Report on the 2015/2016 growing season

Post date: 21-Jun-2016 22:43:32

The Community Garden has had another successful year, celebrating its fifth anniversary in April with a special celebration with around 100 people present. At this event we were able to welcome old friends and local dignitaries. Councillor Jinty McTavish spoke on behalf of the City Council as the Mayor, Dave Cull, was not able to come until later, and Dr David Clark spoke as our local MP. John McKenzie (representing the school) and Steve O’Connor (representing the Project on behalf of Margaret Hillerby) also spoke. Amanda Reid, representing Presbyterian Support, provided a large cheque to represent our nominal $1 rent to the school for the Garden, a visitor’s book and a cake. Jenny Roxborogh, Secretary, was joined by everyone present in expressing appreciation to Richard Tozer, for his dedication and leading of all the practical aspects of the Garden.

We were greatly helped by a matching grant from the DCC of $348.40 which covered expenses for this event. We also appreciate generous discounts from Gardens New World for the food and for so expertly providing and managing the barbecue lunch, Mitre 10 Mega for a discount on the gazebo purchased and the Project Copy Centre for discount on advertising. The Project also funded a retractable banner which will be used at events we attend.

Working bees

We continue to have working bees every week of the year alternating Saturdays and Sundays. Harvesting also continues throughout the year and all year there are vegetables to take home. Morning and afternoon teas are important times for community building, swapping hints and getting to know people. At almost every working bee there is at least one new person, sometimes a student or someone new to the Valley. Notices are shared and many Garden related matters are decided at these times giving every volunteer a role in decision making.

Steering Group

The Steering Group has not had many formal matters to consider this last year. The main task that needed the group to meet specially was planning the 5th Anniversary celebrations. Richard Tozer continues to oversee the gardening operations and direct volunteers at working bees. Jenny Roxborogh continues as Secretary/coordinator, managing communications of various sorts, including the email list. Various members of the Steering Group have taken responsibility for specific projects, one of the main ones being Gretchen Kivell taking responsibility for the summer watering roster. Other members have taken responsibilities for opening up and managing working bees especially while Lynn and Richard were overseas this year (special thanks to Sham Harris and Fred Smith).

The vegetables

There have not been many changes to our vegetable planting and harvesting this year. New things such as fennel have been grown, the asparagus has now fully matured and things successful in the past like the garlic have not been so good this year. The vegetables grown over the last year are:

artichokes, asparagus, beans (broad, dwarf and scarlet runner), beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, cape gooseberries, fennel, garlic, green peppers, lots of herbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, pumpkins, potatoes, peas, radishes, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, silver beet, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips and yams.

We also grow a variety of flowers: sweet peas, calendulas, sunflowers, marigolds and wall flowers.

There are no plans to develop garden beds further as we feel we have reached capacity in terms of what we can maintain. In addition we value our green space and the peaceful atmosphere of the Garden surroundings.

The beehive at the garden, managed by local beekeeper Colin Fitzpatrick is temporarily out of commission because of a wasp invasion. Having the beehive provides a great source of bees for pollination and also Garden members get to share in the honey and some are learning some beekeeping skills. We look forward to a bee colony being re-established.

Improvements to the Garden infrastructure (and materials donated)

  • Donated wooden outside table and chairs, and two sun umbrellas

  • A small additional amount of irrigation added (the garlic bed)

  • Further carpet and wood chips laid to tidy pathways between plots

  • Donated shade cloth erected to create a wind break for the asparagus

  • A range of vegetable and flower plants donated by the Vegetable Growers' Club (originating from Mitre 10 donations to them)

  • A gazebo (as part of the City Council Matching Grant with a generous discount from Mitre 10)

Grants and Awards

  • City Council Matching Grant $348.40 for 5th birthday celebrations

  • NEV Project – $400 for our retractable banner

Relationships with other groups

Our relationships with many other groups in the Valley continue. Being part of one group often serves as an introduction to others. Our relationship with Transition Valley 473 is strong and their trees around the Garden are now mature enough to be fruiting well. Garden members are involved with the Valley Workspace and volunteering through the Project to help out with Foodshare packing. Garden members helped with the Lindsay Creek Festival and have volunteered to help with Matariki. Garden members are usually in evidence at Community dinners. All these intertwined activities help to demonstrate how community is being fostered in North East Valley.

Garden involvement in the community during the year

2015

May

Lisa Burton and Organics class from the Polytechnic

July

Interview for Access Radio (Jenny and Gretchen)

UOLC students visit the Garden

Polytechnic student taking photos for project

Nov

Kindergarten students visit

Dec

Enviroschools event at the Gardens

Justin Cashel – Enterprise Dunedin

2016

Feb

Articles in Star and Valley Voice to publicise 5th Birthday

Exchange students from Beijing University

Support for Dalmore Gardeners at their opening barbecue

Mar

5th Birthday

Kirsten Flockton from NEV school discussing more involvement of school classes

April

Landscape Architects conference visit the Garden

Visit from Vegetable Growers Club

May

Visit to Dalmore Bandit Gardeners – Official opening day

Visit from Wakari Hospital group

June

Visit to speak to the Blind Institute garden group (Susan Procter and Adele Gough)

Visit from Lisa Burton and Polytechnic Horticulture students

The North East Valley Community Garden is in good heart and we look forward to continued successful harvests for the 2016/2017 growing season. We value our relationships with the NEV School and the Project and other community organisations and know that these relations are satisfying and ongoing.