The Forest
Discover the Edible Forest
The Edible Forest at Yarra Valley Estate is a living, growing space designed to nourish the body, inspire the mind and care for the land. Set on one acre and based on permaculture principles, this carefully planned garden is home to more than 350 edible and medicinal plants.
Visitors are guided through themed zones — including edible flowers, tea plants, bush tucker and rainforest species — each designed to showcase the diversity and resilience of plants grown for flavour, health and habitat.
Whether you’re here for a tour to slow down and reconnect with nature, the Edible Forest invites you to be curious, inspired and grounded.
Visit The Harvest Hub
The Harvest Hub is our small onsite shop where the Edible Forest comes to life in jars, bottles and ideas. You’ll find seasonal jams, relishes and marinated goods made from produce grown in the garden, along with books, sustainable lifestyle items, room sprays and soy travel candles.
This space also hosts hands-on experiences and cooking demonstrations, available to corporate and private groups by booking only.
Stage 1: The Plan
From imagination to consultation to reality – this was months of planning in mid-2015.
Designs for an Edible Food Forest and construction of a ‘free to roam’ chook pen began in July 2015. The Edible Forest plans quickly developed with the assistance and guidance of John Ferris from Edible Forest Nursey (Wonga Park); the initial stages for a 1-acre block together with a hothouse for germination; the Edible Forest will provide Yarra Valley Estate with an abundance of fruit and vegetables all year round.
The site within the Yarra Valley Estate property was selected and developed using permaculture design principles to mimic structures and inter-relationships found in natural forest systems to produce an abundance of diverse perennial foods and medicinal plants.
Individual areas flowing from each corner of the Edible Forest which would include a wide variety of plants were carefully selected with ‘patch designs’ drawn up for each individual area (see image of ‘patch design’ for the Tea Garden);
Stage 2: Raised Vegetable Beds
At the top of the Edible Forest is a section of ‘traditional raised bed’ vegetable garden which is fully enclosed and consists of 4 large beds. This garden works in conjunction with the herb garden at the kitchen and the original kitchen vegetable garden (established in Aug 2015).
Stage 3: Paths, Garden Beds & Irrigation
The design of the paths and borders of the garden beds utilised fallen burnt tree stumps from the YVE property, (available for use due to the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009) with the charred wooded stumps adding character to the path edges further demonstrating our dedication to ‘repurposing’.
Hügelkultur garden beds are layered to maximise the use of organic matter including the layering of the beds from the earth up. Mounds of earth, manure and hay sit on top of the wooden tree stumps & large branches which absorb and hold water during winter to slowly release during the summer months.
In December 2015 all YVE staff from administration staff to housekeeping, owners and the general manager worked alongside the gardening team; together with a few volunteers; to begin the mammoth task of ‘sheet mulching’ every garden bed. This aids in water retention and decomposition of the beds to ensure premium planting soil.
Drip irrigation was also installed, all irrigation is sourced from an underground bore on the property. Rain sensors within the irrigation system ensure our precious resource of water is used only when required.
Stage 5: Waiting
Building our Chook Pen using re-purposed materials began in early 2016, the concept for a combination of ‘roam free runs and an enclosed safe area that is labour free. The chickens will be able to ‘take themselves to roost’ using a layered post system that foxes cannot climb. A water tank and float system have been installed for a fresh supply of water and YVE guests enjoy the eggs fresh from our chickens while they consume our organic waste! This fits our sustainability ethos perfectly. With 40 chickens that ‘roam free’ in long ‘runs’ along with some seed, they enjoy the plants that have gone to seed from the Edible Forest and also fallen fruit from the orchard; a complete cycle!
The ‘pond’ was further dug out to allow for water flow and filled with a powder that sealed the base to eliminate water loss through the ground. A small ‘rock fountain’ for water movement was installed.
Placement of large boulders from the property was re-located into the Edible Forest for interest and seating.
A fence enclosing the Edible Forest was erected. A small rabbit-proof fence was also established around the perimeter.
STAGE 6: Final Stage - 2017
Creating a Space for Visitors
While we waited for the next round of planting, we focused on creating a space visitors could enjoy. The Teahouse was built at the garden entrance using recycled tin and materials. It became part of the nursery, where guests could browse plants, preserves and garden tools. We also installed stronger poles to complete the enclosure of the Edible Forest. Due to the summer heat, planting resumed in March 2017. The space began to take shape with a hothouse, traditional garden beds, a chook house with free-range access, and pathways with seating areas for guests to enjoy. The forest was now supplying fresh, organically grown produce to the Yarra Valley Estate kitchen with zero food miles — and offering guests a peaceful, productive space to learn and connect with the land.Preserving the Harvest
As the garden matured, so did the harvest. With healthy soil and strong plant growth, the supply of fruit, leaves and seeds quickly outpaced what the YVE kitchen could use fresh. Rather than waste the excess, we began preserving it — turning surplus into pickles, jams and sauces to be used year-round. A dedicated preserving kitchen was the next step. Two repurposed shipping containers were joined and fitted with second-hand commercial equipment. Work began in September 2017, giving us the space and tools to process and store the forest’s abundance.The Kitchen
From Containers to Community
Two repurposed shipping containers were joined to create a fully functioning kitchen. It took time to source the right equipment, but by October 2018 the space was complete and ready for use.
A Space for Learning and Giving
The kitchen became known as the Harvest Hub Kitchen — a space for preserving seasonal produce and hosting hands-on experiences. It’s now a popular option for corporate groups seeking a unique, garden-based activity. Meals prepared during these sessions are often donated to local charities.
Sharing Knowledge Through Food
Cooking classes are developed in collaboration with our Edible Forest team and executive chef. Each class is designed around what’s growing in the forest, offering guests the chance to learn, create and enjoy food in a seasonal and meaningful way.
A Celebration of Purpose
The Edible Forest was officially launched on 25 November 2018. The event raised funds for Global Gardens of Peace and featured tours, music, food and cooking demonstrations, with Louise Ward and Moira Kelly AO welcoming guests.
STAGE 7: Launch - 2018
On 25 November 2018, Louise Ward officially opened the Edible Forest alongside Moira Kelly AO, founder of Global Gardens of Peace. The event marked the start of a shared vision — to create a garden where people could come to Be Happy, Be Healthy & Be Inspired.
Proceeds from the launch were donated to Global Gardens of Peace, one of the charities supported by Yarra Valley Estate. Guests enjoyed a day of tours, food, music, learning and hands-on experiences in the garden.
We invite you to visit and see what has grown from this passion for green space, healthy food and community. The Edible Forest is more than a garden — it’s a place that has to be experienced to be understood
STAGE 8: Edible Forest Open Day
On 24 November 2019, we held our first Edible Forest Open Day — and welcomed over 1,000 visitors through the gates.
Guests enjoyed self-guided garden tours, live music, food trucks, local wine and beer tastings, hot air balloon lifts and family-friendly activities. The atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed, with people exploring the garden at their own pace and discovering just how many plants in their own backyards are edible.
One guest told us, “I was admiring one plant and then discovered so many others nearby. I just couldn’t get enough of it.”
We were overwhelmed by the response and grateful to share the garden with so many curious and inspired visitors.
STAGE 9: Opening of the Edible Forest Nursery
Our November 2019 Open Day also marked the launch of the Edible Forest plant nursery.
Visitors can now explore the forest and then wander through the nursery to purchase plants grown onsite — perfect for starting an edible garden at home or expanding an existing one.
All propagation is done by our Edible Forest gardeners. Seeds are sourced from plants growing in the garden, germinated using heat mats in the greenhouse, and then potted in the hot house until they’re mature and ready for sale.
We’d love to welcome you into the nursery and help you grow your own piece of the Edible Forest.
STAGE 10: Where are we now?
Since that first idea was planted, the Edible Forest has continued to evolve and thrive. With over 350 edible and medicinal plants now growing across the garden, it has become a space that supports learning, growing, harvesting and connection.
We’re harvesting a wide variety of fruit and berries each season and discovering new ways to use rare plants in our kitchen and preserving space. Our kitchen garden now works closely with the on-site chef team to provide fresh herbs, edible flowers and organic vegetables for our guests.
The nursery has expanded and is now located beside the Teahouse, which has been transformed into a Harvest Shop stocked with our own preserves, herbal teas and other garden-grown goods.
New zones have been introduced, including a bush tucker area with native plants and a temperate rainforest section for semi-tropical varieties. The garden itself is constantly changing. As it grows, we continue to move, observe and adapt, always learning from the land.
We were honoured to be featured on ABC Gardening Australia in 2023, a moment that recognised the passion and work poured into this space.
The forest may be young, but it already feels like it’s been growing for generations and there is still so much more to come.