- 1200m2 Size of the garden
- 16 Number of garden members
- 10/quarter Membership fees
- 3,000 Annual costs to run the garden
- Council Who do you lease the land from
The Campbelltown Community Garden was started 10 years ago and was located behind the HJ Daley Library, however in late 2024 due to the library and site being leased by council to a private medical company, we had to find a new location.
After viewing available sites, we have relocated to Airds, ton a fenced area on Airds High School land.
The garden volunteers with help from Council undertook a mammoth move of the established food forest trees, containers, garden beds, plants and even our valuable soils. Now the process of rebuilding our new infrastructure to support our volunteers with shelter (much hotter site), our new composting bays, then an inground watering system, the new garden beds, natives and commence our produce growing.
We have plans for a permaculture demonstration garden and workshops to encourage community involvement.
We hope to recommence growing a range of vegetables during autumn/winter for local food use. We estimate over 30,000 hours of volunteering in the last site. Now the new site will eclipse that. One can only applaud the work of volunteers. We are working in partnership with Airds High School to achieve positive community outcomes.
History
First established by the then Library Manager through community consultation. The garden received funding from the Macarthur Food Security Project in 2012 and has gradually grown into the available space with the support from successive gardeners and includes a Food Forest, over 40 raised beds, and native garden.
Now moved to the Western Side of Airds High School, near Partridge St.
We meet at the garden Mondays and Thursday mornings, with access through a locked gate. After hours access is available for essential watering especially through the summer months.
Contact Garden Coordinator on 0413 755 517
Successes / opportunities
Prior to Covid, the garden was running workshops to encourage people to do more gardening eg wicking bed, bug motel, etc The gardeners are also innovative with building garden beds using pallets and reclaimed materials. Recently we were approved to offer work for the dole to help support a member. The biggest success is the weekly boxes of produce that are given to a local charity for distribution. Members also take produce for their own needs. Everyone works together to achieve this success and builds on their strengths and experience.
Problems / challenges
The greatest challenge now is establishing the garden on the greenfield site. This requires enormous activity and work by the volunteers, however despite the hardwork and challenges, the positive is the experience. ideas and working together by the volunteers to achieve this
Features
Location
Added by SueM Mossman
