Be part of Glenroy's Community Garden

A great new community space for Glenroy!

Box Forest College in partnership with a range of local organisations is building a community garden in Glenroy. The college is opening their small kitchen garden to the Glenroy community for development into a community garden. 

About the garden

• The garden will have a number of garden beds growing fruit, herbs and vegetables. 
• There won’t be any individual allotments. 
• All garden beds will be communal, meaning that everyone can tend to the garden and harvest the produce.
• There will be space for picnics and sitting back and enjoying the surrounds. 
• School and community groups can use the garden for teaching students and members about plants, healthy eating and gardening. 
• We hope to run workshops to teach local residents about growing their own fruits and vegetables at home.

Timeline

July 2009

The online survey results are compiled, and then the survey results will inform  the planning and design workshops with students from Box Forest college and interested residents.

August 2009

We build the garden!

Online survey

Have input into the design of the garden to make sure it meets the needs of Glenroy residents - fill in an online survey.

Volunteers and resources needed

We need some people with special skills and equipment to volunteer a small amount of their time for this great community facility, especially:

• a plumber
• an electrician
• a bobcat
• people with fruit and vegetable gardening skills, and
• donations of soil, tools, seedlings and anything else that could be used in the garden.

We also welcome general volunteers - everyone is welcome and everyone in the community has something valuable to contribute to this great new space. Volunteer a few hours of your time to build a community asset that will entertain, feed and educate all Glenroy residents, young and old!  

Join our mailing list

If you are interested in attending design workshops, volunteering or would like to keep updated on the project, join our email list - email Kate McCluskey KateM@mchs.org.au at the Moreland Food Access Project or phone 9304 9206 from Monday - Thursday 10 am - 2 pm.

What is a community garden?

A community garden is a green space cultivated on common land by a group of people. Community gardens come in all shapes and sizes. They can grow flowers, veggies, fruits or trees. They can be used as sustainable food resources, or just to look pretty. They can be on any kind of land in any city.

Australia’s first community garden was built in Melbourne in 1977. Since then, the gardening bug has caught on, and now there are dozens of gardens in every state. Community gardens are supported by a variety of larger organisations, including the Australian Community Gardens network, nonprofit community groups, local business, Local Government and various State Government departments.

What’s the point of a community garden?

Does there have to be just one? Neighbours start community gardens for a variety of reasons. Gardening can provide a neighbourhood with organic fruits and vegetables. It can be a relaxing hobby. It can be a way to learn more about the environment.

The main purpose of a community garden, though, is to transform the urban landscape. Community gardens can bring a little green to a sometimes grey city, and they can bring neighbours together who may not know each other otherwise.