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from Mandurah Community Gardens
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Growing, Learning, Enjoying at Mandurah Community GardensThe sun was shining, birds were singing, and our community garden was abuzz with the laughter and excited chatter of children. It was a beautiful sight to behold as these young ones, with their boundless energy and curiosity, explored the wonders of nature and discovered the joys of gardening. From planting tiny seeds to watering thirsty plants, the children were fully immersed in the experience. They dug in the soil with their little hands, marveling at the wriggling worms and curious insects that they found. They learned about the different parts of a plant, from the roots that anchor it to the ground to the leaves that reach for the sun. The garden became a living classroom, a place where lessons about science, nutrition, and environmentalism were brought to life. The children learned about the importance of caring for our planet and the role that plants play in our ecosystem. They also discovered the delicious rewards of their labor as they tasted the fruits and vegetables that they had helped to grow. But the benefits of gardening extended far beyond the acquisition of knowledge. As the children worked together, they developed valuable social skills, such as cooperation, communication, and problem-solving. They learned to share tools, take turns, and help each other out. Gardening also fostered a sense of responsibility and accomplishment in the children. They took pride in their work and were excited to see the results of their efforts. They learned that with patience and care, even the smallest seed can grow into something beautiful and bountiful.
A "Kindergarten" Connection The word "kindergarten" has its roots in the German language, where it literally means "children's garden." This is a fitting name for a place where young children are nurtured and encouraged to grow, just like the plants in our community garden. In a kindergarten, children are provided with a safe and stimulating environment where they can explore, learn, and develop at their own pace. They are encouraged to express their creativity, ask questions, and make discoveries. Just as a garden provides the essential elements for plants to thrive, a kindergarten provides the foundation for children's future growth and development. It is a place where they learn important social, emotional, and cognitive skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Our community garden is a wonderful extension of this concept, providing children with a hands-on learning experience that connects them to nature and fosters a love of learning. It is a place where they can truly blossom and grow, just like the plants they so carefully tend. A big thank you to Charlotte Quinn for sharing these wonderful photos and videos. Mandurah Community Gardens have been chosen by Grill'd in Mandurah as one of the 3 lucky local community groups to included in the November 2024 round of LOCAL MATTERS. Support Grill'd to help support us and other local community groups. Please donate your token to the Mandurah Community Gardens jar Every meal purchased at Grill'd comes with a token which you can drop into our jar at the Local Matters stand in their restaurant. The jar with the most tokens will get $300 from Grill'd, and the 2 runner-ups each receive $100. We encourage all our members, friends and family to visit Grill'd on Mandurah Terrace and support your community garden with the token given with your meal. By supporting Mandurah Community Gardens, you help us to keep providing the community with a low-cost activity, a place to go; where people can learn, grow their own food, and enjoy the company of others. A big thank you to Grill'd from all of our members, and the community who enjoy Mandurah Community Gardens, for continuing to support us for nearly 10 years with your Local Matters fund raiser.
Garden Coordinator & Event Coordinator
Taking on a role in the committee is great way to get involved in the running of the gardens and to be involved in making decisions that affect the garden. This is an opportunity to use the skills gained from your life experience and to learn new skills. Being more involved means that you will make friends, and provide an active purpose to your life by contributing to, and doing something for your local community.
Ideally, we would welcome the positions being taken up by current members, but we are open to considering anyone who lives locally and is not currently a member of MCG. All positions will have training provided and support from committee members. If you are interested, please Email Jenny at [email protected] or Cheryl at [email protected] for more information. JOB DESCRIPTION The Grow Cart Project This is a collaboration between Frasers Property, the City of Mandurah, the Mandurah Mens’ Shed, and Mandurah Community Garden. Located in front of the Community Centre on Landings Blvd, the Grow Cart is a place for everyone to share surplus produce like fruit, veggies, seeds etc with the community. The Mandurah Community Gardens team are the managing the cart, ensuring it thrives and provides a benefit to everyone in the community. The launch of the project was at a BBQ held at the Frasers Landing community centre on September 15 2024, with Mandurah Community Gardens represented by committee member Cheryl Ivey. What is a Grow Cart? A grow cart is a simple, yet ingenious concept that's gaining momentum in Australian communities. It's essentially a public space where people can share their surplus garden produce. This initiative promotes sustainability, fosters community spirit, and ensures everyone has access to fresh, healthy food. How Did Grow Carts Start? The origins of grow carts in Australia is that they likely emerged from the country's thriving community gardening and food sharing movements. As people started cultivating their own food, they often found themselves with more produce than they could consume. To avoid waste and share their bounty, they began leaving extra veggies and fruits in designated areas for others to take. Over time, the idea of using a dedicated cart or container to centralize this sharing evolved. This made it easier for people to find and contribute to the community's food supply. Why Grow Carts Are Gaining Popularity The popularity of grow carts can be due to many factors:
Grow Carts: A Simple Yet Powerful Solution Grow carts are a testament to the power of community and the positive impact that small actions can have. They offer a practical and sustainable solution to food waste and food insecurity, while also fostering a stronger sense of community. As Australia continues to embrace sustainable practices, grow carts are poised to play an increasingly important role in our food systems. Mandurah's Grow Cart: A Community Gem Mandurah Community Garden is proud to be a part of the growing community grow cart movement. In partnership with the City of Mandurah, we maintain a grow cart at the local Fraser's Landing Community Centre with healthy organically grown food donated from our communal garden, by members, and donations from private gardens in the local community. Our grow cart serves as a vibrant hub for food sharing and community engagement. Here, residents can drop off their surplus garden produce, knowing it will find a good home. Whether it's tomatoes, zucchini, herbs, or other fresh goodies, all donations are gratefully received. How to Get Involved:
The Grow Cart is located at The Frasers Landing Community Centre A community hub for art groups, craft, mosaics, photography clubs, social ukulele classes, nature groups and more. Visit the Frasers Landing Frasers Landing community noticeboard for more details. For more information about the Grow Cart, contact [email protected]
While our local government has a mosquito eradication program with spraying, there are measures we can take out ourselves to help reduce mosquitos breeding in the garden and the risk of being bitten:
Spray or roll-on repellents containing 20% DEET will last about 5 hours, whereas sprays containing 7% DEET will provide about 3 hours of protection. View the video from the City of Mandurah about the Peel Mosquito Management Program Here are some take-aways from an email sent to Mandurah Community Gardens from the City of Mandurah:
Real Activity, In a Real Environment, In a Real Social Setting.
Many hands make light work...Mandurah Community Gardens exists because of the work that our volunteers have put in to make it a place to grow food, to make friends, and to raise awareness in our community about growing our own food in good company. It couldn't keep going without the help of so many volunteers who contribute their time and energy, and share their knowledge. Like most community assets, this community garden is run as a registered non-profit organisation that requires a team of people that work together on the committee to manage it. Our garden is like any garden - always planning ahead, making decisions and considering the options to take. And of course, making the most of it means enjoying each other's company and having a great time! Calling Volunteers!Being a member of a community garden is just like any other community organisation. It is not like being a member of a buying club or a library because it is socially orientated and an activity-based kind of membership. It's value to the member is inherently derived from what members individually put into it. For the cost of a very inexpensive membership, Mandurah Community Gardens does provide its members with a place that is resplendent with facilities, cheap leasable and free community plots, fertiliser, seeds, tools, amenities, social events and educational workshops, plus much more — everything a good community garden and every individual member needs to keep growing. We also extend our invitation to the wider community to attend our events, our workshops, and to visit the gardens when we are open. If you ask every member who volunteers why they volunteer to help, they will tell you that they get so much more from participating in helping with the garden. They know it truly pays wonderful dividends on what they contribute. Our members strive to keep the costs of running a garden and the cost of membership down, but the only way to achieve this and keep a community garden is to receive funding and donations from individuals, businesses and government. Still, funding isn't anywhere near enough to run a community garden without the personal effort of our volunteers. Positions needed to be filledAs we have advertised through email, our Bulletin newsletter, on Facebook and on this website, we have roles that urgently need to be filled on the committee. We need volunteers for:
All of these roles are vital for Mandurah Community Gardens to function, and for it to continue to exist. Our committee members are currently pulling together to help with these roles, but it places an unfair burden on each of them to do the extra tasks required for each role above what they already do. Ultimately, it is in the best interests of all our members if every member will give their consideration to this and help us however they can. All the roles will have training provided and support from our committee members. The average commitment required for most roles is anywhere for 1-2 hours a week and sometimes a bit more for events or workshops. Committee members are required to attend a committee meeting once a month. The help from volunteers is how we have got this far, and it's how we will continue to keep going and growing. If you think you can help your community garden by volunteering your time and skills, please contact Jenny or Cheryl via the form on this website. When summer is here it comes a few things to be aware of in our community garden... Blue tongue Lizards and snakes
Pests and disease in your patch
Seed Collecting
Tomato picking in the communal beds Excited as we are to harvest tomatoes as they begin to colour, please refrain from picking them until they are RED. Vine ripened tomatoes have a better flavour. Your patch
Watering
Ants Ants are active in the garden. They do like dry covered areas. They don't like water and sunlight to nest. My suggestion is put pots up on bricks, pour boiling water into nests that are affecting your patch, and do this often. Please let me know if you have any suggestions, concerns or comments.
Thanks for keeping the pathways around your patch weed free, keep bricks, stakes and vines free and accessible for all our visitors and fellow members to use safely. Happy Gardening from Cheryl
Produce was collected from the Garden before the class so everything was wonderfully fresh. Once all the dishes were cooked, we all had a taste and it was delicious. A big thank you to the the ladies for sharing their cultural dishes with us, we all thoroughly enjoyed the morning. These workshops and events that have been running from 2021 until this one in October 2023 would not have been possible without the very kind and generous support of the City of Mandurah. The members and committee of Mandurah Community Gardens thank you! |
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