Something green at last

The seed plantings of several weeks ago succumbed to the killer snails, and our enthusiasm for working bees dwindled after such an energetic start. Nevertheless, a few people have been pushing along and we will start promoting working bees again soon - so if you haven’t heard from us for a while you will soon.

In the meantime Dorothea found a tip that has kept the snails bay - snails hate pine needles. So a couple of weekends ago Enid and other hopeful planters armed with pine needles gathered by Karen, Charlie and Joe, sowed some more seed and at last - something GREEN is growing in our Garden!

John, Yassi and Mark planted a patch of zucchini and dwarf beans. Yesterday silver beet seedlings were also planted after a full morning of Mark mixing horse poo and Robyn and Lawrie carting soil to our now complete first raised bed. Soon we hope to have another couple of beds on site. Slowly but surely we are getting there.

Oh yeah - if your passing by you might be lucky to collect the last of this seasons mulberries!

Snails Pace Picks Up

Well the rain and the school holidays slowed us down a bit, but “my” haven’t the snails been busy! So far the main beneficiaries of our efforts have been the snails who called a convention on our seedlings and had a feast. No worries - we have more seeds and time, and we are getting some horse poo to kick things along, and a couple of new beds on order.

So you won’t be surprised that we have another working bee this Saturday 15^th October to (you guessed it) plant more seeds; have fun painting some garden signs , shovel some horse poo and other bits and pieces that only your eye will spot needing to be done! Come along and join in the fun anytime 9.00 am -12.30 pm.

If you can’t make it in the morning you might like to drop in between 3.30-4.30 pm and say G’day as we will be there as part of the “Back to Tighes Hill” event on Saturday.

More to do Saturday 24 September

Come along between 9 and 12md and meet some like minded folk. Help put up a garden bed, encourage our seedlings, turn over the compost, or just turn up for a friendly chat and share some of your ideas for the garden layout by filling out a garden planning sheet.

Purpled people – eaters!

A good turn out on another sunny Saturday. In the din of the mulching machine the last of the tree cuttings were mulched. More composting, seedlings planted, the lemon tree pruned and feed, lots and lots of mulberries picked, and kids large and small with purpled lips and hands and feet! As people came and went there were lots of smiles and happy-getting-to-know yous! Tim disappeared for a while but was discovered high in the Mulberry tree – was he harvesting, or grazing?  I would guess there were a few Mulberry pies cooked in Tighes Hill that night. I found and used a recipe that had the usual ingredients plus half a cup of port and some orange rind- yum! The tree keeps on giving with some more fruit ripening each day. Drop by and pick a few if you like – just remember to use the Union St entrance via the back of the Church if visiting during business hours.

Anyone for Mulberry Pie?

The Mulberry Tree is ripening so why not come along and pick some Mulberries to make your own Mulberry pie or design your own Mulberry wine!   Why let the birds have all the fun when your kids will look great with purpled hands and smiles. This Saturday 17 September  9.00 -12md we are having another working bee including the mulberry picking.  Other fun things to do include planting some seedlings, give us your ideas on the garden layout.

Working Bee #2 Sat 10th September

What a great day of activity with about a dozen gardeners turning out on a rather cool but sunny morning. Cath was seen busy there early in the morning while the rest of us emerged around 9.30 after leisurely starts to the day. The main achievements were a substantial reduction in the Mulberry tree trimmings which now have been transformed into promising piles of compost and thanks to Mr Mulcher machine a good lot of fresh mulch. John and Tim put together the beginnings of above ground bed #1 in lightening speed. Various visitors, young and old did taste testings of the mulberries.

Working Bee # 2 - Saturday 10th Sept 2011

Saturday 10th Sept 2011 9am -12.30pm.

Yes, the excitement has turned to action! The trees have been trimmed back and we have decided to work with the cement already in place by building raised beds on that! Come along to our next working bee and help with the following tasks:

- Stripping leaves from the already pruned mulberry branches for composting.
- Plant some seedlings (we have seeding mix, trays and seeds)
- Help put up a raised garden bed (do you have any old carpet for their base?)
- Help fix the bench seat (sander, extension cord, drill, bolts)

Once all the tree trimmings are off the cement we can then start to bring in other materials to help build the beds. If you or your neighbours have any of the following that you could donate, please let Mark know and we can arrange to collect them: wooden pallets, corrugated iron; sleepers; screws; Styrofoam boxes; PVC pipe; Aggie pipe; garden tools or other useable equipment; compost bins; fertilizers,; hay bales; lattice; star pickets; bench seats; soil; compost. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Facebook Page

We also have a Facebook Page "The Terrace Garden" with lots more photos, reminders and updates to come.  I hope to have this blog and the Facebook Page connected soon.

Working Bee # 1

What a productive Saturday morning with many hands on deck we have made a great start on getting the Terrace Garden site ready for setting up. The Mulberry tree got a well-needed haircut and is no longer pushing up against the Church building. Mrs Mulberry is looking forward to another (smaller) crop of fruit this year and her trimmings will make great compost and mulch. Busy workers have stated to pile sort the debris but we need your help to clear the deck, by pulling compostable leaves, and stacking the branches.

Our beginnings

A letter box drop was completed around Tighes Hill west of William Street inviting interested residents to attend a public meeting in the Church Grounds on Sunday 28th August 2011. About 25-30 people turned up and expressed interest and excitement at the prospect of another Community Garden in Tighes Hill. It was explained that the use of the space was made possible through the generosity of the local Catholic Parish.  It was agreed by those present that the garden would be a shared garden rather than individuals/families establishing their own plots. There was agreement also that no pesticides or other chemicals be used and there was a preference for raised garden beds for the growing of vegies. It was also agreed that a working group be established to liaise with the Parish and to investigate the most viable options for garden layout, construction materials, organisational structure etc.

Something New Is Growing in Tighes Hill

We had a great turn out last Sunday with 25-30 residents showing a lot of interest and meeting each other. There was a buzz of excitement in the air as we shared ideas and enjoyed imagining how the area could be transformed with a bit of love, care and plants.   We had six people volunteer to form a working group and they got together last night and we have a staged plan underway that is also very exciting. I will fill you in on the details in a later email, but we have decided  to start with clearing the pebbles from along the back fence and putting up some raised beds there later.