Winnter 2024 Newsletter
Hello Gardeners
Here's an update on activities and upcoming events in the garden.
Whats Been Happening
Autumn Plant Sale
Our Autumn Plant Sale on the 14th of April was a resounding success, thanks to the ideal weather and the tireless efforts of the garden volunteers.
The community's support was evident in the enthusiastic participation and purchases of plants, homemade cakes, crafts, and the ever-popular sausage sizzle.
Special activities like Janet's nature play captivated the children, while Beau's informative garden tour provided a deeper appreciation of the garden's beauty and diversity. Such events not only foster community spirit but also play a vital role in the garden's ongoing maintenance and growth.
Herb Society Visit
We recently had the pleasure of hosting a group of people from the Herb Society at the community garden.
After an informative tour of the garden, we gathered for a chat and morning tea. It was lovely to show off our beautiful garden and chat all things gardens and plants.
Do you know of a group who might enjoy something like this, let us know and we'll see what we can do.
Nido Early School Somerton Park
We are delighted to share that we have formed a meaningful connection with the Nido Early School Somerton Park.
Their educators visited the gardens and discovered a wealth of opportunities for learning and investigation.
We hope this ongoing connection will inspire the children to explore the world around them and develop a passion for environmental practices.
The children have now visited the garden in March and in May with another planned in June.
Upcoming events
Spring Open Day 20th October 2024
This year's Spring Open Day is set to be a vibrant celebration, marking the 5th anniversary of our community garden.
As the date approaches, more details will be provided to ensure everyone is informed and can participate in the celebrations.
Your creative ideas and offers to volunteer are not just welcome, they're essential to make this event bloom with success!
Let's come together to celebrate the growth and connections fostered in this green haven over the years.
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 , 61 Bowker Street, North Brighton (parking off Brimble St and Bowker Street)
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
Changes to harvesting guidelines
A great deal of time and energy goes into growing produce in the communal areas of the garden. This produce, while often small, is best harvested and shared when it's ready and ripe.
Unfortunately, some of this produce has been overpicked by individuals or picked too early and wasted. In an effort to reduce wastage and ensure fairness and wider access to shared produce, the committee will now be responsible for harvesting and distributing shared produce.
Shared produce includes all the fruit trees and in ground beds but does not include produce from the three communal beds and brick kitchen garden - feel free to continue picking from these (in reasonable amounts).
The harvested produce will be shared predominantly during our Wednesday social events and Sunday working bees as these events attract the greatest attendance. While we can't predict exactly when produce will be ready, we'll attempt to promote it on email, Facebook or our website when it is.
Access to the Community Garden
Being a general garden member comes with the benefit of having access to the garden at your convenience, provided you adhere to the terms and conditions.
It's important to maintain the security of the garden by not sharing the gate code.
Know someone who would like to visit the garden, encourage them to join as a general garden member. This ensures that everyone who enters the garden is informed and respectful of the shared rules and responsibilities.
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.
What’s Growing in the Garden
Dragon Fruit
The garden was buzzing with excitement back in March. Our Dragon fruit plant was showing off its first bloom.
Dragon fruit, also known as Pitaya, is native to Mexico and Central and South America. They love warm to hot, humid conditions, and dislike frost. They seem to grow well in home gardens in Adelaide.
The Dragon fruit flower looks like it has turned into a fruit. Now to wait for it to ripen.
Garden Autumn Produce
The garden has been very productive over autumn, here are just a few of the produce that has been grown.
Pumpkins, lemons, limes, chilies, pomegranates, hops.
Tamarillos - the tree is producing heaps of fruit with more to ripen. Beau spoilt us with a cake made using tamarillos.
Kensington Pride mango - only a couple of mangoes that were cut up and shared at morning tea.
Rangpur Limes - these look like mandarins but taste like a sour lemon.
New Guinea Bean - lots of these were harvested when they were small. We managed to grow one to at least one meter long. This will be used for seeds.
Quinces - only a few this year, hopefully more next year.
Garden Winter Produce
We expect the following produce to be available over the next couple of months:
Bananas (hopefully)
Guavas
Oranges, grapefruit, lemons
Yacon, Tamarillos
Mustard greens, lettuce
Chard, kale
Broccoli (if the caterpillars don’t eat them)
Raspberries
Now until winter is the time to plant cane berries like raspberries/blackberries and their hybrids - loganberries and boysenberries
In the hills they’ll need full sun, but in Adelaide they only need a few hours sun and preferably afternoon shade. It’s best to plant on a east to southeast facing orientation, or cover them with 30-50% shade cloth
All cane berries need a trellis. There are many styles to choose from - and here is a FANTASTIC guide to all of them
https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/.../how-to-grow.../...
We chose the double fence system. It’s not completely necessary, but it’s the easiest way to explain to our members the cane system for SUMMER fruiting raspberries
Last year’s canes (floricanes) were tied to one side and fruited this year, while this season’s new canes (primocanes) are tied to the other. Once the floricanes have finished fruiting around autumn they are cut down and the primocanes are then transferred to the other side where they’ll fruit next year
Of all the berries, we’ve found loganberries the easiest to grow. They are both sweet and tart, but handle the heat slightly more than others. Check out how long this cane grew!
Herbasaurus Garden
Regular visitors to the garden will know of our Fairy Garden. To help increase children interaction with the garden we are looking at creating a dinosaur garden, that is planted up with herbs/edible plants.
If you would like to help with this or have ideas or items we could use, please get in contact with us via email northbrightoncg@gmail.com .
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.
Choko Flower
Happy Gardening
Lisa & North Brighton Community Garden Committee