Welcome to "In our Garden", a page where we will provide an in-depth look at the interesting activities going in, in the community garden.

The common white onion is a large plant. It's the large white bulb growing in the ground that is used in cooking

Use white onions raw for their crispness and clean, mild flavor in Mexican dishes, salsas, and guacamole, or to garnish burgers and sandwiches. For cooked dishes, add them to soups, stews, and stir-fries, or caramelize them by cooking slowly to bring out their natural sweetness. White onions can also be fried for rings or used in potato salads and other prepared salads.  

Garlic is a pungent, smelly bulb. Love it or hate it, everyone will know you've eaten garlic! The bulb is used, it is in the ground, and can be split into a handful or so of cloves. Recipes specify the number of cloves to add

For raw or light flavor, chop or mince and add it at the end of cooking, or use whole for long time cooking

A better, and little known, alternative to Garlic, which tastes similar but not as strong

To use, pick a leaf and chop it up, where about one leaf = one garlic clove

The smallest of onions, with a delicate flavor, these should be used more in cooking

Use shallots raw in salads and dressings for a delicate onion flavor, or cook them by sautéing, roasting, or caramelizing for a sweeter, milder profile. They also make excellent crispy garnishes when fried and can be pickled for a tangy addition to rich dishes.  

Usually thought of as a herb, a versatile addition to potatoes, eggs or salads

To use chives in cooking, mince or snip the leaves and add them fresh as a garnish or at the very end of cooking for a mild oniony flavor. They are excellent in eggs, potatoes, soups, salads, and sauces, or blended into compound butters and vinaigrettes. You can also use the purple-blue flowers as a beautiful and edible garnish 

A large plant, the white part of the stems are boiled and included in a plate of vegetables or in a stew or soup for flavor

Uses: on their own! Grill or roast them and enjoy them as a side dish

In soups. Leeks are famous for their ability to add depth to soups, stews, and stock

In pasta. Use leeks to deepen the flavor in a One-Pot Pasta or Vegetarian Lasagna

11 Sep 2025 Thanks to our friends at Pinjarra Community Garden

This is a seed sowing guide for Spring

Soils vary between Acidic (with a pH less than 7) to Alkaline (with a pH above 7) or just plain neutral (pH 7)

This table shows the preferred pH range for different plants. The majority of vegetables and flowers prefer a slightly acidic pH

Our community garden raised beds have been measured as having a pH in the range of 6.5 to 7.0, so slightly acidic which is fine for most plants - cauliflower is an exception and benefits from adding some garden lime to increase the pH. (If you are trying to lower a pH then adding some sulphur pellets works)

5 Sep 2025

We are getting into Spring weather at last, though it remains changeable throughout September, but we are keen to get our garden prepared and plants growing, as evidenced by the amount of activity and the large body of keen volunteers at work in the garden.

In the raised bed K we are starting work on creating a rhubarb bed, with four varieties to be planted eventually and apple/rhubarb pie recipes to follow!

Click here for our page with more detail on the rhubarb bed