Summer News 2014

Here is the latest news from Mosman Community Gardeners:

If you would like to receive our e-news contact us at mosmancommunitygardeners@gmail.com 

We hope you enjoyed the festive season and that 2014 has started well! 

Mackie Lane Update

Chris and Gill Lee in front of the Rotunda

New rotunda: Fortunately the Mackie Lane rotunda was completed in time to cope with the hot summer months. This impressive hexagonal structure was inspired by Paddington Community Garden’s rotunda, and we are very grateful to Rob Joyner from PCC for sharing his design and expertise. Special thanks are due to Chris Lee who worked with Calum Findlay and the rest of the Mackie Lane construction team to build the rotunda, as well as to Rotary Mosman who helped with funding. It has already been the focus of numerous garden celebrations and is available to members for private functions. Enquiries to Peter Hook: pjhook66@gmail.com

Gardening: The amazing sea of sweet peas along the Mackie Lane ran their course and had to be removed, but we are thrilled that they have self-sown and continue to adorn the fence along with magnificent sunflowers and succulents. Our tomato crops have been particularly prolific, as well as the strawberries, rainbow chard and garlic. More unusual plantings like the apple cucumbers, New Guinea beans (which have grown to several feet), loofahs and daikon radish have also been a great success. And the kitchen garden has really taken off! Middle Harbour After Care children continue to care for their garden beds, which are full of vegetables ready to harvest. We’ve covered all the concrete areas with bark chips, which has really transformed the space. See the current garden bed plan

Celebrations: On the first Sunday of the month we have a celebration after our gardening hours from 3-5pm. During daylight saving this has expanded to include dinner. We crank up the BBQ and enjoy the shelter and ambience of the rotunda. So do some along and join us on Sunday 2 February. Everyone is welcome. BYO food and drinks.

Middle Head Update

Our summer harvest at Middle Head has once again been bountiful with tomatoes, beans, lettuce, celery, potatoes, leeks and broad beans and we have four new beds of rosellas, a native fruit that makes great jam. We’ve grown okra for the first time successfully and the flowers are exquisite. There is a working bee coming up to cut away the grass and repair the nets and beds and new members are very welcome.

Resources

Permaculture North is a good resource and runs workshops and courses. 

Slow Food Sydney has a stand at the Eveleigh markets where they host monthly guests. Next one is 1 February presenting foods, preserves and other goodies. 

Gardening Australia has some great resources to help with edible gardening. 

Another gardening website with lots of resources and information is Sustainable Gardening Australia. 

If you have events or resources that you’d like to share, please email mosmancommunitygardeners@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you in the gardens sometime.

Tina Jackson

on behalf of the Mosman Community Gardeners’ team