Report on the 2017/2018 Growing Season
Post date: 02-Jul-2018 03:48:04
The Community Garden has had another successful year, celebrating its seventh anniversary anniversary in March with a low-key barbeque at the Garden as we did in 2016. At both events we had an attendance of around 30 and great weather.
Working Bees
We continue to have working bees every week of the year alternating Saturdays and Sundays. Last year we instigated a 9.30 start for Saturday working bees during the winter months and we have continued with this for
winter 2018.
Attendance at working bees averages around 17 and this year attendances in the mid twenties has become more common. This year we had had students from Aquinas College and other students in flats, coming on a regular basis. Harvesting also continues throughout the year and all year there are vegetables to take home.
Our morning and afternoon teas have continued to be an important part of our philosophy and notices are given and group decisions made at these times meaning that separate committee meetings are unnecessary.
Leadership
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. 2018 has seen a move to using MailChimp for the monthly working bee schedule, necessitated by our email list now being around 250.
Various members of the 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 have been overseas (special thanks to Sham Harris and Mark Dyer). Last winter Garden members took responsibility for planting seeds and raising seedlings to plant in the spring. The equipment necessary for setting this up and instructions were provided by Richard. This will happen again this winter.
Death of a Member
It is with sadness we note the death of Geoffrey Vine in December 2017. He had been a valued member of the Garden and served on the Steering Committee.
The Vegetables
There have not been many changes to our vegetable planting and harvesting this year. New things such as fennel have been grow, The asparagus and garlic have not been good this year and the yams, although prolific have not
been as big as hoped for. The vegetables grown over the last Two year are: artichokes, asparagus, beans,- broad, dwarf and scarlet runner, beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chilies, courgettes, cucumbers, 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, yams. We also grow a variety of flowers: Sweet peas, calendulas, sunflowers, marigolds and wall flowers.
The beehive at the garden is producing well, but Colin Fitzpatrick, our mentor suffered a serious accident a few months ago so we may need to make alternative arrangements for care of the bees. At least one member has helped with the bees and has learn a lot about the art of bee keeping from Colin.
Grants and Gifts
The only grant we have had since the last report is a City Council Matching Grant of $485 in October 2017 for equipment. Wooden edging for the gravel drive, garden gloves and a selection of small hand tools were purchased with this grant.
We received a gift of $100 from visiting members of the Blueskin Bay Garden Club.
We have received gifts of seedlings from Mitre 10 and the Warehous. We also received a major gift of gravel for the driveway which has made a big difference.
Some paint for signs has been received from Resenes.
Improvements to the Garden Infrastructure
There have been several improvements made to the gardens:
Repainting Garden sign in school grounds
Painting new signs to place at entrance to Garden and on shed.
3 wooden seats built in the garden
Building edging for drive and paths around compost bins and spreading metal
Repairing compost bins
Establishing a hot contained compost bin to kill noxious weeds
Gift of another wooden table for morning tea area.
Problems faced
We have had some problems with vandalism but not on an on going nature. This has taken the form of pulling out carrots and damaging sweet corn. Another problem has been some people coming to the Garden and helping themselves when they have never been to a working bee or been in touch with a Garden member. Hopefully new signs will make our policy clearer.
Relationships with other groups
Our relationships with many other groups in the Valley continue. Garden members are involved in Transition Valley 473, The Valley Work Space, volunteering in the Project office, helping with Kai Share, Matariki and Creek Fest.
Garden Involvement in the Community
During the last half of 2016, 2017 and the first half of 2018 we have been involved in several community events:
2016
July
Visit by delegates to Local Government Conference
October
Took part in Open Day for North East Valley Gardens
2017
February
Took part in University Volunteers day
Visit from Dignity Funeral Services re their setting up a community garden
March
Took part in Creek Fest
Children from NEV Normal School visiting the Garden with their teachers on a regular basis.
April
Stall at Farmers Market Harvest Festival
June
Loaned tools, wheelbarrows and provided some vegetables for Matariki
NEV School bringing compost buckets to the Garden
Took part in Community Builders workshop in NEV
August
Took part in consultation for Place Based Community Groups
September
Interview with Maureen Howard on Otago Access Radio
2018
January
Visit from Guy Pringle at Malcam Trust re Youth Programme
February
Visit from Blueskin Bay Garden Club ( Gift of $100 gratefully received).
March
Display at Creek Fest.
The Garden continues to be a place of learning and community fellowship, as well as providing members with a wide range of fresh vegetables for themselves and their families.
Jenny Roxborogh