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Stops Blue Mountains Council closing Blackheath Community Garden

Dear fellow Gardeners,

I thought I would let you all know that our Community Garden is facing closure. The Blue Mountains City Council will vote on Nov 20th as to whether or not to renew our lease. The subcommittee that was formed to make a recommendation about the lease will be advising that the lease is not renewed.

The only official reason we have been given is that 'the site is unsuitable' for gardening. We believe, however, that we can deal with both the issues of water and soil quality using permaculture design and organic methods.

We think that the real basis of the Council's objection is an aesthetic one. A small number of complaints have been made about the garden looking 'untidy' and not in keeping with the aesthetics of Blackheath (Rhododendron town). Our garden is on main road as you drive into our town and is highly visible.

I have attached a document for anyone interested in knowing more about our garden and its history and some of the issues. We are a new group of enthusiastic and dedicated gardeners and have been working hard for the last 12 months to improve a derelict site.

The loss of the garden on the grounds of 'aesthetics' in a time of global food insecurity, peak oil and climate change is absolutely outrageous. Not to mention, the message it would send to our gardeners and the broader community about the value of taking action locally around these issues.

We would appreciate any advice or stories of similar experiences with councils.

Many thanks & in solidarity,
Belinda Selke

Download Blackheath Community Gardens Vision (pdf 254KB)

New name, new meeting place for food co-op

Richmond - Seasons Organic Coop is now Hawkesbury Organic Food Co-op
Open: 4.30 - 6pm Thursdays, 23 Bosworth Street Richmond (Rear of Hawkesbury Skills Inc)
http://seasonscoop.googlepages.com

Council issues community gardening and planting brochures

Leichhardt Council, in Sydney's Inner West, has released two brochures the purpose of which Council describes as being " designed to raise awareness of community gardens and planting projects that are available in the inner city area and highlight volunteer opportunities. The brochures contain contact details for ten local community gardens/ revegetation projects/ and bushcare groups".

The bNew name, new meeting place for food co-op

Richmond - Seasons Organic Coop is now Hawkesbury Organic Food Co-op
Open: 4.30 - 6pm Thursdays, 23 Bosworth Street Richmond (Rear of Hawkesbury Skills Inc)
http://seasonscoop.googlepages.com

Local food initiatives in NSW

Hawkesbury Organic Food Co-op , a food cooperative, opens 4.30 - 6pm Thursdays at 23 Bosworth Street Richmond (Rear of Hawkesbury Skills Inc)
http://seasonscoop.googlepages.com
Chatswood Public School Organic Food and Farmers Market - Saturday 8am and 1pm. Chatswood Public School, Pacific Highway.
Organic Food Market, Parkway Hotel, Forest Road East, Frenchs Forest (Sundays 9-1)
Leichhardt Farmer's Market, Orange Grove Public School, corner Perry Street and Balmain Road (Saturdays 9-1)
Hornsby Mall Organic Food Market (Thursdays 10-3)
St Ives Showground Organic Food and Farmer's Market (Wednesdays 9-1)
Bondi Junction Organic Food and Farmer's Market (Fridays 10-3)
Life Style Plus Market, Bondi Junction (Saturdays 10-3).
Fresh & Wild Organic Market - certified organic by NASAA. Saturday 8am - 1pm. Manly West Public School, Hill Street, Balgowlah
Marrickville Organic Market, Addison Road Community Centre, Addison Road (Sunday AM).

Resources

City of Sydney - community garden map

City of Sydney have produced an A3 map of the community gardens in their council area.
City of Sydney garden map: (www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Environment/documents/CommunityGardensMap.pdf)

Information about community gardens in the City of Sydney and addresses/contact details of gardens: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Waste/WhatYouCanDo/CommunityGardens.asp

Community gardens and sustainabilitty groups in Leichardt municipality - brochure and map

Leichhardt Council has produced a brochure and map locating community gardens in the Leichhardt local government area. The brochures are Community Garden & Planting Projects and Community Garden & Planting Projects map.

Correction to brochure:
1. The contact phone number and email for the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network notified on the brochure is out of date. The Network can be contacted through this website.
2. The UNSW Permaculture Community Garden noted on the brochure no longer exists.

Download pdf files: http://www.lmc.nsw.gov.au/Community-Gardens.html

Archive:

The Save UNSW Permaculture Community Garden campaign

The UNSW Permaculture Community Garden - seeking a solution
> Proposal for continuation of community garden under the management of the garden teams
> view photographs of the newly-fenced community garden
> read a brief history of the UNSW Permaculture Community Garden
> read an earlier published item on the UNSW Permaculture Community Garden
> read a personal response to the controversy
> download (87KB) the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network's letter to UNSW administration
> want to help?

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PAGE UPDATED... Monday, 26 November 2007