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A volunteer-run garden in Manly that was first planted in 2016 has recently been the target of theft.
This has had an impact not only on the volunteer gardeners who work in the garden and take home its produce, but also on Love Soup Hibiscus Coast, which shares use of the vegetables and fruit for its free community meals.
Dee Pignéguy has been coordinating and teaching the volunteer gardeners for three years. She says recently all the pumpkins were stolen, before they were ripe. Lemongrass, broccoli, cabbage and beetroot were also taken with plants sometimes ripped from the beds.
She is concerned that if the problem continues, some of the dedicated volunteers will get disheartened and leave.
To make it clear that this garden is not a free-for-all, signs have been put up, with contact details where you can volunteer. Dee says if anyone is desperate for the produce they are welcome to call and ask.
She says they are also working with the Love Soup volunteers to better manage the compost bins and worm farms so that rats do not become a problem.
