Growing fruit and vegetables is immensely gratifying, on top of the healthy food it produces and the money it can save compared to supermarket prices. But doing it consistently well is hard: and that’s where Community Gardens are an invaluable resource. Visit Mid Mountains Community Garden with Belle Butler to dig deeper.
Key Points:
Community gardening provides an opportunity to grow food without the pressure of maintaining a veggie patch all on your own.
Community gardening utilises the skills, knowledge and hard work of many, allowing for better growing systems, more success and faster maintenance.
Community gardens build resilience at a local level by strengthening relationships, increasing food security, and providing opportunities to upskill and knowledge swap.
I have a complex relationship with my veggie patches. When we are on good terms, I lavish them with my attention and love, and they flourish and thrive and offer their bountiful fruit in return. We meet each other’s needs and show our gratitude and respect in how we provide for each other.
But then I withdraw. Sometimes for a few days, other times inflicting long bouts of neglect while I busy myself elsewhere. There are many distractions that come between us, and my veggie patches are not particularly accepting of my multiple life-affairs. They demand consistent attention. And if they don’t get it, they show their displeasure. They wilt. They shrivel. They refuse to provide. And then the weeds come in and declare the relationship over.
My show of intermittent love is the result of a particularly busy time of life. At least, that’s the excuse I’m going with, and one that I’ve commonly heard from others attempting similar relationships in their own backyards. The good news is, just because you can’t keep up your end of the deal in a monogamous relationship with your veggie patch at home, it doesn’t have to be the end! Polyamory in the veggie patch world does wonders for all involved.
Volunteers gather at Mid Mountains Community Garden.
In all seriousness, community gardens, like the Mid Mountains Community Garden on Queens Road in Lawson, offer an excellent opportunity to upskill, connect with others and grow food, without the pressure of maintaining a patch all on your own.
Further, community gardening builds resilience at a local level by strengthening relationships, increasing food security, providing an opportunity to share tips and knowledge, problem solve, and work towards building self-sustaining communities.
Janet pulling weeds in one of the veggie patches at Mid Mountains Community Garden
When I visited Mid Mountains Community Garden, a handful of volunteers were busily tending to multiple beds of fine produce. It was clear that while the gardens benefitted from their concerted effort, the people participating also benefitted.
Janet, one of the longest-attending members, shared with me some of things she loves about community gardening: “Learning more about gardening including water saving, seasonal rotation of plants and weeds versus veggies, enjoying the company of like-minded people, passing on knowledge to others, and sharing ideas.”
Kathy Husselbee from Wentworth Falls, who makes the trip down to Lawson to take advantage of the slightly warmer climate below Boddington Hill, added to that list: “Putting your hands in soil, socialising, having the chance to take home produce, and feeling like you’re on the good side. If you feel like you’re meeting people and doing something positive, it’s a good thing.”
Kathy Husselbee comes to the Community Garden from Wentworth Falls
Another volunteer, Margaret Bell, joined the group during Covid, when a neighbour thought she needed cheering up. I asked her if participating in the Community Garden achieved that goal and she didn’t hesitate: “Oh yes, it cheered me up!” She added that as a vegetable lover, she greatly appreciates the opportunity to learn how to grow vegetables, which she wouldn’t otherwise be able to do due to a shady garden at home.
Left: Margaret Bell found that community gardening cheered her up during Covid. She’s been participating ever since. Right: Taking home tasty produce is one of the perks of participating in community gardening.
Knowledge sharing is a particular benefit of attending the gardening days, which take place every Saturday from 9am to 12pm. Volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and boast varying levels of expertise, with founding members like Ray Kennedy, a gardener by trade, and Janet, a local Bushcare volunteer of many years, bringing years of local experience to the group.
As a group, they work together to solve problems and improve systems. “One challenge we face is water and a warming climate,” said Kathy, explaining that one of the ways they are dealing with this problem is by creating wicking beds. With funding they received from participating in the Edible Gardens Trail, they created two wicking beds with different systems: one with irrigation pipe at the base, and one with washed river sand.
Left: Wicking beds are one way Mid Mountains Community Garden is facing the challenge of water management in a changing climate. Right: A beautiful head of broccoli picked from one of the patches.
In another effort to manage water, they installed a drip irrigation system connected to tank water. “When the weather gets hotter, we limit the amount of water via drip irrigation to get the plants used to less water,” said Ray.
Members have also worked hard to create a closed loop system that doesn’t rely on outside inputs. Janet explained that instituting a rotating green manure system on site has been worthwhile: “We are currently leaving one garden bed fallow each three months. Into this bed we plant a ‘green manure’ crop,” she said. “The intention is to rest the soil and to improve the soil health. I think it is working as our most recent crops seem to have grown quicker and to be flowering sooner.”
Ray added: “We use seeds with different functions [for the green manure]. Importantly, you need to dig it in before it flowers. When the plant flowers, all the goodness goes to the flower, so dig it in before then so that the goodness goes back into the soil. Since using this system, we haven’t needed to use any fertilisers, only green manure and we add in some worm juice.”
A lush ‘green manure’ that will soon be dug in to improve soil health.
In a world of ever-increasing personal busyness, as well as known and unknown environmental challenges ahead, community gardening just makes sense.
You can join Mid Mountains Community Garden simply by showing up on Saturday between 9am and 12pm. Get your hands into the soil, have a good chat, and leave with produce and knowledge, like Ray’s final advice to me before I left: “If you find a plant that works in a particular area, then get the seed, because it will continue to grow well there every time. It’s in their DNA to cope with the issues of that area.” A solid tip that can be applied to all veggie patch relationships.
Click to view a short 30-second video shot on a recent sunny Saturday
Take Action:
Get involved at Mid Mountains Community Garden every Saturday between 9am-12pm at Kihilla Retreat & Conference Centre, 5-17 Queens Road Lawson NSW 2783 (Map & Directions)
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Join the Planetary Health Centre this Sat 6 Dec for the last Skill Share Saturday of the year: Qigong at 9am, Seed Saving & Gardening Group at 10am, and Bushcare at 1.30pm. One perfect day with great company, great coffee and food, and great steps for living a healthy balanced life, while also contributing to the health of our planet for present and future generations. All ages welcome!
Registration links in profile and below.
Register for Qigong here: https://bit.ly/48wlHjD Register for Seed Saving & Gardening here: https://bit.ly/4prcRe7 Register for Bushcare here: https://bit.ly/4oAFDrz
We have a rare opportunity to learn about the newest and best possible ways to support family and community members struggling with mental health issues, at a free talk and afternoon tea provided by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 Nov. Hear from Peter Joseph AM, Chair of the Black Dog Institute, and Professor Helen Christensen AO, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and former Executive Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Institute. They`ll be in conversation with journalist Emma Rossi. Dr Christensen is a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
This Saturday Sherlie McMillan from Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be running a workshop on How to use a sewing machine from 9am at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Learn how to set up a machine, service it, troubleshoot when it`s not sewing correctly, and learn some basic sewing skills.
Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/how-to-use-your-sewing-machine
NB. This class is a prerequisite for our very popular Fashion Upcycling classes held once a month.
We`re thrilled to announce that Professor Helen Christensen, a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression, will be joining the conversation with Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute and journalist Emma Rossi at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 November. Helen was the Executive Director and Chief Scientist for the Black Dog Institute for 10 years and has now been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. This free event is being co-hosted by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Human composting is increasingly being legalised around the world. Read about it in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/legalising-human-composting/
If you’d like to see this option available in NSW you can now sign a live petition to the NSW Parliament here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/43QIHbz
Thanks to everyone who contributed to deliver a fantastic Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and Family Day yesterday. @mark_greenhill_mayor opened the event at which we celebrated the 13th birthday of Betty the Asbestos Education House; @firecoat_au demonstrated and launched its range of fire retardant products that can help protect homes, gardens and even electricity poles; the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit was launched; Santa arrived and delighted young and old; and @plantinspired99 and Action for Animals fed us all with a delicious plant-based sausage sizzle. The day was filled with talks, workshops, stalls and the sharing of a huge amount of expertise to keep us, and the other species we share our planet with, safe and healthy! @southkatoomba.rfb @nswses @fireandrescuensw @nswrfs @redcrossleura @redcrossau @shelter.building.design @firehalo.au @asbestosawareness @amelie_ecology @bbagsbluemtns @wireswildliferescue @handsheartfeet
Our marquee is up and we`re excited about our Expo and Family Day tomorrow (Sat 22 Nov). There`s something for everyone from a free sausage sizzle, plants from Santa and drumming and pollinator workshops, to sessions on keeping you and our community safe from extreme weather events and hazardous substances like mould and asbestos. Learn how intumescent paints can slow the spread of fire and pick up a sample pot; check out all our emergency service organisations; learn how to dispose of hazardous materials; paint a native orchid, make some seed balls or sew a boomerang bag to give as plastic-free Christmas presents this year; enjoy coffee and locally made sweets; and get tips on how to retrofit your home safely and beautifully to be prepared for future extreme weather events. View the full program and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many new and innovative ways of doing things, like the new cooking techniques being explored by Michael from Good Fat Pastry, and the new fire protection methods being launched at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Check out Michael’s recent presentation at the Food Security Fair in our video here: https://bit.ly/4pnXbIg (link in profile) and come along to taste his delicious carrot cake and pastries at the Expo on Saturday. Check out the program and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
In 2006 Peter Joseph’s son Michael suicided after a 14-year episodic battle with mental illness. Peter is now the Chair of the Black Dog Institute which is working to achieve better outcomes for all those struggling with mental health issues. Journalist Emma Rossi will engage Peter in an intimate and moving conversation about a life of purpose and mental health advocacy. As a Rotary scholar Peter will also reflect on how Rotary helped shape his values and sense of purpose as a young man - and how those early lessons continue to guide his work today. This free event is being hosted by the Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary Club and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative on Saturday 29 November from 2-4pm at the Planetary Health Centre at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Learn about intumescent fire retardant paint and a range of other strategies to prepare for extreme weather events, and to manage hazardous materials, at the upcoming Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre on Sat 22 Nov. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J We checked out how intumescent paint works in this video.
When temperatures reach a certain point the intumescent paint begins to swell and expand, often up to 50 times its original thickness. It forms a thick, carbonaceous "char" that acts as an insulating barrier. This layer slows the rate at which heat reaches the structural elements and buys valuable time for people to safely exit a building during a fire. It makes the structure safer for firefighters and rescue teams. #intumescentpaint #fireretardant #bushfire @firecoat_au...
Mould, lead paint, asbestos, silica dust from engineered stone bench tops and a wide range of chemicals, are amongst some of the many hazardous substances entering our environment and negatively impacting our health. Asbestos is found in over 3000 products including textured paints, moulded garden pots, brake pads and clutch linings in older cars, floor and ceiling tiles, lino, fibro, roofing, pipes and gutters, hot water systems, backing for switchboards and insulation boards in air-conditioning ducts, insulation, sealants, fillers, caulking and adhesives, gaskets for industrial and lab equipment and more. We’ll have information to take away and Blue Mountains City Council and the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Consultants Association (AHCA) will be running free workshops on how to identify and manage these hazardous substances at the Planetary Health Centre`s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. Find out more and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Are you ready for the next bushfire, heatwave or flood? Why not take steps to prepare at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Award-winning Hempcrete designer Kirstie Wulf from @shelter.building.design will share 10 steps to build or renovate for sustainability and resilience; engineer Mark Liebman will share how you can build a green roof to reduce stormwater runoff and cool your building; Dr Agnieszka Wujeska-Klause will share research results on the most appropriate actions to lower heat in summer and help you use a thermal imaging camera to identify which surfaces retain the most heat; Frank Inzitari will introduce you to the @firehalo.au which can help reduce ember attack; and a team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will work with you to use the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit to design your own personal bushfire plan. We`ll also be launching Firecoat`s new Bushfire Home Protection Kit. Learn more and register to attend here: https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Belle Butler is a writer, musician and occasional photographer. She likes mix-and-matching these artforms and often explores the same themes through each of them. Her short fiction has been published in numerous Australian literary journals and she recently received a WestWords Fellowship and Mentorship with Delia Falconer for her novel manuscript, ‘River.’ Hopefully it will be published one day.
The Homes for Older Women (HOW) program is a successful community-based solution to the national housing crisis. Since launching in May last year, the Blue Mountains not-for-profit has secured accommodation for 47 older women facing housing insecurity and homelessness.
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