Shed’s garden needs a green-thumb

DO you have an interest in horticulture, some spare time, and a desire to help the community?

The Linton Men’s Shed are seeking a volunteer who can be at the helm of their community garden project and commit regular hours to nurturing its growth.

“We’re really in need of someone who is more garden focused than our general members to lead the garden,” secretary Michael Vogel said.

“We simply need someone who is willing. If someone has significant knowledge about gardening, that’s great, but you can learn that.

“It really is all about the willingness to work and organise people that we need; that’s most important. Being local would also help.

“We can supply them with all the resources they need, and we as the members can do other general maintenance.”

Already established in the green space are six raised garden beds made from repurposed corrugated water tanks.

“One’s got some strawberries in it but unfortunately they’ve not been well tended yet,” Mr Vogel said.

“The 30th of this month will be exactly a year to the day of us being in the shed, but our focus has been to get jobs done inside; things to repair and build, brought to us from far and wide.”

A few years ago, members were given the opportunity to lease the three acres of land behind the CFA, where they’ve built their fit-for-purpose shed.

With so much extra space, they decided to establish a community garden.

“Our aim is to draw the community in so that if people wanted to socialise around an outdoor activity, or an activity in general that’s not in the workshop or the rec room, they can do that in the garden,” Mr Vogel said.

“A lot of people also don’t have the space at home to do a garden… so there’s an opportunity to invite people to grow fruits, veggies, and plants here if they can’t do that at home.

“We will be able to share what we grow, and donate some to the Linton Community Pantry.”