Not Long Now

It's amazing how time flies. It only seems like a recent memory when Darren, Amanda and myself armed with coffees sat at the Lake Foreshore filling out a form and discussing a potential pantomime at the community garden.

Well, that time has nearly arrived and the anticipation and excitement has and is building up. We made it in the local Lake Times and even Costa had awesome stuff to say about the project

"Absolutely chuffed to be linked into a post about the Barrack Heights Community Garden down Shellharbour way near Kiama in NSW who are putting on a pantomine with a message straight from my songbook. “Underpinning the pantomime is engaging the community to learn about sustainable living practices and healthy eating,” 

And one of the characters happens to have a very strong resemblance to a half man half hedge who 702 ABC Sydney 's Simon Marnie happen to nickname. Must say that is quite a moment to make it into a pantomine as a character . What a gee up of the highest order ...I love it.

So good on you Barrack Heights for taking the whole engagement concept beyond the traditional workshop and course environment and into the creative arts realm.. Music,art and performance. Am on the road a bit over the next month otherwise I would get down to a performance for sure. Go you gardeners......Pantominista's !!!" - Costa Georgiadis (Facebook)

Today we had a run through and we are all looking forward to next Sunday. I hope you all are too. 

This is us joining a morning with the lovely Songbirds who have agreed to be a part of our flash mob

Me and Dazz painting a huge Jackson Pollack style back drop

Check out the very creative Narelle's art work

Hard work yet fun 

And thank you so much to the lovely Lee who gave so much of herself into our project. 

Of course everybody has put so much effort into our little pantomime project and we are all looking forward to next week and to be honest, I'm looking forward to the after party.

What Do You Want Your Community Garden To Be?

I know, quite along winded title but it's a question I want everyone to think about? What do you want your community garden to be?

For us who regularly attend, I can say on behalf of all that it's about friendship and being able to garden effectively. It's a place that brings connection through a passion for gardening and nature.

It's truly an amazing place and with recent groups such as Early Years Care who come along and enjoy the space, it makes it an even more valuable and special place for the extended community.

As I express what the garden means to me I want you to think about what it means to you.

The most obvious thing about a garden is the planting, growth and the harvest of food and plants. However, there are other things that grow as a by product such as, friendship, learning new skills, eating well, creativity of many kinds and a sense of joy to be alive.

One of the creative things that have grown organically within the space is the idea of performing a pantomime. What the heck??? Non of us are experts in the field of performing but we are going to give it a go. See what I mean? We have nurtured a can do attitude!

For me personally, I have enjoyed the freedom to paint, create, sing a song, build teepee's, mosaic, watch other people cook, make friends and have my world enlarged.

My vision is to see the space become an out door class room for many different groups for all ages. I would love to start getting people engaged with creative activities or maybe it can be a space where people can picnic and have a rest from what ever bothers them. Community gardens are awesome and I greatly encourage others to be involved and to hopefully show how not only is it about gardening but it's so much more if you let it

We often eat well

And the creativity is shared

and we have our community groups

Barbecue

It's been quite a while since I've written about the goings on at the garden and since the BBQ slab went down it's been a slow and steady journey to get our BBQ ready for use.

We were able to obtain a lovely brickie who gave his time and service for free to help us achieve our BBQ goal.

As time has ticked on there has been much discussion and a lot of hard work and attention, especially from Cliff.

Cliff added this tile BHCG

Thanks Cliff

Cliff had to get a hot plate cut to fit the BBQ and this is us testing it. We had to adjust the chimney as it wasn't drawing correctly. Those little foil things are stuffed spaghetti squash courtesy of the garden and Darren's cooking skills.

After months of watching others contribute to the BBQ, I decided it was my turn to add my bit.

Move over, it's mosaic time.

All I need to do now is grout it. 

Many thanks to Cliff for his extensive collection of tiles that he willingly donated, for if it wasn't for those tiles this wouldn't have been completed in three days. (it could have taken months).

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.

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 :)

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.