Got compost but nowhere to put it? Or perhaps you want to help feed our worms?
We're looking for more compostable materials for our compost bins and food for our worms that live in the bath at the secret garden. All our compost will be used in our garden sites, and the truth is, we just can't get enough. If you have food scraps (not meat), coffee grinds, tea bags or grass clippings that you would like to donate, please get in touch with us by emailingarogardener@gmail.com or phoning 3846998. We welcome other materials, seeds or seedlings - please get in touch with us if you've got something you think we might want.
Of course you could also join us as a gardener - everyone is welcome to come along to our monthly working bees to check it out. You don't need to have any gardening skills, just a bit of enthusiasm, a good laugh and willingness to get your hands dirty. We learn skills from each other every time we garden. Working bees happen on the third Sunday of every month, meeting at midday outside the Aro Valley Community Centre in Aro Park. Just show up on the day to join in.
We're stoked about the progress of all our sites - a bit of sunshine and some decent rain does wonders for all things edible. The steps garden has sunflowers that look onto Aro Street, and I have never before seen so many pumpkin plants. Perhaps our next potluck meeting will be filled with pumpkin pie, roast pumpkin, soup, stuffed pumpkins... (contact us to find out when the next potluck planning meeting is!). We've also been enjoying the harvest of sweetcorn, beans, tomatoes and a variety greens.
The orchard continues and is now definitely looking like a garden. Our fruit trees seem to be doing well in their first six months and some of us are already looking forward to next summer for when there might be fruit! We'd like to see this site being respected as a garden - if you know anyone that is leaving their old desks, mattresses or other unwanted furniture on the site, please kindly ask them to donate it to the Sallies as we don't really need any outdoor office furniture or beds (particularly not when it starts rotting).
The secret garden is just amazing as usual, and the self-seeded plants and herbs just keep on going. We've got fresh delicious coriander coming out our ears, as well as an abundance of silverbeet, kale, lettuce and other veg.
That's all for now! We look forward to seeing you in the coming months.
Nga mihi nui, look after yourself,
Lillian.
