Morialta Community Centre
I recently met Christine Ostle, Community Centre Coordinator at Morialta Community Centre. The centre has been instrumental in the establishment of the Chapel Street Community Garden, recently established with the assistance of a grant from the City of Burnside.
For people who are interested in starting a community garden, here are some of Christine’s tips, with a few of ours thrown in for good measure:
- Read Claire Nettle’s book on community gardens, Growing community: starting and nurturing community gardens - www.communitycentressa.asn.au/sector-development/community-gardens/
- Get an interested group of local residents together to form a working party
- Talk to your local councillors, in particular those who are elected in your council ward. Find out more about your local South Australian council through the Local Government Association website - www.lga.sa.gov.au
- Talk to other people who are involved with community gardens to find out about their experiences sacommunity.org/thesaurus/15532-Community_Gardens
- Join the Community Gardens group on Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/271908832897061/
- Familiarise yourself with the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network - communitygarden.org.au
- Have a community plot that anyone can use
- Make sure your paths are accessible by wheelchairs, prams and pushers
- Build raised beds for easy access
The Chapel Street Community Garden was opened on Saturday 12 May 2012 by City of Burnside Mayor David Parkin. Congratulations to all involved in this successful community project.
The Morialta Community Centre is an initiative of the Morialta Uniting Church. Drop in at 26 Chapel Street, Magill, email community@morialtauca.org.au or phone 8331 9344 for more information.
