The Coombabah Community Garden was established in the southwest corner of the Coombabah State Primary School in 2011/12 and now contains over 25 communal garden beds and a greenhouse nursery. We do not offer garden beds for each person. We all tend each and any of the gardens and we all enjoy the harvest of the produce. The cost of membership is $20.00 one year or part thereof.
The purpose of the garden is to create a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs also to make new and lasting friendships.
Our garden is a natural living environment connecting people with nature, seasons, and the life cycles of different plants. We think it is beautiful, practical, and usable. We love to plant different vegetables and we have many interesting discussions on how to prepare and cook. We enjoy holding some of our meetings in the garden where we prepare, cook and eat some of the produce for lunch. Our garden is not certified organic however we do not use chemical sprays. All soil, mulch, and compost are sourced locally or made up by us. We are extremely careful of how the crops are cared for.
People: We enjoy talking about how we can bring our community together, it is a way to help people get to know their neighbours and to make new friendships. We look to members for their skills and knowledge about gardening and perhaps some knowledge and ability to manage the workings of the garden. Digging, mulching, planting, composting farming, assembling…are all part of the physical side of gardening. But what about the other side of This Garden, managing people, group dynamics, talking to the neighbourhood, getting new equipment/soil, etc.
Finding partners and sponsors, attending expos. Functions to promote the garden and the work we do in the community e.g. attending Kindy’s to demonstrate making pots and planting seeds etc.
Holding Bunnings BBQs when possible to raise money for seeds etc.
All of this is to ensure that the end product is an absolute pleasure.
