Community gardens and food swaps have popped up all over the place and are a great chance to learn gardening techniques.
Birallee Park Neighbourhood House
hosts one of the largest gardens as part of its
‘From Your Garden to the Community Table’ Program
A large community garden precinct has been developed at 39 Emerald Avenue, West Wodonga, with over 40 garden beds on site, in which everyone is encouraged to pick up a trowel and grow food for themselves. An allotment which is already fully stocked with nutritious soil, is provided to anyone interested in growing their own fresh food. Skilled tutors drawn from the local area, are on hand with advice and assistance where needed, and a fully equipped kitchen run by capable volunteer cooks, in which to develop meals out of what is harvested, are also available on site. No produce is wasted, as everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the daily food exchange and “Food is Free at Birallee” initiative that has been set up, to encourage community members to bring in their excess fruit and vegetables, and share knowledge and produce with those in need of assistance. Birallee uses hospitality and horticulture as a means to building a stronger and more connected community. If interested, Birallee volunteer tutors are able to provide the following information-
- Demonstrate how to build your own small self watering vegetable garden bed using recycled materials.
- Provide you with portable vegetable beds so that you can grow your own vegetables or herbs at your own home.
- Show you how to care for your vegetable garden and keep it healthy so that you can have fresh vegetables and herbs all year.
Workshops are held frequently throughout the year.
Contact – Amanda on (02) 6059 2590 if interested in getting involved and “adopting” a plot of your own.
Email – admin@birhouse.com.au
Other Community Gardens exist locally at
Kerr Sustainability Community Garden-
The Kerr Sustainability Centre is a community garden based at CSU Albury Wodonga. The centre provides a space where community members and students can share skills and knowledge on environmental, social and economic sustainability…http://kerrsustainabilitycentre.weebly.com/
Contact – John Rafferty
Email – JRafferty@csu.edu.au
Bungam Community Garden
Located on the corner of Creek Street, Englehardt Street and Stanley Street in central Albury, the Bungam Community Garden was established in a partnership between AlburyCity and local residents with great support from Seed Savers Albury-Wodonga and Chep Pallets.
Contact – Narelle Vogel – Albury City Cultural Services Officer
Website – http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-playgrounds/bungam-
community-garden
The East Albury CommUnity Project Garden
The East Albury CommUnity Project Garden (commonly known as TEACUP garden) is located in Broad Street, East Albury. Installed in November 2016 with the support of funds from AlburyCity’s Community and Cultural Grants, this garden is slowly transforming this extra large nature strip into a green community space.
Contact – Nadia Dosenko West (Supported by Albury City Council)
Email – nadishka.ndw@gmail.com
Website – http://www.facebook.com/teacupgardeners
Plummer Park Community Garden
Located on the corner of Panmure and Plummer Streets in South Albury, the Plummer Park Community Garden was installed over July and August 2017. This well-loved neighbourhood playground now boasts 22 garden beds with plans for new fences. Once again this community garden was supported by funds from AlburyCity’s Community and Cultural Grants.
Contact – Narelle Vogel – Albury City Cultural Services Officer
Website – http://www.facebook.com/Plummer-Park-Community-Garden-924136814387262
Norris Park Neighbourhood Garden
This is the newest garden, currently in planning stage. For Albury City community gardens, please register interest below.
Contact – Linda Robinson or Narelle Vogel – Albury City Cultural Services Officer
Email – linda@beehavioural.com.au
Website – http://www.facebook.com/norrisparkneighbourhoodgarden
Corowa ‘Tree of Life’ Garden-
Contact – President David Barwick
Telephone – (02)60 33 1330
Contact – Vice-President- Joan Palmer
Telephone – 0409 823 789
Email – jmpalmer17@icloud.com
Website – http://www.facebook.com/Treeoflifecommunitygardencorowa
Yackandandah Community Garden-
Adjoining the swimming pool and operating a food swap and workshop every third Saturday of the month.
Contact – Megan Vincent
Telephone -0417 599 118 or (02) 60 27 0603
Email – indigomidge@gmail.com
Website – http://www.facebook.com/yackandandahCommunityGarden
Beechworth “Quercus Community Garden”-
Located at 30 Ford Street, Beechworth and attached to Querc
us (formerly Beechworth Neighbourhood House), the gardens were built by the Community Work team from Beechworth Correctional Centre and other volunteers. It now has a wood fired oven and provides a great place for community events and gatherings. The Quercus garden group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 8am (summer months) until approx 9am. Morning tea is provided and everyone is welcome to come along and get their hands dirty and help the garden thrive. A vegie swap isa every fortnight on a Saturday, whilst there are supplies.
Contact – Susan Hutson
Telephone – (03) 57 28 2386
Email – susanh0421@gmail.com
Bright Community Garden-
A newcomer to the Community garden scene, located in Bright in North East Victoria.
Contact – Kirstie May
Email – kirstiemay@ymail.com
Contact – Katie Murray
Email – Katie.Murray@AlpineHealth.org.au
Website – http://www.facebook.com/groups/Brightcommunitygarden/about
Chiltern Community Vegetable Garden-
A Community vegetable garden sponsored by Chiltern Landcare.
Contact – Gail Twigg
Telephone – (03)57 26 1429
Email – glenleith@optusnet.com.au
Myrtleford Community Garden-
Located in Lawrence Street, Myrtleford (down from the Hospital).
Contact – Alan Mitchinson
Telephone – 0420 21 1809
Email – myrtlefordcommunitygarden@gmail.com
Website – http://www.facebook.com/MyrtlefordCommunityGarden
Bhutanese Community Market Gardens-
The Bhutanese Community Farm is located on the banks of the Murray River on Gateway Island, Wodonga. It was established in 2015 by the Bhutanese Association at Albury, and is supported by Parklands Albury Wodonga.
Rangers Tilak Chhetri and/or Rohit Khulal are generally around between 8.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday to help show you the ropes if you wish to become involved. The community farm offers weekly “vegetable boxes” delivered around Albury Wodonga during the harvest season, and market direct from the garden. Please contact them via their Facebook page if you wish to be added to the customer distribution list or would like to arrange to purchase fresh vegetables.
Want to help to market the farm produce? If interested in growing organic vegetables and learning about Bhutanese farming methods and gardening skills, and generally wanting to enjoy some physical activity and the company of like minded soles, then your assistance would be greatly valued.
Email – farm@parklands-alburywodonga.org.au
Website – http://www.facebook.com/www.bhutanesegardening.com.au
Click here for the Community Gardens list from our region