CERES runs Workshops and Courses in gardening, cooking sustainably and craft. Check out CERES Workshops and Courses today as well as their Instagram pages here and here, as well as their Facebook pages here and here. 

Here at frankie, we not only consider ourselves to be big fans of all things gardening, we reckon that we happen to have some of the greenest thumbs out there. This is why we were so incredibly stoked to have a chinwag with Rachel Rubenstein, an urban farmer working at the picturesque CERES (the lush location spot where we snapped our 2025 diary and calendar), who gave us some rad tips on how to grow our own produce within our own spaces. Take a gander at everything Rachel told us down below, and maybe pop by the CERES Nursery and pick up some seedlings after you’ve given this ace interview a read. 

How were you introduced into the world of gardening and urban farming? In a very roundabout way! I initially studied graphic design, after six months working on a computer I thought “I can’t do this”. I traveled for a year where I learnt about building with natural materials like straw and clay. When I came home I studied a Masters of Sustainability and planned to continue building. One of my friends actually had a farm and I asked if I could build things, but I ended up mostly farming! I started working at CERES because I have such a passion for education and sharing what I’ve learnt with others. I’ve just recently become the farm manager at CERES Joe’s Market Garden in Coburg. 

What is the work that you do at CERES? My job is to manage CERES Joe’s Market in Coburg, which is about two acres, with a wonderful team of staff and volunteers. We don’t have any fences so people can walk up and talk with us whenever they’d like. CERES exists to help people fall in love with the earth, and how that happens is different for each person - it might be visiting the farm or ordering our organic veg online or learning to grow your own at one of our Workshops and Courses. 

The mid 20th Century saw the majority of people go from growing their own food to the rise of factory farming. Why do you think more people are regaining interest for gardening and growing their own food again? I think it’s a few things, younger generations like my own weren’t taught about gardening since we never really had a need for it, especially now when more of us are living in spaces with no gardens. But I think more people are waking up and thinking, “hey, I eat food every day, but I have no idea what a broccoli plant looks like,” and now more people want to reconnect back to the earth and the food they eat. 

Not to mention the high cost of living crisis, making it so people are more willing to grow their own food since produce – especially herbs and veggies – are so much more expensive to buy in the supermarkets. 

For folks who don’t happen to have a large garden, what tips would you give to people who want to garden but don’t have the outdoor space? If you have a balcony, you can fit a tiny planter box outside and get some herbs growing, they’re super easy to grow, don’t take up much space and save you so much money. Herbs are so expensive to buy from the supermarket and the plastic packaging adds up! 

Even without any outdoor space, there’s plenty you can grow indoors. A windowsill is enough to get microgreens growing or you can even have a crack at growing your own mushrooms in a dark corner.  

What plants would you recommend to folks to start planting right now? I always recommend people plant things they actually like to eat, there’s no use growing kale if you aren’t going to want to eat it. Right now is a great time to start planting herbs like parsley and dill. I also like growing leafy greens like kale (I do like to eat it) and lettuces – there are some great varieties that let you pick continuously as they grow – like your own personal salad bar.

To get the most out of your garden I recommend something we call ‘succession planting’, rather than planting your whole garden in a day, spread out your planting by weeks or months so you get a continuous harvest. It’s a fun way to elevate your planting game! 

What would you say to people to encourage them to pick up the gardening gloves? Just head out there and plant some seedlings. Watch them sprout into these plants you can eat, there's a lot of joy and love in that.

Gardening actually provides a lot of the soul, since you have a good reason to go outside. Of course, there are some days in the rain and cold where I think, “oh this is miserable,” but it’s all worth it when you see veggies and herbs start coming up out of the soil. It’s just so rewarding. The joy I feel when I cook people things with veggies I’ve made is so, so good! I love telling people that I grew the things they’re currently eating.

CERES runs Workshops and Courses in gardening, cooking sustainably and craft. Check out CERES Workshops and Courses today as well as their Instagram pages here and here, as well as their Facebook pages here and here.