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
This year looks set to give our biggest citrus yield to date.
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
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.