Ange and Mitch Murphy are on a mission to encourage everyone to grow their own edibles.
The initial thought that comes to mind when one ponders ‘a nursery’ would usually result in an image of blooming, colourful flowers and glamorous trees.
The Hub Edibles, first opened in May last year on the Maroochydore coast, is an edible sanctuary. The mouth wateringly comestible garden furnish the original perception of ‘a nursery’ by adding a bit of flavour .
“We were operating as a market stall in Maroochydore for a few months,” Ange explains.
“We did that because we knew opening a big nursery would take a while so we just wanted to have a crack at it, meet people and learn the business, it was a really good experience.”
The market stall, ‘Mini Hub’, has received an amazing response from the local buyers.
“We have had an amazing response from the council, businesses, cafes and public. We haven’t spoken to anyone who doesn’t just love the idea of a chemical free edible nursery. A lot of people eat organically, so they want their seedlings to be organic as well, and there is no where on the coast to buy that kind of thing,” she says.
“Everything we sell is local. We sell chemical free and organic seedlings from local Sunshine Coast produce, all backyard growers, no big companies.”
At the benefit for their customers, Ange and Mitch sell handmade goods to help one grow their seedlings, including timber garden beds and cement planter pots.
“A big part of gardening is about working with what you have, working with found materials.
“We really wanted the materials we were selling for people's gardens to come from local areas. It’s very hard for anyone to produce anything locally to make any money on it and we really wanted to support local companies.”
Currently under construction, the couple are building their ‘big nursery’ titled The Hub. “Around Christmas we want to open,” she says.
“We have a location on Durporth Avenue in Maroochydore. It’s about 800 square metres. On that space we’re opening a permaculture garden, cafe, learning space and our chemical free edible nursery. We are constantly being contacted from our buyers saying ‘When are you going to open?’”
