Yarra Glen Community Garden
First Monday of the month from 9:30am
Location: Centre Community Garden (12-14 ANZAC Avenue)
Are you a keen gardener or do you just enjoy pottering around in the garden and chatting with other like-minded people? Then we would love to have you join our Garden Group. All abilities and/or garden knowledge welcome. Please register your interest with the office.
Community Garden History
2008 - A group of Yarra Glen locals interested in establishing vegetable gardens at home formed the group called "Veging Out" at the Yarra Glen & District Living & Learning Centre (Centre) to bring about information and the joys of creating a home veggie garden. The need then arose for the speakers and educators that came to the Centre to have somewhere to demonstrate some of the practical gardening information. Work began setting out to create a community garden at the Centre.
2009 - Help starting a community garden was offered to the Centre after the fires.
2012 - As part of the Bush Fire Recovery process Sustainable Gardens Australia and Helen Macpherson Smith Trust offered to fund and help set up a Productive, Organic and Diverse (POD) gardening project in the grounds of the Centre.
2013 - The garden was started and many hours were spent establishing permissions and support from Yarra Ranges Shire Council, local Tennis Club and Kindergarten. Sustainable Gardens Australia funded the initial project and provided speakers and work sheets for three excellent workshops on composting, planting and pruning. Also provided were 4 paton garden beds with soil, 8 fruit trees, vegetable seedlings & perennials, 4 bales of pea straw and 200m irrigation drip line and timer. The Yarra Glen Men's Shed offered moral support and practical help along the way which was greatly appreciated. Visits to Toolangi community garden were made and helpful suggestions from them were very useful. Water tanks and shedding were installed.
2017 - Further project works to develop the Community Garden began with stage 1, landscaping and mulching. For the next stage the Centre was successful with a grant application from Bendigo Bank Connected Communities Melbourne, and engaged John Ferris (Edible Forest Gardens) whom then commenced plantings and offering workshops. This transitioned the Community Gardens main purpose to help and provide activities based around the garden to ensure access is available for whole community to develop skills and knowledge. At this time a newly formed garden group thrived working together establishing and maintaining the improved garden, sharing produce and donating excess, and enjoying chatter over a cuppa!
2018 - Funding received from the Freemason Foundation Vic Ltd enabled secure fencing around the garden to be purchased and installed.
Today the Centre Community Garden goes on delightfully bringing community together, garden group gatherings are held on the first Monday of each month (except January). Everyone is welcome to come along, 9730 2887 or email ygdllc@bigpond.com.

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