Every time I get bogged down in all the weeding, waiting for seeds to emerge, or get a sore back with lugging bags of manure etc, I call in at our local Community Garden in Busselton, Western Australia. Originally this piece of land was a BMX training area for the local kids with time on their hands. Every month or so there was a competition. All very nice, except it was so overgrown, and not many people used it. it was basically unused council land. Look at it now! 1 ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) winter 2010 ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) winter 2010 ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) winter 2010 ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) The Shed ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) Gazebo & Pizza Bake Oven ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) beds and playground area ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) winter 2010 ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) pidgeons roosting above compost bins ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) Toilet with own water supply from roof. ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) the old chook pens (Moveable) ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden ) winter 2010 ( photo / image / picture from debbieteale's Garden )
Brimming with life and activity, much better. How big is the community participating? Thanks for the tour.
Glad you liked it. Busselton has a population of 24,000 people, with a huge influx for holidays, as this is a holiday destination from all over the world. A large group of volunteers come in every Tuesday to keep it in tip top shape. Not sure how many, but it always looks great. they also have a little shop, do morning teas as well. They strike cuttings and grow from seed. the locals also have access to the eggs and fruit. there's a sign on the front of the current compost bin suggesting that people with a plot get a wheelbarrow and spread the ready stuff on. As they have 6 compost bays, there's always some ready.
Nice set of fotos, Debbie. Thanks for going to the trouble of taking them and posting on here. The place looks tidy with some imaginative plots. I liked the organized arrangement there with the nice paths, compost bins, clubhouse/shed, dunny and own water collection. The gazebo for cooking was also a good good idea and I can imagine that it gets it's share of use. That mobile chook pen caught my fancy. Like Frank, I am curious to know how many members there are with plots there. It is interesting that there are volunteers that come once a week to keep the place tidy, and not the plotholders themselves. I guess that in return the volunteers get produce and eggs from the community garden complex--would that be right? Anyway, Thanks again for showing this and if you have the opportunity, please do take even more fotos as the plots progress. I find it very interesting. Cheers.
What a great community garden, so well planned, full of life and kept so clean and comfy looking. I think it's great that you have a playground for the kidlets while Mom is gardening.
I'll keep you posted. Glad everyone liked to see our garden. You know, we even get people drive down from Perth (2.5 hours away) just to look around? I heard one couple chartered a helicopter from Perth to Busseltn airport, taxi to the garden, then after photo's and a cuppa, returned the same way. Lucky I get to live close.
Oh,my, what a lovely community garden! But it is really more than a garden, isn't it--point of community pride, source of tranquility, and beauty for the eyes. It certainly beats any community garden I've ever seen! One question, please. What is a "chook" and what is it used for?
marlingardener - a chook is a slang term for chicken. We often use that term in the UK also. Debbieteale, what a fab garden. How lucky you are to have such a tranquil, yet productive area on your doorstep - much nicer than a piece of wasteland. I shall have to have words with my Auntie in Adelaide to see if they have anything similar. Great photos, thanks for sharing.
hi again everyone. I'm back, armed with the website for the Busselton community garden, and it has a site plan, directions, even all the press clippings it has featured in. I laughed to see one titled "Lost your plot" competition. anyway, here it is: http://www.busseltoncommunitygarden.org.au/ sorry about the slang for chicken, but we call chickens the little bubs, just hatched and not yet growed up!
Thanks Deb. That is a nice website. it is sinteresting to see how things gave progressed. I like the communal spirit there.
Nice! I wish our community could do something similar, but people around here never seem to agree on anything, especially if work is involved.
A wonderful garden for the local community as well as visitors Debbie. A nice variety of planting and buildings (I even like the toilets!!) Thanks for posting the photographs and link for us - I really enjoyed seeing both.
