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Residents with gardens that they can no longer manage should consider offering the space for a backyard community garden, with a successful example already started on the Hibiscus Coast.
A local community gardening group hopes to grow on its work in a private backyard in Stanmore Bay (HM January 24), which has turned a bare backyard into a productive patch full of vegetables and herbs. Fruit trees are also establishing there.
The produce is available to the group of 12 gardeners and their families, as well as the homeowner.
Local gardening expert (and Hibiscus Matters columnist) Dee Pignéguy, who got the Stanmore Bay garden off the ground, says backyard community gardens also provide homeowners with social interaction and a lovely garden space. The locations of the gardens are kept private, known only by those involved.
One of the gardeners at the Stanmore Bay garden, Lynne Davidson, says the group meets once a week and usually spends around an hour on site as well as popping in now and then to check on things.
She says it’s a way for people who are struggling and may not have their own garden, to get involved with growing their own food.
“It’s also a good way to learn gardening, meet new people and make friends,” she says.
Anyone able to offer a garden space for a backyard community garden should email Dee mikedee@outlook.co.nz or phone her on 09 428 5942.
