International Eco Garden Gets Growing

Spring has come alive, and the YCW Interational Eco-Garden, is currently being renovated and cleaned up.

Achievements so far...

- Pruning the Frangipanni Tree (thanks Steven)

- Converting the garden beds into "No Dig" gardens

- Big cleanup of the back area, we removed three garbage bags full of plastic and other non-organic material.

- Mulch has been gathered from various sources, ready to be put on the garden beds.
- Basil seeds have been planted and are beginning to sprout, ready to plant in 2-3 weeks.
- All water tanks are operational and working and mostly 90% full

Ideas for future activities

Frangipanni's retail at nurseries for about $15-20. We maybe able to sell a couple to make up for the money spent on mulch and other garden items.
















Steven pruning the Frangipanni Tree

Nearing completion, but we need more newspaper please!

Steven and Anastasia laying newspaper
to form the basis of the no-dig garden.

The Edmund Rice Centre has an Eco Justice Project which is three pronged. One of the sub projects is the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance. Check out the websites for some background information. I think these would be good for a discussion at a HEAT meeting to help connect the group to the wider regional and global issues.

http://www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au

http://www.erc.org.au




www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au

HEAT Minutes 28-08-2008

Venue: JD's Hotel, Merrylands
Present: Paul, Anastasia, Steven.

Meeting started 6.45

Agenda Items

General Catchup

BBQ Oven

* We need to obtain pavers for the oven floor
* Buy Cement 2 bags
* Bring trowel
* Cement chimney shut
* Create a 2nd front part
* Create a second chimney at front. (Igloo shaped)


Garden Beds

* Need to finish measuring up the plots?
* How many plots will we have?
* Keep saving newspaper/cardboard/old carpet
* Obtain well rotted horse/sheep/cow manure
* Obtain strong containers to pick up mulch from Foray St, Guildford
* Where will we grow seedlings from seed?


Trees

* Trees need to be pruned, especially the mandarin tree.
* Investigate next council cleanup dates

4. People

* How will decisions be made?
* What are the rules?
* How will we communicate with the gardeners?
* When will the garden operate?
* What ways will we promote the international food garden? To YCW and beyond?
* When will someone be there? Are there any insurance issues we need to be aware of?
* What volunteer jobs will be able to be done by people who are doing work for the dole?
* How will we manage safety? What things will we do to ensure no-one gets hurt, and if they know what to do if someone does?

General Catchup

- Anastasia is looking for an activity after work, but is worried about the lack of public transport (in particular bus services from Parramaacktta to Greystanes). Paul suggested that she investigate Ecklersleys or the Parramatta Artists Studio's as they have some art based activities. It may also be good to see if Anastasia could catch the T80 to Gipps Rd, Greystanes and get lift from there. Another suggestion was to call Westbus and see whether they could run another bus at that time or call the 131500 feedback.

- Steven has been watching Planet Green on Foxtel, and is interested in people watching the series on Monday nights. Suggested that it may provide some ideas on what people around the world are doing to live more sustainably.

- Paul has been recovering after the party and will go to the Gardening Australia show. Paul to look for Heirloom or varieties that you can't buy in nurseries.

- Steven discussed the draft garden plan, which will be put online for people to comment on.

- Need to allocate garden plots to prospective gardeners.

- Discussion of what to grow. Paul was interested in Potatoes, eggplant and rhubarb. Anastacia was interested in carrots, potatoes and beetroot as well as Gerberas and African violets. Steven is interested in sweet potatoes.

BBQ Oven, Garden beds and trees were not discussed.

People

- There will be different people coming into the garden at times and it is important that there is good clear communication between people. A sign-in book was suggested so that people can record what time they came in, if they did any watering or if there are important things other gardeners need to know. The book needs to be kept in an accessible place.

- There needs to be some rules written to ensure everyone who is a part of the garden project understands what is expected of them.

- Volunteer jobs which can be done daily include, removing all rubbish (i.e. plastics and metal) from the large compost bin area at rear of YCW, turning the compost heaps, clearing vegetation away from the water tanks at the side of the YCW House, checking seedlings (once started by group), cutting the lawn and edging, sweeping the paths and BBQ area, & gathering and storing newspaper.

- Other fobs will include watering during the cool parts of the day, building up unallocated garden beds, sourcing free manure, mulch etc.

- Need to do a safety audit for the garden to make sure people are safe. When people have done the worksheet and been orientated they can work in the garden. Things to include are lower back safety and lifting, identifying spiders, using gloves, being aware of who is around you, and what to do if you get hurt. We probably need parents consent if people under 18 want to participate. Anastacia to check with Sarah.

Resources

- Anastacia will ask Sarah for some room to store tools and equipment in the old shed.

- There is a need to create a schedule for watering and tasks that need to be done, e.g. general tidyness as it is everyones responsibility no one tends to take ownership of it.

-We need to investigate when the best time for prospective gardeners to meet, discuss and work in the garden will be. Fridays seems to be ok at this stage, but we will need further consultation with people who may be interested.

- Paul to show group how the watering system works.

- A sign needs to be put up at the rear of the compost area with "this is not a tip - no rubbish please". It was suggested that Mark could make a sign and display it.

- All group members to keep grass clippings, newspaper and cardboard for the No-Dig Garden.
- Steven to bring pruning saw to trim Mandarin tree.

- We will need to contribute to a budget. Bags of sugar cane mulch are $12.50 from Bunnings, group decided each person would buy a bag and then we would see how we go.

- Paul & Steven to get started on Garden preparation, measuring plots on 5th September at 2.30pm

- Dinali is not interested in joining this group, but is interested in participating in hands on activities.

- Paul forgot to call Karyn, but will hopefully keep up to date via blog.

Meeting closed 8.30pm