Autumn 2025 Newsletter

Hello Gardeners

Hopefully your garden has flourished over summer and like me have been able to enjoy plenty of summer produce. At home I’ve enjoyed lots of sweet cherry tomatoes and basil.

We’ve had our first committee meetings of the year and looking at a few new projects garden members can get involved in.

Read on to see what’s been happening and events we have planned for the year.

Whats Been Happening

**Active Citizenship Award**

A big congratulations to Beau (our garden Chairperson) on being awarded a City of Holdfast Bay Australian Day, Active Citizenship award.
Beau Warren, who’s a passionate community gardener, was also honoured with the Active Citizenship award.
He has played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the North Brighton Community Garden and has helped to create a community space that promotes sustainability and environmental awareness.
“His commitment to the garden's development has significantly contributed to the health and wellbeing of participants by offering a space that fosters both mental and physical health,” Mayor Wilson said.

**New Wicking Beds**

We have been struggling to grow produce in the garden beds near Sunny the Scarecrow. Just the other side of the garden fence is a lovely grove of Casuarina trees. The roots from these trees were benefiting from all the water and goodness we were putting onto the garden bed making it hard for anything we planted to flourish.
To get around this problem we have purchased two Food Cube wicking beds. The wicking bed puts a barrier between tree roots and contains water and nutrients within the wicking bed. Meaning anything we plant will be get full benefit of the water and nutrients and not the tree roots. Once the plants are established watering will become easier as we will only need to fill the wicking bed reservoir. This should result in water saving and volunteer watering time.
It was a real team effort setting up the beds. We opted to make our own soil mix to fill the wicking beds. The mix included Perlite, Bio Char that had been soaked in a tea made from comfrey, parsley and chicken manure, coir, garden made compost and potting mix.

**Summer Fruit Harvest**

This year has been our best harvest yet. All our efforts in pruning, feeding, watering, and protecting our stone fruit trees have led to a great yield.
After harvesting, it's crucial to continue feeding and watering the trees to prepare them for the next season.
More fruit is still coming. Pears, Quinces, and Pomegranates are nearly ready to pick. Garden management will monitor these and pick and share when ready.

**Tropical Fruit**

Our Kensington Pride mango tree has at least 21 mangos this season, yes we’re that excited we’ve counted them
The first was picked and shared at Sunday’s working bee, and the second will be shared at Wednesday morning tea. The rest are still ripening on the tree.
The banana grove has been very productive, with three bunches of bananas growing this summer. The first bunch grown on a Pisang Ceylan Banana was harvested on Sunday and tasted deliciously different from store-bought bananas.
The Dragon Fruit also seems to have more fruit coming soon, which we look forward to harvesting.

**Plant Fosters Needed**

Do you have a sunny spot at home? Our greenhouse has young seedlings for our Autumn plant sale. We need people to care for a tray of seedlings until they are ready to be potted. This is a good way to fulfill your membership requirement at the garden.
Let us know if you can help. Email: northbrightoncg@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.

Up Coming Events

**Autumn Cooking Demonstration Workshop**

When: Sunday 6th April, 11am
Where: North Brighton Community Garden, 61 Bowker Street, North Brighton
We are excited to announce that we are hosting a member-led cooking demonstration, which will be followed by a shared meal. The focus will be on using produce from the community garden.
Members of our community can participate in two ways:
1. Demonstrate a dish that incorporates our garden's fresh produce or by
2. Attend the event to learn new and creative methods for using the various produce available in the garden.
After the demonstration has concluded, everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal together in a friendly atmosphere.
We held a similar event last year which was met with great enthusiasm and was very popular among our members.
Please reach out to us via email if you are interested in demonstrating a dish or if you would like to attend as a participant.
This event is free for all garden members, and non-members are welcome to join for a small fee of $5.

**Autumn Plant Sale**

When: Sunday 13th April 2025, 9am to 1pm
Where: North Brighton Community Garden, 61 Bowker Street, North Brighton
**PLANTS**
There will be a range of different seedlings and plants grown by garden members 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**.

**Craft & Bake Stall**
A range of bake goods & crafts 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.
If you would like to help, let us know by sending an email to northbrightoncg@gmail.com

**Bake Sale - Help Needed**

We need help in a number of ways with our Autumn Plant Sale bake sale.
**1. Donations of baked goods** to sell at our bake sale. Any donated home-cooked goods need to come with a list of ingredients used.
**2. Serving on the bake sale stand** on Sunday 13th April.
Let us know if you can help either with bake goods or serving on the bake sale stand, by sending email to northbrightoncg@gmail.com
**3. Buy a treat!** Come along to the Open Day and purchase a treat from the bake sale.
**Important Note:** due to food handling rules, we cannot sell baked goods that contain fresh cream or custard. Fake cream is ok to use.

**Working Bees**

Working Bees will be held on the:
**1st Sunday** of the month &
3rd Saturday* of each month, starting at 10am
*Note we are trialing the 3rd Saturday instead of the 3rd Sunday of the month.
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)

Garden Open to Visitors

1st Sunday of each month 10am to 1pm(ish)
3rd Saturday 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)

**What to Plant in Autum**

Beetroot, Sprouting Broccoli, Carrot, Coriander, Cos Lettuce, Mixed Leaf Lettuce, Parsley, Rocket, Radish,
Snow pea, Baby Spinach, Spring Onion
**Planting Tips** (from Jon Lamb)
Soaking the topsoil (or potting mix) the day before planting will significantly improve early establishment.
Soaking the seedlings two to three hours before transplanting will increase their tolerance to transplant shock (at the garden we add a small amount of Seasol to the water the seedlings are soaked in).
Adding a 2-3cm layer of soft mulch after planting will help keep the root zone cool and moist.

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.

Do you have a passion for social media, we would love your help with our Facebook and Instagram posts.

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