Stawell, Victoria, Australia: A Community Works to Create aCommunity Garden

**A*@aol.com**

Moves afoot to establish community garden
Tuesday, 12 April 2005

http://stawell.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&;
category=general%20news&story_id=385168&y=2005&m=4

Several members of the Stawell and District Residents Association have formed 
a sub-committee with the aim of establishing a community garden in Stawell.

Committee member Robert Illig was at the Wakeham Street site last week with 
Sustainable Development Co-ordinator with Stawell Gold Mines, Laura Chibnall, 
digging for a soil sample for testing.

Stawell Gold Mines has generously offered free labor and will cover the cost 
of the laboratory test until funding comes through.

The preferred site is the vacant block in Wakeham Street, near the railway 
line between Sloane and Doyle Streets. If this first test proves there is no 
significant contamination, further tests will be carried out over the site, and 
on soil being imported for raised garden beds.

The committee is seeking incorporation to be a group in its own right, but is 
pleased to have the support of the Stawell and District Residents Association 
in the meantime.

The committee recognises that none of the work on trying to establish a 
community garden would not have been possible without the tireless effort of Mrs 
Edna Osborn. Edna has researched and visited other community gardens from 
Geelong-West, Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo.

The committee plans to lift the best ideas from them all. These groups have 
all given encouragement, newsletters and commonsense advice.

Northern Grampians Shire Council officers have also provided much practical 
help.

It is proposed that the committee will have approximately 10 family plots and 
some others for general growing, preference being given to those who have no 
garden space of their own.

Members of the committee feel the garden will give opportunity for sharing 
both gardening expertise and produce.

When the administrative establishment work has been completed the committee 
will hold a public meeting and invite interested people to join.

It is hoped there will be a balance of experience and enthusiasm, with others 
eager to learn to grow vegetables for themselves. Once introduced to fresh 
fruit and vegetables most people take a real interest in all food.

Throughout Victoria there are gardens where the local community garden has 
become the meeting place and focus for real community activity.

So far the committee has had enthusiastic support from the council, 
Neighborhood Watch, Friends of the Earth, and various schools.

Anyone interested in any aspect of a community garden for Stawell should 
watch out for more information, or contact Edna Osborn 53581 885, or Roz Byass 
5358 1125.

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