It was Sunday, April 14, 2019 that the Lennox Community Garden began growing life for the residents and visitors in the Lennox Head area.
The team recently had an early morning working bee and visit from Tamara Smith MP and they reflected on the two years that have passed since they first broke ground.
Garden committee president Jimi Gatland said the garden now boasts a wide selection of fruit trees including native ‘bush tucker’ and several critically endangered species. ‘For the year ahead, we are now turning our focus to the construction of raised garden beds to enable the growing of annual crops.’
Ms Smith said that as always it was joyous to visit the garden. ‘It was great to catch up with Helene and Jimi who lobbied for two years with Ballina Council to get the gardens up and running.’
Last year Tamara supported the garden through the Community Building Partnership Grants to see the garden shed get some solar panels. ‘It was nice to see the panels in action on top of the shed. In two years the gardens have grown so much! You would not know that we are a few short steps away from a town – such is the magic of urban community garden spaces.’
Members and volunteers at the gardens have plenty planned for the years ahead and fundraising has begun for the construction of the 15 raised garden beds which will form the shape of a leaf, a design modelled on the Jardins du Château de la Chatonnière in France.
The group is seeking 15 local individuals or businesses to sponsor the construction of each of the beds.
Jimi told The Echo that the garden is open to anyone – he said that there have been instances where travellers have stopped in at the garden on their journey to pick something fresh to eat. There is no need to be a member or a volunteer to enjoy the produce from the garden, though it does help support the future of the project if people pay the nominal annual membership fee.
For more information on becoming a member or contributing to the garden beds, contact Jimi Gatland on 0410 174 050 or at [email protected].
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