Spring is here

Spring has finally arrived, the cherry trees have burst into flower and the liquid ambers are getting that green tinge from the new shoots starting to emerge.

The gardens are extremely productive at present with gardeners harvesting all manner of things, cauliflowers, broccoli, broccolini, spinach, beetroot, cabbages, celery, leeks, shallots to name but a few.

The Salvation Army "Brunch to Lunch" recieved a big basket of veggies this week, and all concerned were very grateful for the donation.

A reminder to everyone that Brunch to Lunch runs every friday at the Salvation Army in Smeaton Grange from 10.30am to 1.30pm and is open to everyone.

The last working bee cleaned up the Herb Garden as you can see on the image.

The next generation of herbs are growing, we have planted chives, italian parsley, mizuna, celeriac and rosemary.

Springs veggies are on the way and were planted a few weeks ago, growing from seed at present i have coriander, radishes, spinach beet, peas, snake beans, carrots, hurakei, cucumbers, fennel, kohlrabi, lettuce, tomatoes and eggplants. These will slowly be migrated into various gardens over the coming weeks.

Its tomato time but watch out for the cold still, i have them planted out in central camden, but i am still very cautious about putting any in at the community gardens, potatoes are in as are "8 Ball Zucchinis".

Happy Gardening

Note next working bee dates and AGM.

Successful Working Bee and other news.

Talking amongst ourselves on friday it wasn't shaping up to be a great day for a communial working bee on saturday, but what started out a touch on the damp side didnt deter anyone, a dozen or so folk turned out and a big thankyou goes out to the committee members involved in the day, thanks to Jeff Ferrif the gardens president and his crew for putting together a BBQ lunch and thanks to Camden Council for their donations towards lunch.

The assembled troops cleaned up the herb garden, which has been a constant source of supplies for all association members, we can now distinguish chives poking through where once there were nettles, and the germinating italian parlsey has been given respite from the same beasties.

The shade trade with our seating will soon provide shade, it is now starting to sprout leaves and the almond tree had a solitary flower on it this morning.

Other plantings recently include potatoes for the Salvation Army "Brunch to Lunch" soup kitchen, these are in Bed 5, and Rocket in bed 7, Bed 4 is currently providing copious amounts of vegies for the Salvation Army in the form of Cabbage, Broccoli, Broccolini, Celery and Spinach, and is being tended by committee members, these have also been supplemented with donations of Leeks, Shallots, and several herbs from the communial herb section and other gardeners.

We will soon be adopting a marking system, using the Salvation Army logo, this will mark vegetables being donated to the soup kitchen, this will enable fresh harvesting of produce for the kitchen.

Floriade is around the corner, any association members interested in attending Floriade, the suggestion has been made we take a bus trip down, please register expressions of interest here, with preference for dates between the 17th of September and the 16th of October, using the same link also register interest in a bus trip around some of Sydneys' community gardens.

Happy Gardening Comrades in Compost

Steve

Crackn Caulis and Brunch to Lunch

Cauliflowers are just one vegetable growing in profusion at the community gardens, broccoli and spinach are also cranking along with many gardeners benefiting from great crops, the Arty Café in Narellan welcomed an assortment of herbs and spinach this week.

The Herb Garden

Shallots, Cabbages, leeks, fennel, daikon radish, beetroot, carrots, radish, lettuce and celery are also doing well, peas are growing well in a few plots as are broad beans whose flowers did seem to set before the cold snaps hit. Its good to see a wide variety of vegetables growing.

Thanks to The Green Corps folk who have been kind enough to offer up surplus vegetables to the community groups now in residence, namely Wesley Disability Services and Sylvanvale Foundation.
We are also happy to announce that we will partner with the Salvation Army office at Narellan and the Brunch to Lunch crew in supplying vegetables and herbs for their free soup kitchen being run on Friday lunchtime out of the Salvation Army rooms at Exchange Parade, furthermore any seed/seedling donations will be welcomed (these can be left in the noticeboard on site at the gardens) and the guys and girls will grow these on in the small greenhouse on site for use by the groups using the gardens and to be grown on for the free Brunch to Lunch.

I visited the Salvation Army today and shared a bite to eat with Bill Zunick and Capt Lindon Kinder who both welcomed the potential contributions that will come from the gardens and the partnership. While sharing a bowl of hearty soup and magic bread with Bill we discussed the harsh realities facing folk at present and being involved in the retail sector I also witness the effect the present economic climate is having on people. Anyone is welcome at the Salvation Army Church, more info on the Brunch to Lunch can be obtained from Capt Kinder on 46474162, and more info on the gardens can be obtained from Steve on 0467531972.

Over the hump, Spring here we come.

We are now over the hump but winter isn't quite finished with us and decided to remind us by giving our gardens a frosty coating over the last couple of weeks, a few vegetables have had their growth slowed somewhat with gardeners trying to take control and initiate a few preventative measures to keep the warmth in the soil and their plants, concerns over flowers setting on broad beans and growth of various veges have been raised but i am sure over the next few weeks these thoughts will be behind us. The herb garden is still quite productive with Coriander and Sage trying to shrug off the cold, Curley and Italian Parsley are both growing well, Chervil and Dill also both growing really well, and i have to say went down very well on the sausage sandwiches that we enjoyed during the working bee.



Shallots



Another great working bee on saturday, a big thankyou to all concerned, many hands make light work and thanks to the efforts of all concerned weed matting was put down on about 75m of perimeter, unfortunately alot of the kangaroo grass planted early on had failed to take hold. The redundant/spare/relinquished beds were weeded and allocated to new gardeners or existing ones wishing to expand. The mulch was all used up and we now await another delivery. Thanks to Annette for her work with the kids on the day with the installation of 2 new worm farms, Gabrielle, Warwick, Jai and Tali certainly enjoyed naming all their new friends in the worm farms, more worms will be delivered over the coming weeks.

If you are wondering what to plant at the moment the following can be put in - radish, shallots, spinach, peas, onions, lettuce, endive, chicory and kohlrabi.

Anyone interested in the gardens can find out by dropping us an email via the contacts link

Did someone say Winter !!

Visiting the Camden Community Garden at the moment one could easily be fooled into thinking it wasn't winter. Talking to a fellow gardener over the weekend we both agreed had we been on an alottment in the UK in the middle of winter all we would be growing is grey hair :).

The benefits of the Community Gardens are many and varied the main benefit being the the social/sense of community aspect for members of the garden and public alike who can use or visit the gardens during daylight hours, certainly pay the gardens a visit and say hello to any gardeners working away, there is the communial benefit whereby the whole community gains from having such a great resource at their back door, and as it develops/grows this will only become more evident.

An added benefit but by no means the driving force in being a part of this is the monetary benefit, in the latter years from the outside the site seemed to be sitting quietly waiting for a new lease of life, that new lease on life has been established by the Town Farm Committee and the Community Gardens Committee, and with the tireless help of its members, volunteers and gardeners blossomed into a valuable council asset, this certainly has been helped along and funded by Human Services through Family and Community Services Community Builders Program and with the support of Camden Council.

Take yourself to the shops for your regular food shop each week and the potential benefit to your hip pocket is also evident, take the following in season vegetables as a rough idea:

• Buk Choy - $1.96 for 3
• Kale - $2.98 for 175g
• Leeks - $2.38 ea
• Shallots - $2.48 a bunch
• Herbs - $2.45 a bunch
• Red Cabbage - $4.98 ea
• Cabbage - $3.98 ea
• Wombok - Chinese Cabbage - $2.98 ea
• Lettuce - $1.98 ea
• Fennel - $1.78 ea
• Parsnips - $9.98 kg
• Swedes - $2.98 kg
• Spinach - $3.98 a bunch
• Pak Choy - $1.96  for 3

While its true the gardens are a valuable resource to the local communtiy and various groups, with the impending infrastructure work to be done over the coming months the gardens should cement themselves as a focal point for many folk and give visitors to the area something to admire and take home thoughts of.

This faciltiy is unique and the historical significance is of major importance, the property is listed on the State Heritage Register and as such careful consideration goes into the developement of the gardens.

Tasks on the horizon include pathwork from Camden Town Farm and through the gardens, construction of raised beds for aged as well as greater disability access, planting of more herbs, weed matting the borders, improvements to the composting, addition of worm farms, an orchard, also on the plans is a covered area for folk to gather and enjoy as well as a nursery/greenhouse to grow/propagate plants for the garden and potentially the community. Its hoped that not only this generation but generations to come will be proud to be associated with this facility and preserving the facility that Miss Llewella Davies left for the Community.

Happy Gardening