DECADES of hard work will be on show for Limestone Coast nature lovers tomorrow.
Penola’s Sandra Smith will open her garden to the community to raise money and awareness for blood cancer.
Ms Smith and her husband first took on the property 23 years ago and have kept a number of trees and roses from the original owner.
“We still have some of the original plants but we have also expanded the front of the yard to include more of the natives and to open things up a bit,” she said.
“We have also added more trees such as cherries, apples, plums and an avocado tree.
“I focus more on vegetables, especially unique ones like walla walla sweet onions and bush tomatoes.”
Ms Smith has grown a number of plants from seedlings, some of which she is hoping to sell Sunday during the fundraiser.
“Most will be available for sale at the trade table along with succulents, vegetables and walnuts but there will also be preservatives from last seasons crops as well,” she said.
“The ingredients from the preserved vegetables are also from the garden.”
The day’s activities will raise both awareness and funds for the Leukaemia Foundation following Ms Smith’s personal experience.
Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2015, Ms Smith is hoping to give back while encouraging others to become stem cell donors.
“Becoming a stem cell donor can save a life,” Ms Smith said.
“I underwent an allogeneic stem cell transplant which is where the stem cells are donated by another person whose tissue type is compatible with the patients’.”
Ms Smith said determining a donor’s tissue type was done with a simple blood test with no need to take tissue or for the donor to undergo bone marrow biopsies.
Becoming a donor is simple with registrations available on the Australian Donor Registry online.
Ms Smith’s garden will be open from 10am until 4pm on Sunday with entry at $10.
Lunch will also be available for $5 and afternoon cake available for $4.
All proceeds will go towards the Leukameia Foundation for Acute Myloid research.
The garden will be held at 4927 Clay Wells Road.
