My Story
Where Niko’s Garden all began… How I turned my love and curiosity of Greek food, produce and heritage into a ‘garden to table’ way of thinking and lifestyle. Not only for flavour and a chefs touch, but also for health, wellbeing and the nostalgia of a simple village lifestyle in Greece. Here’s how I brought a touch of the Mediterranean mountains to Melbourne.
Chef - Gardener
My name is Nicholas Gnafakis, and I was born in Melbourne, Australia, with a proud Greek heritage. I have spent over ten years working as a professional chef in a variety of top-end restaurants. My passion for Greek food inspired a gardening revelation within me and it continues to motivate and guide my garden journey.
My first garden was inspired by both Greek cooking and my Pappou (Grandfather). One day, while sitting on the balcony at his house, I glanced into the garden and noticed similar-looking herbs to those I used in the kitchen at work. I was intrigued so for the first time in my life, I set foot into Pappou’s garden. The aromas and flavours were amazing and so different from what I was using at work. I began asking questions: what they were and where they came from. I simply had to have them. So, with his guidance, I started propagating them to grow at home.
Most of the beautiful Greek plants I now grow and share with everyone originally came from Pappou’s humble garden. This includes a variety of rare Greek herbs, mountain teas, wild medicinal weeds, and unique Greek heirloom vegetables. As I researched further into these plants, I realised the importance and responsibility of growing them here, as many of them are native and endemic only to the Greek island of Crete.
Pappou comes from a small village outside Chania, Crete, named ‘Skafi’. He originally brought these special Greek plants to Australia in the 1960s, most of which he and generations before him foraged and collected on the hillsides and mountains surrounding his village. The bond between Pappou and me grew as I spent so much time learning from his garden and craft. We not only shared the same name but also a deep love and appreciation for Greek plants and produce.
Over the years, my curiosity and passion for rare Greek herbs and vegetables grew. I travelled to Greece, spending time with villagers and relatives learning from them to enhance my knowledge and understanding of native Greek plants and their traditional uses in cooking and medicine.
In 2020, during the lockdowns, my hours in the kitchen decreased, and I found myself spending more time at home in the garden. I began growing more food, breathing fresh air, and adopting a slower approach to life while reconnecting with nature, and I didn't want to stop. I also found joy in sharing my organic produce and Greek plants, noticing how disconnected many of us had become from a village-style approach to growing food.
Thus, Niko’s Garden was born. I am now more motivated than ever to help people grow these important Greek plants and to continue propagating my vision and knowledge in the hearts of fellow gardeners, just as my Pappou did with me.
I am truly grateful for everyone’s support. Thank you for reading.
Niko 🌿
