You’ll find them all at the Berrigan Community Garden.
Nearly four years on since being established, the organisation is in a fairly strong position.
Their garden beds are flourishing with beans, Chinese cabbage, silverbeet, capsicum and turnips, and their winter Brassica are just starting to sprout.
Even more impressive than the garden itself are the passionate team of volunteers who keep the garden going.
From the greenhouse to the fertiliser — sheep dung gathered from a member’s farm — everything comes from, and goes to, the community.
Anyone can pick their vegetables once ripe, with a small donation that goes right back to the garden.
Community involvement has been the key to the group’s sustained success, member Clara Way says.
‘‘When we started, we asked for help from the community, with tools, hoses and wheelbarrows,’’ she said.
‘‘We got the lot. The community support was overwhelming.
‘‘And now, with our compost bins, people bring their waste and put it in the bins — although we ask there be no no meat, citrus or plastic.
‘‘We also get shredded paper from Amaroo, coffee beans from the Bluedoor and the Menshed has donated bench stools and some of our garden beds — it’s a whole community project.
‘‘And that’s why it’s working.’’
While the garden is strong, Ms Way says volunteers are always welcome, and needed.
The community garden would particularly like members with extensive knowledge of getting the most out of the greenhouse.
‘‘At the moment, we are putting seedlings in for our winter crops,’’ Ms Way said.
‘‘If anyone knows how to make a hothouse successful — how to grow vegetables in a hothouse — we would love them to come and talk us through that.
‘‘We need ideas of how it’s going to work, because we’re just not using it as we should.
‘‘In the next two or three weeks, our salvias will need to be pruned back too.
‘‘We do need more members, and we’d love more participation from the public.’’
The Berrigan Community Garden, which is located on Barooga St near the Berrigan Community Pool, is open on Wednesdays at 1.30pm and Saturdays at 9.30am.
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