Do you love gardening, and have you got some time on your hands? Why not go along to Wauchope Community Garden.
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The garden is behind Wauchope Neighbourhood Centre in Waugh Street, and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, people come along to help.
You can dig, plant, water, mulch or pot, and the group needs people who are handy with tools to build garden beds and do odd jobs. They grow various types of tomatoes, lemon trees, peaches, nectarines and macadamias and a host of other goodies.
The garden provides produce for the Food Connect program which gives free food for anyone needing a hand.
Lindsay Hartmann has been volunteering at the garden for nine years.
“It’s a men’s and women’s shed for gardeners. It’s a meeting place, with a little bit of gardening and a cup of tea or coffee,” he said.
Another long-time volunteer, Peter Morrison says it encourages people to grow their own herbs, fruit and vegetables, and he volunteers every month at the seed exchange stall at Wauchope farmers market.
“People can get seeds and give a donation, or swap their own. The community garden is great, and some people just pop in for a yarn,” he explained.
Peter Muir is a newcomer and finds it very welcoming.
“It’s great. It’s a friendly place. It’s not just a garden. It’s communicating and chatting with everybody.”
The hen expert is Malcolm Harris, who says the garden doesn’t get any money from the government or council. They raise their own funds when they need to.
Rob Nary’s been a volunteer for eight years.
“It’s giving something back to the community, and gardening is a very therapeutic thing to do. I’m learning a bit as well, about when to plant what in what season,” he said.
Judy Brodie has set up a Facebook page to attract more people, and it’s called Wauchope Community Garden NSW.
“We moved here from Queensland 12 months ago, and I wanted to do something in the community. I love the garden. You feel like you’re doing something,” she said.
Wauchope Community Garden is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 1.30pm, and everyone is welcome.