Garden on the Verge: A New Approach
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Resident-planted native verge gardens supporting council street trees is the fastest, cheapest, most doable way to increase shade and biodiversity.
Drawing on practical experience and wide research, this new approach enables councils and residents to work together to make it happen.
• You’ll learn how to navigate the different views of the many diverse users of this space.
• You’ll build productive relationships and networks to make a difference in your community.
• Your verge garden will be a living example of a nature-based solution to mitigate the effects of urban heat and climate change.
When we collaborate, everyone wins:
• Council street trees thrive
• Residents have native gardens instead of mowing
• Natural biodiversity gets a much-needed boost
This book will help you avoid the pitfalls and give you the confidence to start.
Reviews
Short books, big impact by Anna Featherstone, author mentor, author of Look-It’s Your Book! November 26, 2025 A Spotlight on Garden on the Verge: A New Approach And Gayle, in her book Garden on the Verge: A New Approach, has done it well. The book is consciously sparing, refreshing, informative, optimistic, wise, grounded and gives a holistic view of the benefits, risks and how-to of nature strip gardening. It’s a framework for collaboration between individuals, councils and communities for the benefit of all. Garden on the Verge: A New Approach is a small book (just 80 pages with well-spaced and sized text), but very, very generous and holistic in insight. How Gayle talks about the personal, social and environmental benefits of verge gardens and how to respectfully work with neighbours, councils, community groups, pedestrians, even the local postie, makes it all seem possible to never mow again…and get even your most perfect-lawn-loving-weed-spraying neighbour on board.
When the world is so dark and so noisy, take some time to look down A small book with the goal to change the way we see what’s in front of our eyes and our homes. It asks us to consider making a small change, with potentially enormous benefits, both to prepare for increasing heat in our lives, and for developing deeper community connections. It is a joyful book, with both climate and civic benefits. Gayle Dallaston’s book Garden on the Verge is about new ways of thinking/meaning about micro-urban spaces. Rethinking always means rewording: Gayle’s book introduced me to some new words I’d not come across before, which I want to share with you.
