Who can help out with the Community Garden, and who can take some of the produce home?
Any resident at Erindale can become involved in the Community Garden, and all residents are able to harvest some of the produce. We ask that you only take a small amount, unless you are invited to take more by the Community Garden Committee. If you have been unable to help work at the garden, you are still entitled to use some of the produce.
You can help us with the community garden simply by bringing down your shredded paper, old coffee grounds and other kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy) and dropping them in the compost bays, or bringing down your cleaned empty eggshells and putting them in the container provided. Please read the section below on garden funding to find ways you can help us pay for supplies for the garden.
When is the Community Garden open?
The Community Garden is open to residents each day. You will find the volunteer gardeners at work every Saturday afternoon, if you would like to help out, or just pop down and say hello. In the Autumn and Winter months the volunteer shifts are from 3pm-5pm, and when things warm up the shifts change to 4pm-6pm.
On the first Saturday of each month, there will be a Mini Working Bee, and residents are encouraged to come along if they can. There you will find a Harvest Table, filled with ripe produce, which can be shared by all. It is a chance to sit and enjoy the garden and chat to other residents, and don’t be surprised to find the BBQ fired up, or a cake there to enjoy. Bring your own beverage if you like.
What type of tasks are involved working at the Community Garden?
Each shift is different, depending on what needs to be done. Tasks involve composting, preparing beds for planting, weeding, propagation, planting, and of course, harvesting.
How do I find out what’s going on at the Community Garden?
There is a Noticeboard at the entry to the Community Garden and there you will find information about composting, volunteer shift hours, upcoming Mini Bee Days, and jobs to do in the garden if you pop down during the week.
How is the Community Garden funded?
Costs relating to the access and general enjoyment of all of the gardens here at Erindale Townhouse Estate are paid for out of Body Corporate funds. Costs relating specifically to the growth of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers at the Community Garden are paid for separately by community fundraising. We ask that you drop any eligible containers, such as cans and bottles, to the yellow collection bin at the Community Garden. Volunteers take these down to the recycling refund points, and receive 10 cents for each container. See below for a description of an eligible container:
https://www.containersforchange.com.au/qld/
We also ask for a gold coin donation if residents who are unable to help volunteer at the garden take some produce home.
Once a year, at the AGM, the Community Garden sets up a stall selling cakes and other sweets, as well as plants for sale.
Funds from all of these outlets go towards the purchase of seeds and other garden supplies for the Community Garden. Many of the residents have also donated gardening gloves, outdoor furniture, fruit trees, seeds, and other plants for use by the Community Garden.
Can children help out at the Community Garden?
Yes, children are welcome to come along and join their family with tasks in the garden. We have found they are particularly good at spotting insects (friends and foes) at the garden. For safety reasons, children may not come without an adult.
Another way the children can help is to create their own compost setup at home, with either a compost bin or worm farm. Please read Section 2 of the Management Plan on this website to see how to successfully create compost. Once you have created some nutritious compost, please bring it down on a Saturday afternoon for use in the community garden.