Food as a public service through government-led regenerative placemaking: evidence-based insights from the Epicurious Garden, in Brisbane, Australia

The Epicurious Garden is a public, government-led garden where anyone can help themselves with freshly harvested herbs, fruits and vegetables free of charge and without being asked to work on the land. The Epicurious Garden occupies 1500 m2 in the South Bank Parklands, at the heart of Brisbane, and is funded by the State Government. This article presents insights coded from two weeks of on-site observations and 19 interviews with implementation and management stakeholders, and visitors interviewed on-site, drawing attention to the multiple coded benefits of this government-led initiative. The insights include the benefits perceived by visitors that also informed the implementation vision and its successful funding allocation, namely: i) teaching children and adults about food; and ii) the carefully manicured maintenance of the aesthetically appealing productive landscape that attracts approximately 4000 visitors daily. The conclusion signals opportunities for other local councils to take leadership in offering food as a public service.