Water tank update

The February Working Bee was very productive, with a good turn-out and some serious weeding being done. Our next big project is the research for obtaining a grant for a water tank- the biggest we can get!
Marijka, Ros and Chris have already started gathering some of the preliminary information but we'll all need to chip in. Here is an extract from Ros's latest email on the subject:

"We are going to need to get comprehensive quotes for labour and materials from 2 plumbers so am putting it out there does anyone have any plumbers they know or contacts ??? We also thought that at the next working bee on 2nd MARCH at 1.30 if we could get as many ideas from you all, as to what you think about what needs to be considered and the type of questions that we need to ask the plumber in order to get a comprehensive quote, I'm sure some of you already know the answers to some of these things eg where is the best place to put this tank or possibly do we need 2 seperate ones, what sort of bases do they need ,how high do they have to be, and a whole range of other things. So please come along and offer your expertise because this is a large project for us and we will all benefit from it, many hands make light work and it will take input from everyone to make this happen."

Organic Gardener

The latest Organic Gardener has arrived.. Hooray.. It is in the library container in the garden's shed. If you wish to borrow it there is a library notebook into which you can sign your name and the date borrowed and then when you have returned it sign off.
The latest version is to be borrowed for two weeks only...

Latest blackboard news...

Hope to see you all there! How delightful was that rain?

Check out our new designs at our Red Bubble shop...

3000 Mile Garden

Here is the latest book our librarian Diana has added to the gardens' collection: "The 3000 Mile Garden : A Magical Correspondence Between Two Passionate Gardeners" by Roger Phillips and Leslie Land.

Two garden lovers meet at a mushroom forage in New Hampshire and start exchanging letters. Each has separate itineraries and separate interests in gardening.Roger is a nature photographer and responsible for the Eccleston Square garden - a 3 acre park in London. Leslie is a food and house magazine editor and tends rambling, borrowed acreage in Maine.Through the art of letter writing they learn of each others lives and gardens.This book is a lovely read and includes illustrations and photos of both gardens and some related recipes. The 3000 Mile Garden book inspired a TV series which screened on the ABC some years ago.

This book is available to borrow from the Gardens now.

Quarterly Meeting and new members

Happy New Year! People are starting to return to the gardens after holidays etc. and last Sunday we had several new members and prospective members, (as well as some old members) working hard to weed out the front area around the seat and mulberry tree. We were quite pleased with how much we were able to get done considering the heat. We were also delighted to have a visit from Louise and Ruby on Sunday, two of our very favourite people.
It's lovely to have all our plots taken now, and we're even trying to figure out space for new ones because demand is so high.

Benedict and Troy have generously donated the ex-fish oil tank behind the shed to be used as a water tank, and they we will need some volunteers to help install that soon, and connect it to the down pipes. Also a reminder that we plan to apply for a grant in March for a big water tank (or 2?) so anyone keen to help with that please come to the Quarterly meeting.

We have set Sunday 3rd February at 12.30 pm for our next Quarterly Meeting, so please attend if you can, because we need a decent turn-out to vote in Office bearers etc. And it'll also be a good opportunity to greet new members. Please bring something to share for lunch.

I hope you are all managing to survive this hideous heat, and let's hope we get some of that amazing rain they're all getting up North!

Christmas party

After a slow start on Sunday 9th Dec., we ended up with a good turn out at our Christmas party and we all had a lovely time getting to know our great new members, who all turned up.

It has been a difficult year for the Gardens, so it felt good to be able to end it on a positive note, with lots of new energy and good will.
Already the Gardens are looking much more cared for, and our new members are top quality!
Hopefully next year we will be able to sort out a water tank, get lots of rain, and be able to work (and play) together more as a community.

Merry Christmas, Happy Summer Solstice and a Bounteous and Joyful New Year!

An Important Website and a Garden member speaking at the Climate Change Festival

Hi. Our Ben is speaking at the CLIMATE CHANGE FESTIVAL Saturday 8th.. "Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture Cultivating Communities". For more Info go to:
http://www.foe.org.au/events/climate%20festival%20program%202007.pdf

Ben has also told us about the Ethical Buying guide so do have alook at it.. The link is on the side of the main blog.