MEMBERSHIP BASED ORGANISATION

Fig Tree Community Garden is located on the grounds of the Wickham Croatian Sports Club. We are an incorporated association ( Not for Profit ) with an Executive Board of 5 Committee Members who look after the day to day operations of the Garden. Fig Tree currently employes 2 staff members who are completing outcomes of a grant received to lay paths, install garden beds and upgrade the Out Door Kitchen. Staff work on a Thursday from 9.30am - 2.30pm. The garden relies on its Board to complete the duties required of a not for profit organisations. 

People who wish to benefit from Fig Tree - are required to join as a member. Forms are available at the Garden or on this website. 

More information is available from the Board who attend Fig Tree Fridays and Working Bee Sundays. 

A SEED IS PLANTED

Fig Tree Community Garden was established in 2004. The project was born out of common goals shared by a small group of committed community members who wanted to growing things organically and sustainably, help grow and bond community relationships and improve the environment. Craig Manhood, one of the main instigators of the garden explains:

‘We advertised in the local Landcare newsletter, inviting interested people to a working bee at the Morrow Park Bowling Club, where the garden was initially established. Unfortunately we had to relocate the garden after the Bowling Club closed, but it offered us an opportunity to learn from the mistakes made in setting up the original garden. We conducted a workshop with about 25 of the regular volunteers from Morrow Park and identified our goals and set some priorities,’ Craig says.

A SAPLING GROWS

The garden was then relocated 500 metres away to its current site at the Croatian Wickham Sports Club in mid-2005. Unlike many other community Gardens, Fig Tree is a shared plot garden, meaning anyone can plant, maintain and harvest anywhere on site.

Bill Robertson, who has also been an integral member of Fig Tree Community Garden, says that the garden offers people a way to connect with each other in a way that suits them.

‘People come in and help out the way they want to. They can garden, build – however they want to work, we’re not prescriptive,’ Bill says.

In 2006, Fig Tree Community Garden used grant funds and TAFE workshops to build a wood-fired pizza oven and stone barbecue and with the help of particiants in the Work for the Dole program, the awning off the storage containers, hothouse, giant worm farm, water tank installations, much of the giant chess board, sound garden, cubby house, kitchenette, wood storage area, paving and chook run were built.

A TREE BRANCHES OUT

Fig Tree Community Garden has a long history of providing a positive and supportive environment for volunteers, while also developing working relationships with a range of organisations such as JobQuest, Links to Learning, Toogoolawa School, Migrant Resource Centre, TAFE Outreach and Baptist Community Service and  local pre-schools and playgroups.

The aim is to provide:

Bill sums up the atmosphere of Fig Tree, '‘Fig Tree gives people a space in which to breath in a very supportive environment.’

Fig Tree Community Garden hosts a range of community events throughout the year and we’re always happy to hear about your suggestions for what you would like to see next. Let us know your ideas via our Contact Us page and if you'd like to get involved with the garden check out the Getting Involved page.

Listen to a great interview with Craig Manhood and Jo Plummer (current Garden Co-ordinator) via ABC1233 Newcastle from July 2009. It's all about starting your own community garden.