Community Garden?
26 Comments
We had our inaugural meeting for those interested in the Community Garden on Sunday - Big thanks to all those that attended, we had a fantastic response.
Attendees inlcuded:
Imagin, Rainbo, Roger, Sparky, Tinyan, Zoe, Jeremy, Anabel, Simone, Josie, Greta, Racu, Scott, Serena, Simone, Steve and Tom. Apologies if your name is missing from this list!
Our picnic started off with an talk about progress to date from Racu who attended a 'Sustainability Streets' meeting a month ago. Essentially SS is a broad concept looking at localised solutions to sustainability issues of conservation and is a way for the community to be recognised as wanting to do something. A draft submission has been put together and a link to the submission will be posted shortly so others can comment on it.
The group then explored individual ideas and aspirations for the proposed garden and this process will form part of the visioning exercise for the design of the garden. Some insights into people's response inlcuded:
"...plots subdivided to grow vegies."
"...everybody shares it..."
"...grow vegies and be happy"
"...rain water harvesting, green space, lush linking to the flow of the creek"
"...communal and individual plots"
"...trees, a refuge..."
"...I don't like fences"
"...vegies and other stuff"
"...I feel cery excited"
"...open space - meeting place, garden space"
"...a bbq area would be good"
"...a proportion of the food to less fortunate - a socially responsible compnant"
"...I'd like a swing and to be chold friendly"
"... I really like seperate spaces and a contral community space- an informal kitchen"
"...potential linkages with Ceres?"
"...Fruit trees and vines along the periphery"
"...a combination of both works well"
"..capacity building infrastructure"
"...zero conflict with outside world (neighbours) management philosophy"
"...concerns over how many people"
"...Friday night fire?"
"...excited to make it happen"
"...communal hang out space with weather protection"
"...self sufficiency"
Some valid concerns to the proposal inlcuded:
...Early morning noise? ......Vandalism and littering of the area? .....Ugly border fence?.....Council sprays the weeds currently who will do it if there is a garden here?
The group decided to break into small working groups to tackle the project from various angles. The working groups inlcuded PLANNING with the aim of maintaining contact with Laura from Moreland council who is the climate change officer and in favour of the project; and to develop a relationship with the head of Open Space division of council who maybe an individual who can make a decision on allowing the project to proceed. RESEARCH with the aim of a) investigating other community gardens and their organisational, legal and physical models and b) possible sources of funding eg. sustainability streets and more. LIAISON with aims to get the word out to the local community to garner support and interest in the project. DESIGN with the aim to build a proposed model for the space that is inclusive of community input and responsive to their needs.
The group resolved to meet again in two weeks to report on the working group research on Monday 2nd July for a meal (everyone brings a plate) 7pm - venue to be decided.
New interested parties are welcome to come along and hear about the research so far.
The group is communicating via email and streetadvisor and we would love to hear from others who have anything constructive to contribute.
The next meeting is on the 15th (the day after "Party at the Farm" - contact bill for details!). Actually, the meeting's also at the farm... 2pm folks so see you all there!
Super Sweet Jeronime. I'll pass this along to Belly Boo :)
Jeronime, can you report back with how the community garden meeting went? Very curious to hear how it went :)
Hi folks, i'm also in the area ... what's the latest on this garden? has this been finished already? where is it? Is this something to do with the church on this street?
Heya RuRoh!
er .. no idea :) I'll ask babyboo when i see her next, unless she beats me to it or someone else in this thread gets in first.
Maybe jeronime might have some answers?
Hi
Do you know what is happening with the garden project?
Yep - i've got lots of info about it. Basically (and I hope I have this right)
1. Council approval done.
2. Some money has been raised.
3. Plans have come along massively.
I'll bug BabyBoo to post some info as she knows more about it than I do. (Unless BicycleBill wants to post some info ... as he would have a lot of knowledge about this also).
watch this space :)
Hi
great to hear it is happening. I am looking at buying in area, maybe even 83, adjoins garden.... Love the idea of garden next door, feels like a great community project. Can imagine people leaving tools at our place for easy acess, and keep an eye on garden overnight. Wish me luck with action on weekend!!!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Yes the garden is going to be fantastic and it would be great for the new owner of 83 to be supportive of the garden as we had a verbal agreement with the current owners to harvest rainwater from the roof of 83 for our water tank and will be looking to reach a similar agreement with the new owner, so lets hope its you or someone else who is also supportive of our intentions.
You can check out our activities and fundraising efforts at the garden website :
http://www.merricorner.org/
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you at the auction as its a really great area to live in if you can crack the market.
BabyBoo
Thanks I hope I am sucessful at auction, will let you know.
Lisa
This is a FANTASTIC thread guys - it actually is one of our very first on the site, dating all the way back to 2007.
AND to top it all off, hopefully it will have helped Lisagardens buy a new house :) You will have to let us know how you go Lisa!!
Thanks for all the great info as well babyboo.
AJ
Yeah - Good luck at the auction :)
yes good luck at the auction, i'll pop down for a sticky beak, i'll be the one with the baby strapped to my front.
Thank you so much. I think I will be hiding in my car around the corner. A friend is going to bid for me, way too stressful... If I get it I will be easy to find ,I will be VERY happy, if not will probably be sobbing and want to dissapear pretty quickly. But will let you know either way. Lisa
I was sucessful at the auction. Bring on community garden!!!!
I have a 90 day settlement, so keep an eye on the place for me as it is vacant now.
Cheers
Lisa
Fantastic Lisa,
I introduced myself to you as you were leaving but i think you had a lot on your mind so might have not taken it all in. Good job at the auction by your friend and it is certainly a good thing you got the place. A great area and I am sure you and your children are going to love living here.
I hope you have some time to join the community garden group MCCG via the website as i am sure we would love to communicate with you privately about potential to harvest rain water from your roof and guttering for the water tank that is proposed to irrigate the garden.
You'll have a plum position to watch the garden take shape over the coming months and i am sure the group along with me welcome you to the neighbourhood.
I'll be sure to keep an eye on the place until settlement.
BellyBoo
Grats, Lisa :)
I'm sure you'll love the area. Now, if only those crazy kids from somewhere nearby who zoom around on their monkey bikes and rip up all the dirt, can stop doing that .. the place would be really awesome!
Hey Lisa,
How's the move coming along? So great you managed to pick up the house. I can personally vouch for Harrison Street as well, lovely place to live :)
AJ
Hi
Great to hear all the news. Hoping to negotiate to move in late next week, or soon after. really looking forward to getting to know the local community.
Lisa
Awesome news!
hi Lisa and everyone,
there is a volunteer induction at the garden site this saturday at 12.30pm. a great way to get to know tha gardening group, check out the newsletter at http://www.merricorner.org/newsletter/may-2010.html
hope to see you saturday
bellyboo
Thanks for the info on the induction, I will be there.
Lisa