Community Gardens in the Marrickville Area
There are currently four established Community Gardens in the Marrickville area:
- Marrickville West Community Garden
- Addison Road Community Garden
- Wilkins School Community Garden
- Cottage in the Graveyard Community Garden
- All Saints Community Garden (Pete's Patch)
- Turtle Lane Community Garden
- Camdenville Paddock Community Garden
-
Francis Street Community Garden
Marrickville West Community Garden
Location
1 / 7 Henson Street, Marrickville 2204 (Marrickville West Public School grounds)
Description
A fenced block of approximately 350 square metres of land with communal rotating beds, personal plots, a lawn surrounded by flower and fragrance gardens that encourage bees and butterflies to visit the garden and a wild corner where you can lie on the grass under the shade of a giant Port Jackson Fig and Camphor Laurel tree. We have 3 worm farms, 8 compost bins, a corrugated iron shed full of tools and goodies with an information board so everyone is in the loop and a Yahoo group site to keep you posted.There is a citrus orchard, a new area planted with young fig trees and an Aussie native garden.
Wow, how does it all fit in? Well, personal plots are at a premium with a waiting list but everyone is welcome to join as part of the garden groups where you can learn about gardening, sustainable practices and….wait a while for a personal plot, if you would like one, but many people join because it’s such a special place to be.
Come along to a Working Bee held on the last Sunday of the month (2-4pm winter, 3-5pm summer) and see for yourself.
Contact
Alisa Greer, 9558 8880, agre.4781@bigpond.com
Addison Road Community Garden
Location
Situated just behind Hut 36 (to the right of the Bower), Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd Marrickville 2204
Description
The Addison Road Community Garden is a long, narrow, unfenced, organic garden between the rear of buildings and the fence, the garden features individual plots, community team shared plots, and community plots, a few exotic fruit trees and native frog ponds with edible water plants. Members meet on Sundays at 2 PM and share responsibility for the well-being of the garden as a whole. Tucked away in busy Marrickville, it is a fine example of cooperative urban food growing incorporating community inclusion, education, waste management, biodiversity and permaculture.
New members are welcome to join by coming to our Working Bees, held every Sunday at 2 PM. You can find us at the Addison Road Centre, 142 Addison Rd Marrickville. Enter between the Greek Theatre and the Martial Arts Hut.
Contact
Lloyd Plant (Chair) 0413 012 282
Reesa Ryan (Secretary) 0416 327 550
Emma Wise (Treasurer) 0423 926 751
Email: addison.rd.community.garden@gmail.com
Web: Addison Road Community Garden on Google Groups
Wilkins Green
Location
Wilkins Public school Cnr Sydenham Road and Livingstone Rd
Description
Wilkins Green began in 2004 as part of the Marrickville Belonging Project, to protect and develop the existing green space and habitat located on the western boundary of Wilkins Public School grounds.
It is a collaborative effort of the students, teachers, families, friends and volunteers of Wilkins Public school, Globe Wilkins Preschool, Petersham TAFE Outreach and local communities. It is managed by the Wilkins Green Committee caretakers.
It has become an important sustainable learning site featuring a school community food garden, chicken run, bush regeneration ridge and Aboriginal planting track. Many local schools and educational groups already access the site.
Wilkins Green was the recipient of an Our Place Financial Assistance Grant in 2007 which was used to help establish the chicken run. Wilkins Green has also been awarded with a Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Garden Challenge, schools division, a Volunteer's grant from FaHCSIA and was runner up in the National Landcare awards.
We have regular garden days on the last Sunday of each month (3-5pm) and visitors are welcome. Please contact us if you would like to drop by.
Contact
Tamra Palmer 0419 299 494 | tamra@outlookproductions.com.au
Fiona Gainsford 0414 400 352 gainsfordfamily@optusnet.com.au
Cottage in the Graveyard
Location
Camperdown Cemetery Community Garden
Description
Cottage in the Graveyard Community Garden is a joint project between Newtown local residents and St Stephens Anglican Church.
The Community Garden’s aim is to provide a welcoming and non-threatening space where all residents from the Marrickville LGA can meet socialise and form meaningful relationships with their neighbours and other local residents. There is the opportunity to learn and share knowledge of organic gardening, feed the chooks and have a cup of tea.
The garden group meets every Saturday from 10am - 1pm (officially) but often work well into the afternoon.
Contact details
Rodger Richards, 0409 717 611, Rodgerrichards@msn.com
All Saints Community Garden (Pete's Patch)
Location
All Saints Church, 325 Stanmore Rd, Petersham
Access from Frederick Street
Description
The garden group meets every Thursday from 1pm. Join us for a free lunch and gardening in the afternoon.
Contact
Lies, 0400 125 170, lieslink@tpg.com.au
Ciska, 0425 413 004, ciscawhite@yahoo.com
Antony Barraclough (Minister), (02) 9569 4735, office@allsaintspetersham.org
Turtle Lane Community Garden
Location
38 Oxford Street, Newtown
Description
A relative newcomer to the community garden scene, in 2010 Turtle Lane quickly established itself within an enthusiastic and dedicated community. With around 25 flourishing plots, there is a positive and collaborative atmosphere among the gardeners. Gardening is undertaken using organic principles. There is an annual schedule of working bees culminating in an end of year Christmas party. Meetings are held on a monthly basis to determine ongoing and future projects for the garden and to discuss developments and issues relating to the garden.
The garden is a joint project of St Josephs Catholic Parish of Newtown, which has provided the land, and the local community. The garden promotes a sense of community where trust, effort, knowledge, skills and responsibility are shared and where creativity, quality and the environment are nurtured.
Produce and expertise is actively shared amongst the gardeners. There is currently a waiting list for plots. To get involved, please contact us on the details below.
Contact
Kathy McDermott, kathmcd123@gmail.com.
Camdenville Paddock Community Garden
Location
Wells Street, Newtown (adjacent to Camdenville Primary School)
Description
The Camdenville Paddock Community Garden occupies a generous, almost half-acre parcel of north-facing land surrounded by beautiful trees. The site forms part of Camdenville Public School and through a land-use agreement, local residents and the school community manage the site.
Producing fresh, locally grown food, The Camdenville Paddock creates healthy recreational opportunities for residents of all ages to meet and work, to till the soil together and enjoy the harvest, to share information and experiences, and to build strong community relationships.
We are an allotment style garden with approximately 35 plots, a chicken coop, composting facilities, rainwater harvesting tanks and an outdoor learning area. There is currently a waiting list for plots, but we have communal areas open to all members. To get involved, contact us on the details below.
Contact
Hayley West, email: memberships@camdenvillepaddock.com
Web: www.camdenvillepaddock.com
Francis Street Community Garden
Location
Situated in the middle of Francis Street Enmore, between house numbers 25 and 26. http://goo.gl/maps/Tdgqk
Description
The Francis Street Community Garden is a pocket park conversion; allegedly a homeowner donated the park decades ago, and we are very grateful for this! The garden is unfenced and organic and makes up the back half of the park. The garden features shared common plots, a water tank, Gaudi-esque mosaic pathway, exotic fruit trees, olive trees, banana trees, an abundance of herbs and a birdbath for the local Blue Wrens. The garden features artwork painted by the local children in the area and a grassy knoll donated by an unknown community member.
Members meet monthly at times outlined on the Facebook group "Enmore 2042". An oasis close to the busy Enmore, Edgeware Roads intersection, this garden is a living example of community concern for engagement, the environment and urban food growing.
The garden has won two grants, a Project Local award and a Marrickville Sustainability grant. You can see some of the early action here http://goo.gl/gTwRg.
New members are welcome to join by coming to our Facebook group or emailing francisstgarden@gmail.com.
Contact
Tamzin Taylor (Chair) 0433 128 429
Renee Richards (Secretary) 0439 800 308
Email: francisstgarden@gmail.com
Facebook Group: Enmore 2042