About Our Garden

Fig Tree Community Garden is a project by the community for the community. There is one garden at Fig Tree and all are welcome.

What is the Philosophy behind the garden?
Learning, play, sharing, helping community, environment, organic, fresh food, creativity, recycling, events, safe - These words help describe the thoughts behind the garden. Bare these in mind when you enter and your enthusiasm, ideas and knowledge is welcome.

What do I do at the garden?
Your first act in the garden should be to pick a strawberry, a piece of celery, a bean or a pea and eat it. Not bad is it? If you don't feel like work today then that's OK because we are happy for you to enjoy the food from the garden anyway. If you would like to join the many volunteers who work to produce the food then you can do any of the following activities:

Watering
Water comes from the two water tanks on the site. One located near the hot house and one located in the garden. Watering cans are located near the tanks. Water tanks hold 1400 watering cans worth of water… knock yourself out. The priorities for water are Hot House (these things dry out quick), new seedlings in the garden and anywhere where there is a stake without a plant as this will indicate that someone has planted seeds directly into the garden. Everything else is a bonus. Even trees in the park or orchard will enjoy a drink in the height of summer. Water in the late afternoon or morning if possible.

Planting
The seed board is located under the awning near the hot house. These seeds are for everyone to plant. Take your pick. If seeds are small they should be raised in seed trays in the nursery. If seeds are large they can be direct sown in the garden, however, if planting direct you will need to ensure the seeds get enough water to germinate as you are likely to be the only person that knows where they are. Mark seed locations with stakes. Clearly label all seeds when you plant them. Seedlings in the hothouse can be planted out into the garden. A companion planting chart located near the seed board will give you an idea on what likes growing with what.

Worm Farming and Composting
If you would like to regularly donate your kitchen scraps or grass clipping to Fig tree we would be most grateful, as this is how we get healthy soil at the site. Food scraps go in the worm farms - pick the farm that seems to have the least food. If worm farms are dry they would probably like a sprinkle with the watering can. Grass clipping coffee grounds and other bulky organic materials go in the compost bays (no cuttings please). If compost is cold then it probably needs to be turned - beats spending an hour at the gym. Most of the fertiliser and soil needs are met through the composting and worm farming at the site.

Seed saving
Most things planted at the site are from heirloom seed varieties meaning they will produce viable seeds for next crop. So if plants in the garden are going to seed that's OK because we want to collect the seed. When seeds dry out on the plant gather them up put them in an envelope or wrap them in a piece of paper, label them and pin them on the seed board ready for next season - too easy.

Pulling weeds
If in doubt - don't pull it out.

Fertilising
The best fertiliser going comes from the worm farms. The liquid caught in buckets should be spread around your favourite plants. It will go further if you dilute it 1 part worm wee to 5 parts water, but this stuff has a neutral pH so it wont harm plants if not diluted. Spreading compost on garden beds that look a little under the weather is also a helpful practice.

Harvesting
Everyone's favourite. Most vegetable plants benefit from harvesting - so pick, pick, pick. Plants bolt to seed or became exhausted when they are not harvested. The only time you will take the whole plant when harvesting is when you pick root crops such as carrots, potato, Swedes, beetroot and the like. Go ahead - you've earned it. For leafy vegetables including lettuce, spinach, celery, parsley and the like, pick the outside leaves by breaking them off in a sidewards motion so that the leaves snap off at the base. This will ensure that the plants keep producing. For fruit - you know the drill.

Playing
It's not all about work. In fact it's more about play than anything. You may wish to have a game of CHESS while sipping a cool beverage from the bar. Perhaps a roll up on the BOWLING green would tickle your fancy. For the night owls the club hosts RAFFLES on Wednesday night and TRIVIA on Thursday nights. The KIDS CLUB HOUSE, the TYRE SERPENT and SAND PIT are strictly for Kids (at heart).

Who can offer assistance?
Someone is usually down at the garden most weekdays.
Working bees are the last Sunday of every month. Come along and talk to some of the other volunteers at the site.

What does it cost?
The only cost involved is annual membership of the Croatian Wickham Sports Club which is $5. Joining the club allows you access to the site and covers you under the clubs public liability insurance whilst on the site.

Where can I get more information?
Check out our web site www.figtree.org.au or Email Craig or phone Bill on 0403766729.

History, Planning and Structure

Fig Tree Community Garden commenced in July 2005 following the closure of the Morrow Park Bowling Club and subsequent relocation of the community garden operating there. At the time of commencing, Fig Tree included a network of 50 individuals and a number of organizations including Links to Learning, Toogoolawa School, Migrant Resource Centre, TAFE Outreach, and Baptist Community Services. This association of individuals and groups relocated approx 500 metres across Wickham Park to the current site at the Croatian Wickham Sports Club.

The experience at Morrow Park offered an opportunity to learn from the mistakes made in setting up the Morrow Park Community Garden.

Prior to making the move we conducted a workshop involving around 25 regular volunteers from Morrow Park. A concept plan developed from the workshop in which features of the new site and their order of importance were developed.

Community Partnerships
Fig Tree has had extraordinary success in outreaching to the community through individuals and through community groups. Currently there are 109 individuals registered as volunteers at the site. In addition there are individuals who have contributed plants and resources to the site but are unable to contribute time and are therefore not registered.

Information for volunteers is largely conveyed via an email network. You can email Craig.

The average monthly volunteer contribution from individuals is approximately 800 hours.
Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes and do all sorts of jobs

Wood fired pizza lunch is a just reward after a Sunday Working Bee!

Planning and Administration
The planning and administration for the group is carried out by a dedicated group of volunteers forming a Committee. The Committee meets every second Thursday to plan and manage the progress of the Community Garden. The Committee comprises a Secretary, Treasurer, President and six other Committee members.

The Committee plans for the site development and manages accounting, safety, events, education, outreach, record keeping, promotion, sponsorship and resourcing.

On Ground Works
The on ground work at the site is largely carried out by volunteers that visit the site as their personal time permits. For some individuals this amounts to several times a week while other volunteers will participate in the working bees at the end of each month. Other volunteers participate even less regularly. Regardless of the level of participation, people are always welcome at the garden.

A major boost to the site development has come from the participation of OK Community Care - Work for the Dole since January 2006. Work for the Dole has completed a number of major infrastructure projects on the site.

While other community gardens work on a plot allocation system, Fig Tree has one garden and all participants have access to all parts of the garden. As such all participants are invited to be involved in the planning process. This system of planning continues to create an eclectic development with something for everyone. The many facets of the garden developed or planned include:

Existing Features
Outdoor kitchen including wood fire pizza oven,
Chicken run
Pond,
Sandpit
Children's play area
Lolly garden
Life size chess board
Outdoor stage
Bush food garden
Worm farms
Compost
Tropical fruit garden
Traditional fruit orchid
Bush food rainforest garden
Information centre
Work area
Hot house
Water tanks and irrigation system
Mosaicing
Cubby house
Sculptures

Proposed Features
Bird attracting garden
Hongi
Outdoor entertainment areas
Pizza gardens
International gardens

Low water toilet
Energy efficiency demonstrations
Extra Seating
Outdoor dining space

Gardens and Plant Species at Fig Tree

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