Low Head Community Garden.
This Saturday 12 November thirteen community gardens across the Tamar and Meander Valleys will throw open their gates for the community to see what they are all about.
This event is an initiative of the Tamar NRM Sustainable Community Working Group, which looks to work collaboratively within the community to connect, educate and mobilise the Tamar & Meander Regions to positively impact community sustainability and resilience.
Co-convenor and project lead Karen Hewitt from Transition Tamar, says that community gardening is a fabulous reason to get outdoors, contribute to community, and learn new skills.
With many community gardens situated in built-up areas, urban agriculture can benefit the local environment by positively impacting the micro-climate. A more sustainable food system is created by reducing food miles and increasing the biodiversity of plants, insects, and animals.
“Members benefit from increased physical activity, access to fresh foods and can reduce their food bills and improve local food security. In addition, being involved with a garden builds inter-generational community and encourages everyone to spend more time in nature, whilst improving mental health,” said Hewitt.
On Saturday, each of the gardens will offer a range of activities highlighting what they do best with their own local flair; from plant and flower sales, to music, food, kids’ activities, mini-workshops, and tours.
Locations stretch across the valley from Low Head, where they will make a water garden to attract frogs to Mole Creek and Deloraine Community Gardens who will open for self-guided tours.
Ravenswood Heights Primary School, a ‘24 Carrot’ Community Garden, will host guest speaker, Rees Campbell, author of ‘Eat Wild Tasmanian’ for a Bushfood talk – bookings are essential.
Beaconsfield Neighbourhood House will encourage attendees to take part in a community mosaic.
Blackstone Community Garden will be sizzling sausages, whilst in Westbury there will be pizza on offer.
The George Town and Northern Suburbs Neighbourhood Houses are holding tours, whilst down at the UTAS Inveresk Campus they will host ‘have-a-go’ planting sessions.
Pioneer Parade in Ravenswood has storytelling, Punchbowl is hosting a raffle and Windsor Community Garden is hosting Tassie Seeds and then a seed swap.
This is a wonderful opportunity to see what is happening at the grassroots level in your local community – you can visit one or visit as many as you can on the day!
The Tamar and Meander Valley Community Gardens Open Day is happening across the Tamar Valley on Saturday 12 November from 10.00-15.00. A map of participating gardens and the full list of activities offered on the day can be found at www.tamarnrm.com.au.
