Hello Gardeners

It’s been a while since our last newsletter, a whole growing season in fact. For those how are used to monthly newsletters, we have made the decision to reduce the frequency of newsletters to approximately 4 per year. This is being done to reduce the workload on our volunteers (me).

Hopefully those with vegetable gardens had lots of success over summer months and have some produce preserved for the coming months. My three zucchini plants produced heaps of fruit this summer, so I challenged myself to find different ways to use them. After checking out Pintrest for recipes and getting ideas from garden members, I made zucchini slice, crumbed zucchini, zucchini cake, zucchini jam, zucchini fritters, pineapple flavoured dried zucchini and zucchini chutney. On top of this I shared a large number of zucchinis. Once established zucchinis are a very giving plant and there are so many different ways they can be used.

We had some good news during the week, The City of Holdfast Bay has approved the community garden lease for another 5 years. So much has been achieved over the past 5 years. I’m looking forward to seeing the garden and its community continuing to grow over the next 5 years.

Here's an update on this month's activities and upcoming events in the garden.

Whats Been Happening

**Christmas Party & Craft Workshop**

Yet another lovely Christmas Party was had in the garden. Great food, perfect weather and most importantly a lovely group of people coming together to share a meal and each other's company.
The garden was full of creative minds at our Christmas craft workshop. Lots of Christmas themed projects were made and then taken home, each one unique to its maker.

Annual General Meeting - Sunday 3rd December

As part of the AGM the garden committee for 2024 was elected. Your committee members are:

· Chairperson – Beau

· Vice Chair – Lisa

· Treasurer – Jay

· Secretary – Sam

· Membership Coordinator (General & Plot membership) – Miranda

· Plot Holder Representative – Gloria

· General Committee: Barbara, Kiki, Deb & Janet

Barbara P & Margi stood down from the committee, we would like to acknowledge and thank them for their time and input to the committee.

The committee can be contacted by sending an email to northbrightoncg@gmail.com

**Shade Structures**

Some of you may remember we had a large number of member’s plot shade structures vandalised in March 2023.
Late 2023 the garden was awarded a Greening Our Community Grant from the City of Holdfast Bay. Part of the grant was to be used to replace the damaged shade structures.
Many thanks to Miranda, Beau & Jay for planning, organising, building and coordinating the new shade structures. There was a lot of work that went on in the background that a lot of people don’t see. All their hard work has paid off the member plots are looking great and are protected from the summer sun.

**Support from Seasol**

Seasol has generously donated two large containers of their products to the community garden.
These will go towards feeding and encouraging strong growth of our seedlings and community garden plants.

**Garden Summer Fruit**

Wow, our fruit trees are really starting to produce.
During the past 5 years garden volunteers have cared for our many fruit trees.
The fruit trees were watered, pruned, fertilized, protected from pests and diseases. This hard work paid off this year with a good crop of fruit on a number of the trees.
Reminder: once summer fruit has been picked make sure you feed your fruit tree. This will help set up the tree for its next crop.

**Nursery Door**

Thanks to a generous donation of a security door, we now have a secure door to the outdoor nursery. Also thankyou to Glen & Janet who installed the door.
This is a great example of reusing an item to give it a second life.

Upcoming events

**Autumn Plant Sale**

**PLANTS**
After plenty of TLC by our volunteers, we have a range of different seedlings and plants ready for their new home.
**GARDEN TOUR - 11AM AT GARDEN**
Want to learn more about the design of our garden? Interested in starting your own community garden or home edible garden?

Join us for a guided tour with our in-house designer and current chairperson, Beau from **Barefoot Creative**.

**SAUSAGE SIZZLE**
We are doing a sausage sizzle.
Perfect to enjoy while touring the garden or buying some plants.
**Craft & Bake Stall**
A range of crafts and bake goods that have been created and donated by garden members will be available on the day.
**Volunteers**
If you can help on day or before the day, any time you can spare would be great. You do not need to commit to helping for the whole event.
Some of the areas needing a hand:
**BBQ and Bake Sale**
**Setting up and packing up**
**General helpers to “float” around on the day**
If you would like to help, let us know by leaving a comment or sending an email to northbrightoncg@gmail.com

**Garden Open to Visitors**

When: 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month 10am to 1pm(ish)
Every Wednesday 10am to 12pm(ish)
Where: North Brighton Community Garden (parking off Brimble St)

**Working Bees**

Working Bees are held on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month, starting at 10am
What to Bring: Gardening gloves, water bottle, sunscreen & hat
Working Bees are a great way to get involved in the garden and to get to know your fellow community gardeners. There is a job for all abilities. Any time you can spare to help would be great.

**New Member Orientation**

New Member Orientations are held on the 1st Sunday of each month at 10.30am
Where: North Brighton Community Garden, (parking off Brimble St)
Recently joined as a garden member or want to learn about what we do and how you can be involved in the garden, come along to a new member orientation session. No booking required.

**Wednesday Morning Tea**

When: Every Wednesday 10am to 11am(ish)
Where: North Brighton Community Garden, (parking off Brimble St)
Have a world-famous brownie recipe? Bring it along to our regular social event where everyone is welcome to come along for a cuppa, chat and share a bite to eat. We’ll often stay back to do a few jobs as well.
**What to bring:** Gardening gloves, drink bottle, plate of food to share (encouraged but not compulsory)

House (Garden) Keeping

**Access to the Community Garden**

One of the perks of being a general garden member is that you are entitled to the garden gate code to access the garden when you like (after agreeing to T&Cs).
**The gate code will be reset from Friday 15th March 2024.**
The new code will be provided to current financial general garden members.
Not a garden/financial member, now is a great time to join. General garden membership fee is $10 per household renewable each year in October.
To renew your GENERAL MEMBERSHIP ONLY, please deposit your $10 into the account below, using your FULL NAME as the reference. Electronic payment is preferred, but you can pay cash in person on Wednesdays or at the AGM.
Account Name: Holdfast Bay Community Garden Inc.
BSB: 805 050 (People’s Choice Credit Union)
Account: 102418752

**Missing Garden Produce**

Recently produce has been going missing from members’ plots and unfair amounts of communal produce have been harvested by individuals.
In some instances, the produce taken is not ready to be harvested. Please respect do not pick signs. These signs are used for a reason. Maybe the produce isn’t ripe, or it is being saved for a reason.
This is very upsetting and disrespectful to the hard work and dedication of our gardeners and volunteers.
If you are not sure what or how much you can pick, please check with a committee member.
We are taking steps to try to prevent this and one security camera has been relocated. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Community Garden Products & Compost

Please keep in mind any garden products stored in the shed is for the community/communal areas of the garden. These products should not be used by members for their plots. If in doubt, please ask someone.

This also applies to compost made at the garden. Lots of hard work goes into making the compost with the idea that it will be used for the benefit of the community garden.

**Member Plots**

Reminder, that the plots on the left-hand side of the garden when you walk into the garden are leased by members.
**Please do not pick any produce from these plots without permission of the plot holder**.
Members put a lot of time, money and effort into growing produce for their own use.

get involved with the garden

There are a number of ways you can help out at the garden, be involved with the garden community and meet like-minded people. This includes helping with propagating, looking after garden beds, watering, creating arts and crafts. Do you have a garden related or art & craft related skill you would like to share? We are always looking for new workshop ideas and facilitators.

Let us know by emailing northbrightoncg@gmail.com if you can help or would like more information.

Happy Gardening

Lisa & North Brighton Community Garden Committee

Summer/Autumn 2024 Newsletter