Veggies and friendships grow

Palmwoods Community Garden will hold an Open Day on Sunday, March 12 from 3pm, with a guest speaker from ‘Backyards for Diversity’ followed by afternoon tea.

Everyone will have an opportunity to learn more about wildlife and how to encourage it in our backyards and urban areas. Also, locals can get to know their community garden and its members.

Gail Lockyer said she chose to join ‘Soil & Soul’ Palmwoods Community Garden to gain a sense of belonging to the community through being involved.

“While I have a small garden at home, the community garden was far greater than my own ability to grow food,” she said.

“I have formed some wonderful friendships when nurturing my own mental and physical health. I may attend a morning working bee for an hour, or just pop in to check on some seedlings. That is the beauty of being a volunteer – it fits in with your program.

“We have many visitors, including young scouts, kindy students and some people with disabilities. They all get something out of their visit. It’s beautiful to see a young child realise where their food comes from.

“We enjoy attending monthly dinners on a Sunday evening after a gardening session and workshops at the garden where I have learnt about self-sufficiency, bush tucker, organic gardening and solving some of my own garden issues.

“Volunteering draws together people of different walks of life, cultures, ages, skills and personalities and blends them into a wonderful community for all to benefit. It is evident amongst our members that it works.”

Project manager Kay Nixon said people could choose to have their own plot or just join in for a very reasonable annual fee.

For more info email: contactsoil.soul@gmail.com or phone Kay 0412 539 020 or visit the Open Day on March 12 at 17-19 Hill Street, Palmwoods.