Community blooming at Danawa

TORQUAY’S Danawa Community Garden continues to thrive as its number of keen gardening members remains at its pandemic high.

Garden president Justine Holmes said about 20 new members joined Danawa at Spring Creek Community Garden during 2021 and 2022 after realising the importance of food security.

“We all didn’t know what was happening with food at the time and it was pretty unstable to the point where we all started asking where we going to get fresh produce.

“That worry has definitely died down know, but it’s been surprising to see that interest gardening has certainly increased.”

Danawa Community Garden was first established in 2003 when the first amount of sod was turned after three years of planning.

In 2009, the garden had a total of 19 members. That number has blossomed out to about 100 over the past 14 years.

Ms Holmes joined the garden five years ago in 2018 and was appointed president two years later, saying her original reason for joining was to “continue her love of gardening and learn new skills from other people”.

“It also allowed me to start new friendships, and with so much knowledge in the garden we’re all learning from each other every time we meet,” Ms Holmes added.

“People are staying on in the garden I think because we have such a great community, we’re pretty much friends in a garden, it’s as simple as that.

“We all have an interest in gardening, we hang out, we have a working bee once a month and we support each other.

“It’s just a great place to be, and at the end of the day, gardening with someone else is way more fun than gardening by yourself.”

The Danawa Community Garden is a members-only garden with users paying an annual fee.

To become a member, head to danawa.org.au/membership