Ipswich Community Kitchen Garden

[Cobby]

Feb 2011.jpg
This was in February this year, only a few weeks after the floods that come 1/2 way up the very TOP bed!!! We had only just really got a group of keen gardeners together - the original gardens beds had been started and tended for a few months by just one bloke!
Apr 2011.jpg
Attachment 1263
By April we were beginning to modify the garden in attempt to get away from the treated pine (ugh!) beds which were nearly impossible to reach into the middle of!
14th May 2011.jpg
By May we had been told by Council that unless we paid $6K for a 'Land Use Assessment' (with no guarantee of permission) we could not use all the space for a Community Garden! (Way to go, Ipswich, how on earth did we get Australia's Greenest City Award??)
One of our members found a loophole in the rules which said that anyone could have a 'Kitchen Garden' max size 25 sq. metres! After much debate (and no little disgust!) we decided to scale down to a mandala-style garden. We've taken liberties with fruit trees as they are not veggies!
Jun 2011.jpg
By June we had a sculpture/sprinkler build into the middle of the garden - plumbed into the 2 x 20,000ltr tanks on the side of the community centre, and the garden is producing more than the 6 to 7 families that come and work on it once a week can eat! I'll add some new pics soon!
Adie
P.S Click on pics for larger version.

[mischief]

Looks absolutely fantastic, way to go!!!

[annette]

well done Cobby. It looks fabulous. good on you.

[Don Hansford]

Looks great, Cobby - I'll let you know when we're passing though

[xelly]

Hi Cobby! I've not long moved to Ipswich and renovating our little home. my little veggie garden has copped alot with too much sun I think - not done so well! hoping to get some advice so I can build a great patch of our own any recommendations or is it possible to visit the community garden for ideas/inspiration?
ATM the one thing I feel I MUST grow is rhubarb to help my daughters mozzie bites!

[Cobby]

Gudday Xelly!
How exciting - a new home and garden! Which suburb are you in? We've got a massive move coming (IF the finances come through) from 33 acres breeding horses to a 1/4 acre block with wee little house in One Mile, Ipswich. So all going well we'll be on the same path!
You are more than welcome to come out to the Kitchen Garden, we meet on Fridays anytime from 1pm to 3pm, depending on the weather! If it's stinkin' we gererally meet in the Centre at 3pm. If it's pleasant (and not too wet) we come between 1-2:30pm.

Hi Cobby! I've not long moved to Ipswich and renovating our little home. my little veggie garden has copped alot with too much sun I think - not done so well! hoping to get some advice so I can build a great patch of our own any recommendations or is it possible to visit the community garden for ideas/inspiration?
ATM the one thing I feel I MUST grow is rhubarb to help my daughters mozzie bites!

[xelly]

hopefully I can come check it out on Friday! I'm in East Ipswich so not far from one mile! we have been here about 6mths now - focusing on renovating inside and now really keen on a veggie garden to help our diet/reduce costs/just feel better in general with environment/health etc! I am excited about it but also overwhelmed lol!

[Pakanohida]

Looks beautiful, well done!!

[Cobby]

That great!
I'll be there by 1:30pm if you want to come over then.
Adie

hopefully I can come check it out on Friday! I'm in East Ipswich so not far from one mile! we have been here about 6mths now - focusing on renovating inside and now really keen on a veggie garden to help our diet/reduce costs/just feel better in general with environment/health etc! I am excited about it but also overwhelmed lol!

[Cobby]

Thanks Pakanohida - it's been a real team effort AND a labour of love! I must get some more pics...

Looks beautiful, well done!!