Gayle Dallaston

Author. Founder of The Shady Lanes Project.

Garden On The Verge: A New Approach

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.

This is the first in a series of three books. It uses verge gardening as a learning and practice space for collaboration.

ISBN: 9781764307703 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781764307710 (ebook)

Full colour 80p, 6″x9″, paperback, RRP $35.50 – released 1 November 2025

Book Information Sheet (PDF)

Bookclub Questions

Buy the Books

Table of Contents

PART ONE: WHAT, WHERE, WHY

1. THE PROMISE

We Need More Street Trees
Native Verge Gardens
Turning Ideas into Action
Reduce Risk and Maximise Benefit

2.WHAT IS A VERGE?

Policy Boundaries
Verges Are Not Community Gardens
Keep It Simple

PART TWO: HOW DO WE MAKE IT HAPPEN?

3. UNDERSTAND THE SPACE

Gardening In Public
Council Rules
Social Rules
Users and Uses of the Space
Benefits of Working Together

4. DESIGN FOR PEOPLE & PLANET

Connecting Nature and People
Big Projects or Slow Gardening
Start Small - Avoid the Overwhelm
Observe and Experiment
Use Plants as Messengers
Your Plants in the Wider Environment
Your Plants as Advocates
Best for People and Planet

5.MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Good Enough Maintenance
Accept Whatever Happens
Be Prepared to Lose It All
Be Patient and Avoid Conflict
Make a Point or Make a Difference

PART THREE: WHAT'S NEXT

6. NURTURE ECOSYSTEMS

Framing Our Stories
Framing for Focus
Reframing as Natural Ecosystems
Be Aware of Context
Spot and Change Frames
The Civic Ecosystem

CONCLUSION

Better Conversations
Learn While Doing
Can Verge Gardens Really Change the World?

Reviews: What Others Say

Short books, big impact by Anna Featherstone, author mentor, author of Look-It’s Your Book!

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.
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.
 

Annabelle Lukin, Professor of Linguistics, Macquarie University. 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.
 

Laura Aston, Wayfinder Labs, LinkedIn post:

What struck me most? Verge gardening isn’t just about plants, it’s about conversations. It’s about creating civic ecosystems where councils, residents, and community groups collaborate for greener, cooler, more connected streets.

How to Get the Book

Print and ebook direct from author (ebook can be read in any reader)

Australia & UK: Order and secure payment from my Payhip online bookstore. AU includes flat rate postage and tracking via Autralia Post. UK is print-on-demand and delivery by Royal Mail.

Online retailers.

See Garden On The Verge: A New Approach on Booktopia (AU) and Barnes & Noble (US).

Blackwells in the UK. Prices vary and I have no control over that so it pays to look around.

US Bookstore.org for print and ebook - supports local bookstores.

Ebook on KOBO

Check your favourite independent bookstore.

The printable information sheet (PDF) has all the details they need for ordering via their usual distributors if they don’t already have it.

Libraries: Available through ALS Library Services and Peter Pal in Australia and worldwide through IngramSpark. Ebook available through Hoopla.

Bulk Orders: Please contact me for bulk orders (20+) and reselling opportunities.