The Mayor's Column
They are springing up all over the country and we should be joining those local areas who set aside some public open space where people can come together with a shared purpose, use some tools, get their hands dirty, have some fun and see things grow for their efforts. If you live in a unit, or even have your own garden, there are benefits in sharing the experience.
Anyone who has travelled to the United Kingdom will have seen examples of community gardens. Plots of public land have been allocated to people to grow their own produce. I am told they were driven by necessity in the austere days of food rationing brought about by the Second World War. People prize them, set up their own sheds, and make social events to share and celebrate their harvest.
There are at least ten community gardens across the Sydney area, with more planned. Community gardens respond to the need for social activities which bond people in times when we are becoming more socially isolated, building community spirit. They also demonstrate sustainable principles such as water and energy conservation, organic mulching, composting and worm farm use.
Community Gardens vary from area to area, with different management plans and sizes ranging from large to small plots, from individually managed sites to one site being worked as a group effort. Trees, vegetables, flowers or herbs can be grown for individual use or shared.
Ceres Community Environment Park in Brunswick, Victoria, is a remarkable success story. On the site of an old tip of four hectares, the community has established a permaculture garden, organic café, farm and market and it is recognised as one of the most visited environmental centres in Australia. I was very inspired by the spirit of the place and the message of sustainability when I visited last year.
John Brandenburg was a speaker at this month’s meeting of Mosman Home Gardeners Society. He was involved in setting up Australia’s first Community Garden in the 1970s in Nunawading, Victoria. Council had resumed and cleared old citrus orchards. John and a few residents had the vision to divide the land into manageable plots and allocate them to enthusiastic would-be gardeners. Thirty years later it is still flourishing and a great community example.
In Mosman, the grounds around Boronia House, particularly Reservoir Park, could possibly be a community garden under the new Plan of Management.
I would love to hear of your ideas and willingness to support a Mosman Community Garden.
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
