Docklands Community Garden

Hi everyone,
 
Thank you to everyone who participated in today's event, special thanks to Sue for baking a beautiful cake which we all enjoyed. We managed to get everything done that was required and consequently the garden is now ready for planting the Spring/Summer crop. This planting will occur on a Sunday morning towards the middle of October once the soil has had time to warm up a little and all of the compost has been absorbed. This major event will probably be held on either the 13th or 20th of October. It will probably take 4 hours to plant the new crop and we will all be able to enjoy a BBQ lunch afterwards. I will confirm the exact timing shortly. If there is anything you would particularly like to plant please let me know.
 
We are trying to put together a Christmas dinner for the garden volunteers at local restaurant Merchant Society in Merchant St Docklands (next to Woolworths). The best time seems to be around the middle of November and would be on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night. The cost per person would be in the vicinity of $40 to $50. We would need to book the event and pay a non refundable deposit as soon as possible as this popular local restaurant is becoming harder to book the closer we get to Christmas. The owner of the restaurant has agreed to make a generous donation to the garden and we should support his business to thank him for his generosity. This would be a wonderful opportunity for all of our volunteers to get together socially to enjoy really good food in each others company. It would also be a good opportunity for some of our newer volunteers to meet other members of the garden community.Could you please let me know if, in principal, you would be able to attend so that we can make the arrangements.
 
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.