Coffs Coast Local Food Futures Part A_Final Report - Coffs Harbour ...

Working bees held each Sunday are regularly attended by 25 plus members. Small groups of
members interested in a particular aspect of the garden have formed working groups or
‘pods’ which work autonomously while reporting to the Management Committee and Garden
Coordinator. This is a growing part of garden activities.
Community Members
As the Community garden reputation for high quality workshops grows we are receiving more
interest from community members to visit the gardens and become active members.We have
four tours booked in September including a preschool, primary school, church group and the
community garden group from Woolgoolga.
Neighbouring Residents
There were several consultation meetings with local residents including those on the 25
adjoining properties during the planning stages of the garden. After initial resistance to the
idea of transforming the park into a Community Garden we now have had overwhelming
support from our neighbours. We have had donations of plants and gardening materials
including soil, and negotiated water capture from the roof of a neighbour’s home. One
neighbour was also part of the working party until she needed to spend more time with her
newborn child. Committee members have regular contact with the local residents to minimise
the impact of garden activities to their lives eg the planning behind stage two of the waterway
project has been developed in consultation with neighbours to ensure that the types and
placement of vegetation does not prevent access to the park. Neighbours are free to access
the Community Garden at any time. A minority of immediate neighbours have been involved
in our workshops to date.
Business
We have had generous contributions of materials and expertise from local businesses.
Wild Harvest Integrated Landscape Design created our original concept plan and videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlsqDpGYytofor free – an estimated 170 hours in
labour and expertise. These materials proved very successful in promoting the garden
concept.
Organic Marketing Developed our website at no cost
Recently we partnered with local businesswoman Kim Townsend to host a ‘Garden Party’
– a garden themed market day at the local Harbourside Markets.
We negotiated a below cost price for the materials for our perimeter fence from
Bluescope Steel
Bob the Builder erected the fence at a negotiated price for Community Groups
Donations of compost from Biomass Solutions Waste Recycling Facility. Also site tours of
the facility for members.
A small local plumbing business provided two 1,000L water tanks installed for free
Advanced Plumbing and Irrigation supplies provided advice about networking our water
supply
Coffs Harbour Produce have provided a community discount on all gardening tools and
materials we purchase from them
Trecycling Tree Services continue to donate mulch materials to the Community Garden
Xerox has donated $2,000 of printing costs to the CRCG
Stickerman Signs has become a sponsor of the Community Garden and provided low
cost signage and banners