Barbecue Slab

It's been a while since I have showed what recent updates have occurred at the garden. Today we enjoyed each others company while our slab was poured ready for the construction of the barbecue.

I even got to do a little bit of creative concreting by designing a leaf

I didn't know that Matt had six fingers until today.

Things are progressing nicely. 

Early Years Care

How wonderful it has been that The Little Diggers Play Group from Early Years Care have been visiting the Barrack Heights Community Garden for quite some time now. Finally yesterday, I got to play too and had the pleasure of meeting our wonderful visitors.

First there was another lovely visitor who was giving a workshop about worms and then the children were able to experience first hand what the worms are like.

There is nothing so awesome then a ball of squishy worms!!

This is serious discussion taking place here

When I started cutting more bana grass for the teepee, the kids imagination just went crazy with ideas and everyone was having fun. This group are rowing their boats.

There's always room for an extra cubby house at the garden

I love how this little fella is enjoying the feel of this raised garden bed.

Good to see lovely pieces of artwork being created in the garden.

What is so special about yesterday is how wonderful it is to receive great feedback about the place. Both the children and adults enjoy their time there and more carers have since joined the group since it started. It truly is a space where play can be cultivated, creativity pursued and connections with the community are made.

Panorama Love

So a funny thing happened to me yesterday, I accidentally found that I could do panoramic photo's on my iphone. Wow, such a revelation. So with that in mind I took a whole heap of pictures of the garden. I had so much fun.

Growing Minds Greening Communities

Today I had an enjoyable time at Blackbutt Reserve which was the location of a fun event for participating child care centres, family and staff.

What is Growing Minds Greening Communities?

"The Growing Minds Greening Communities project is funded by the NSW Environment Trust. It has been designed to help local child care centres in the Shellharbour Area operate more sustainably, improve connections with families and provide resources for the children"

I was invited to come along and represent The Barrack Heights Community Garden by making a teepee and doing fun nature stuff.

I have made quite a few teepee's now and I have to say that this was the best effort so far

The kids were great and took over with their own ideas, which is supposed to happen. We had a river (blanket) with sharks and fish. We also had a garden (another blanket) that had tomatoes, carrots and peas. These were all drawn on pieces of cardboard.

I was also incredibly impressed with this young girl as I witnessed her make this teepee for her dolly. The other one is my letterbox that fell apart. She showed me how's its done!!!

With the introduction of coloured wool the teepee became a work of art....just the way I like it 

Today was a great success and for all who came along, we also were entertained with a puppet show, songs, a sausage sizzle and a variety of sustainable ideas to take home.

The Shared Garden

Last week I went to the garden on Thursday and it was quiet and peaceful. As I was enjoying the space I noticed a chap and his little boy coming down the hill and they both looked as though they were enjoying the themselves. After a meander through the bush garden he sat down and looked really content and that's when I interrupted his quiet contemplation with a "G'day".

It was so good to see someone from the community just come to the space and enjoy it. He told me that he often came there to relax and one time took some of the bana grass home to plant in his own back yard.

As we continued to chat the best story he told me was how one night he picked a giant zucchini and took it to a mates house and all of his mates asked "Whered ja get that this time of night??" "From the gaaaarden"

I wonder how many others enjoy the garden without our knowledge? I hope there is more than just this one person.

Progress

The extensions at the garden are coming along nicely and I must add, I can't wait till there done as cooking at the garden is quite a challenge at the moment.

But I no complain

My skills have nothing to do with the above work but never mind, I've been doing my stuff with paints and brushes.

Yeah!!!....arty farty stuff!!!

Thanks to all who are committed, as the extensions are coming along nicely and I'd like to add if you would like to contribute your skills they would be most appreciated :)

Extensions

Exciting things are happening at the garden at the moment as we are getting extensions, meaning more storage, seating and a space to comfortably cook stuff. As the new additions take place, I'm sure that they will create a cosy atmosphere that will give a homely feeling to the place.

Not saying that its not already a homely feel!!!

More images as the weeks go by.

KidsFest 2013

On the weekend I had the pleasure of being a part of the KidsFest finale at Killalea State Park. Although there was nothing specific planned at the garden it didn't stop Barrack Heights Community Garden from having a presence at the festival as I took along some bamboo and bana grass to construct a teepee for the kids to enjoy.

Well, if you look closely, I did have some assistance from such Nobel persons.

Oh, and by the way, check out the most divine view.

I also decided that a butterfly palace should be installed and I loved how so many little children (and adults) enjoyed the space

As it doesn't take four hours to construct a bana grass teepee, I took along some glue and cardboard for children to make collages from found materials. 

I was impressed with their work

When the afternoon session was finished I was asked to reconstruct the teepee at the camp-site and was glad that I had some willing helpers to do the job.

Unfortunately I didn't stay long for the later events but the atmosphere was great and I'm sure that those who stuck around were happy campers.

Here's to an awesome 2013 KidsFest

Community Gardens Inspire More Then Just Gardening

I've been attending the community garden for more then a year now and I really haven't done a lot of gardening, yet by going there I have been inspired to pursue creativity in many different ways.

I remember the first time that I decided to take my painting gear to the garden it felt great and was like breaking a creative drought that had lasted about three years. My Mum had passed away and I hadn't got back into painting until that day at the garden.

It felt great and since then I have been inspired to paint, participate in nature art and experiment in ways that I never have previously.

paintings on cardboard which the worms can eat later

The previous paintings were used as preliminary sketchers for further paintings.

Now this artistic spree has been going on for over six months and it's been a wondrous journey. I want to continue by saying that the garden has even influenced the way I have expressed myself in my home. I tell everyone that I have created a tree house in my lounge room. 

Welcome to the tree house.

Community gardens are here for the community and everyone has something that they can contribute. I am so glad that I decided to come along as it's been my little hidden paradise in Barrack Heights. I hope that it can be yours too.