia in 2011, and he said he's had to adjust his farming methods and learn about growing produce in the Mowbray garden.
"The system of farming here and in our country is very different," he said.
"Like, we have to wait for the monsoon to cultivate our farm back in our country, but here you don't have to because water is available everywhere."
Mr Gurung said growing familiar foods and working in the garden would help the community feel more at home.
"Especially our people like hot chilli, grow hot chilli," he said.
John Ali arrived in Australia in 2003 from Sudan, and he now works with northern Tasmania's Migrant Resource Centre.
He said the garden also helps alleviate financial stress for some.
"The produce will help," he said.
"It's something that gives back. You can eat and you can be able to save some money, that you would normally use to go to the market."
