Garden regrown for everyone

COMMUNITY-minded cultivators at one of the region’s south-western towns are working with spades, seeds, and mowers to restore a public asset.

Since earlier this year, a core team of five people have been toiling away to restore the Shelford community garden following a suggestion made during a community planning meeting from members of the Shelford Progress Association.

Cate Maginnity put her hand up to help revive the garden, and said she didn’t want to see it go to ruin.

“It was a shame to see it sitting there and I thought it was a good opportunity for a community spot,” she said.

“The garden started back in 2017, 2018, was up and running and I think life and lockdowns got in the way so it kind of got left a bit.

“Towards the end of last year, another local tried to get interest again and that died around Christmas, so I guess around then, it picked up again.

“It’s been very informal at this stage, there’s a couple of us that try to meet once a week to get it under control and bring it back to something you can use.”

After mowing back excess grass and de-weeding the surrounds, the space has been revived as a no-dig garden, with things like lettuce, garlic chives, coriander, silver beet, and marigolds planted.

Admittedly not an avid gardener herself, Ms Maginnity said she’s more interested in the site as a way of bringing the community closer.

“Next door to the garden is the tennis courts, basketball hoops and those things so the idea is people take their children to play and duck over to the garden to pick some flowers or fruit,” she said.

“We want to create the space for everyone to use and contribute to in a positive way,” she said.

“There’s one lady I know who’s stopped in and planted some things, another local who’s donated seeds. There’s a bit of interest from everyone doing things here and there.

“People will just jump in and help when they can as well and that’s the idea of it.”

The core group aims to meet every Thursday at about 3.30pm to work on the garden.