The nature strip, or verge, is the area of land between the road and private property that is owned by the local council but maintained by residents. Traditionally, nature strips are just grass but some homeowners are now converting them into more natural and productive spaces. However, it is important to check with the local council first, as they have regulations around plantings for safety and visibility reasons. Allowable options include native grasses and flowers less than 1m tall at maturity. With council approval, some communities are successfully turning nature strips into shared vegetable gardens.