Community
26 May, 2023
Community garden funding
WARRNAMBOOL’S thriving community gardens were bolstered in this week’s Victorian Budget as the state government honoured a $100,000 election commitment.
Warrnambool Community Garden convenor Rob Porter said the untethered funding would be used to purchase a tractor and loader, in addition to a shed, to quite literally lighten the load for the group’s diverse range of volunteers.
“Our communal garden beds are dug by hand, but for something this scale you need equipment for it to be viable, so this will add a lot of efficiency,” he said.
“We have compost bays which can hold up to eight cubic metres, which isn’t a shovel task. “We raise 6000 to 8000 seedlings every year, so we buy potting mix in bulk.
“At the moment it’s shovels and wheel barrows.” Remaining funds from the $100,000 allocation will remain open-ended, with the group working together to determine how best to spend the funds.
The addition of a new tractor with a front-end loader will be the next step in revitalising the space which has become a must-see natural attraction in the heart of Warrnambool.
Mr Porter thanked the state government for its support of the group’s vision for a sustainable agriculture which relies on a connected community to thrive.
He said while the Warrnambool community and council had shown tremendous support, the state funding offered an opportunity not readily available at a local level. “We’re just really grateful,” Mr Porter said.
“Warrnambool is such an amazing community and we get lots of support, much like every other not for profit in Warrnambool.
“The likes of council’s community development grants, the philanthropic trusts we have in town and the community in general have always been there when we need to do something.
“Grants generally won’t cover vehicles however, this we hope will be a way we can do that. And there so many things we can do.”
Warrnambool Community Garden started in 2007 with the goal of creating a space where people could connect with nature and each other.
The concept of one space offering individual plots for those wanting to grow, plant and tend to fruit and vegetables resonated with the community.
The original two acres has now grown to six acres, and much of the produce grown is up for grabs at the weekly market.
The Garden Market began around five years ago, and grew from strength-to-strength with the support of the community despite the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every Wednesday from 3pm, a diverse range of fresh produce, preserves, bread, cheese and honey is sold on-site, at the corner of Grieve Street and Grafton Road.
The morning of the market around 20 volunteers will be hard at work harvesting a wide range of seasonal fruits and vegetables in preparation, and a number of stall holders join in to celebrate the south west’s rich tradition of putting food on plates.
All of the product at The Garden Market is locally sourced, and it doesn’t get much fresher according, to Mr Porter. “Outside of harvesting from your own backyard, this is the freshest you can get,” he said.
“It will always be a smaller market, however.
“The majority of our stall holders have mid-week jobs, but that has its own benefits.
“Even in summer, you’re not having to fight your way through crowds. We have music in summer and everyone on the site can hear it.
“You rarely see two stall holders having the same stuff but here, as long as it’s local produce going to the local community, everyone has agreed that’s the priority.”
