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

Something for the for the kids and more..

Looking to keep the kids occupied and do something for the enviroment at the same time, check out the following link, newspaper seedling pots, the quickest and most affordable method of making cheap plantpots, with the added advantage of avoiding any transplant shock for young seedlings, once you have your seedlings to a reasonable size just pop them straight in the ground.

Here are a few more handy ideas, themicrogardener.com

Have you noticed the latest RM Williams Catalogue, see if you can spot which page the gardens are on, look close, RM Williams Spring Summer 2011-2012, i will give you a hint, its not page 153 or page 1.

Happy Gardening - Steve

Please feel free to add any comments or other ideas

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.