Newman Park Community Garden
We are currently creating the Newman Park Community Garden.
We are in the process of applying for and waiting to hear back about grants to fund this project.
Why a community garden?
It is well documented that community gardens provide: Social support and social skills; a sense of achievement; decreased stress and pain; better diet and lifestyle; a greater sense of security; happiness; and enhanced self-esteem. Our garden will provide inclusive, healthy passive recreation for our community. It will bring together people from all walks of life, backgrounds and ages to foster a lively and connected community.
Community groups with a shared passion for fresh organic produce work together to learn and share knowledge of growing food, help reduce family food budgets and provide opportunities for exercise, recreation and learning, as well as spaces for contemplation and relaxation.
Whilst gardening is the focus, community gardens are generally community hubs for a range of activities – learning and education, playgroups, arts and creative activities, preparing and sharing food, community events, celebrations and social enterprise.
What our community garden will look like
A community focus for families and individuals to interact and build knowledge and relationships.
A space for all age groups and abilities to be actively engaged in gardening.
Education and shared experiences and knowledge
Shared food exchange for members
Food production: vegetables, fruit, nuts (a focus on Australian native food produce such as quandongs, salt bush, karkalla etc)
Sensory plantings and flower gardens: sound/sight/smell
Incorporate a child’s play/potting area, sand river walk
All-ability pathways, benches, potting and seating areas
Site features: outdoor wet area, garden shed, greenhouse, composting, wicking beds, outdoor shelter sun/rain, in ground beds, earthenware watering system, straw bail garden beds
Community Arts: murals, sound / light sculptures, mosaic
Workshops i.e. permaculture, composting, seed collection, pruning, wicking beds, preserving and cooking with native foods
Equipment for users: rakes, hoes, spades, trowels, wheelbarrows, forks, etc
What is permaculture?
Permaculture points the way to living sustainably in our environment showing waste minimisation, composting and water usage techniques that can be used by people in their own homes.
Another way to think about it is as a closed loop system where all the needs of that system are met within the system—one where your resources come from wastes, and your wastes turn into resources. If you know the principle behind a terrarium, a mostly self-sufficient system where the plants live in a glass container with minimal care from the outside, you have the very basic understanding of permaculture for your garden.
Contact us
Contact us if you would like to get involved with the Newman Park Community Garden.
charlestoncommunitycentre@outlook.com
Newman Road
Charleston, South Australia 5244