Docklands Community Garden

Hi everyone,
 
It appears that Spring has finally sprung and that means we need to do a little work in the garden to get it ready for its Spring/Summer planting.
 
We also have another important  event to celebrate and that is the gardens 10th birthday. We are fortunate to be able to celebrate this with one of our sponsors/partners, The Gowrie School Docklands, 10th anniversary which happens this year as well.
 
The first event involves the anniversaries and the planting of a special Lilly Pilly tree to celebrate these milestones. This event is planned to happen on Tuesday, September 24 between 10.30 and 11.00am. Students and teachers from Gowrie will be in attendance as will the local newspaper who will run an article complete with pictures outlining the significance of the event. I hope that some of you will be able to attend this event to help celebrate our joint anniversaries. Could you please let me know if you will be able to make time to join the Gowrie School students and teachers and myself in the garden.
 
The second event involves preparing the garden for its next planting. This will involve removing spent Winter crop remnants, aerating and fertilising, weeding, some general maintenance and deciding what we are going to plant in Docklands garden in October. We will have a picnic lunch if sufficient volunteers are able to attend. This event is scheduled for Sunday, September the 29th with start time being 10am. We should be able to get all of the work done by 12.30 so lunch should be happening at around 1pm. Please remember to invite any of your local friends who are interested in becoming garden volunteers. Once again please let me know if you will be able to participate in this garden event. I will send a suggested list of plantings to everyone prior to this event so you can all consider what you would like growing in the garden for the next 4 months or so.
 
Thanks and best wishes,
 Greg.

What is the Docklands Community Garden?

The Docklands Community Garden is sustained by a group of volunteers and we hope it gives pleasure to our fellow Docklanders and visitors. The volunteers have regular planting days and working bees as well as occasional social events. Funding for plants, fertilisers, maintenance etc. comes substantially from the volunteers and additional donations and sponsorships are welcomed. See our full mission statement at Our Vision.

If you would like to join our volunteers, contact Greg (0408 818 980) for more information.

How does this garden operate?

Many community gardens operate with an annual fee to rent a private garden bed and often have long waiting lists. Such gardens are often locked at night.

Here at Docklands we have decided to have communal garden beds and to not fence off the area from the general public. This has meant trusting our fellow Docklanders to treat the garden with respect.

How can I get involved?

Volunteer gardeners are welcome to take part in planting days and working bees and to become part of the weekly roster for watering and weeding.

If you would like to join our volunteers, contact Greg (0408 818 980) for more information.

Can I pick the vegetables?

The volunteers maintain the garden for the pleasure of all Docklanders and you are welcome to pick the vegetables for your personal cooking. However please only take enough for your next meal and wait until the vegetables are fully mature. Herbs are a good starting point as they regenerate quickly. Check the notice board for a list of plantings that are currently suitable for picking. Remember to wash the vegetables well as they have been in a public place.

Why does it sometimes looks messy or bare?

Some plants are allowed to go to seed. The seeds are then used for cooking (such as coriander seed) or collected for future plantings. Some plants (such as broad beans) are allowed to whither before being dug back into the soil for their nitrogen content.

Some times of year are unsuitable for planting and provide an opportunity for the soil to regenerate. During winter, some of our volunteer gardeners nurture seedlings and young plants on their balconies ready for spring planting.

Compost & Fertiliser

We would love to offer a communal composting facility but that is well beyond our monetary resources. Compost needs to be supervised and contain the right balance of ingredients.

The volunteer gardeners collect the nutrients from a number of worm farms on balconies and rooftops throughout Docklands and the city. Contributions of organic fertiliser are always welcome and can be left outside the shed.

Respecting the space and the gardeners

Please enjoy the garden but remember that it cleaned and maintained by volunteer gardeners and not the council. There is nothing more disheartening for a volunteer after finishing a full day’s work to come down to the garden and find they have to spend half an hour cleaning up cigarette butts before they can do any gardening.

Enjoy the space but please respect it and the volunteer gardeners ask others to do the same.

The birds and the bees

A fruit and vegetable garden can’t survive without bees, beneficial bugs and birds. Numbers of the plantings are bird or bee attracting plants. Some plants are allowed to go to seed because that is the way the birds and bees like them.

How can I contribute?

We are always on the lookout for organic manure and fertilizer. Contributions of tools are also welcome. If you like, you might make a monetary contribution to our small bank account.

If the garden and the work of the volunteer gardeners gives you pleasure you may want to consider giving a little back.

Check the notice board or this website for resources we are looking for at the moment.