by Carla Caruso

The Park Terrace Community Garden within Mary Lee Park (Park 27B) is back in operation – and the committee’s looking for new members.

Although the garden was put in hibernation for 15 months during “a difficult period” amid the pandemic, it’s now being revitalised.

The re-opening has been made possible because of a community infrastructure grant of $19,752 from the City of Adelaide.

The grant will enable the volunteer-run committee to erect a split-pale fence around the garden plots and install lighting to improve security. The fence will go up during October and November.

Jim Robinson, the interim committee’s chair, says such measures will help provide reassurance for members who put effort into nurturing crops.

All the produce is grown in shared garden beds and the harvest is split among members. (Membership is currently $25 per person annually.)

“This was a great community garden and the best thing that we could do is build some sort of barrier,” Jim says.

“The Wattle & Wire fence and gates mean the garden will remain accessible. It is very much in keeping with the Park Lands environment. It will be a permeable living fence as we will train plants on some panels.”

With the City of Adelaide’s help, Jim is hoping the fence will create some respect and protection for the garden, its members, and the produce. “We are also installing a sensor light to light up the garden at night. This is a community garden and everyone benefits, even non-members, if the garden flourishes.”

As well, there’s a new toilet facility, adjacent to the carpark and the tennis courts nearby.

“We have a dedicated core committee and a swelling number of volunteers. But there is opportunity for residents from the western suburbs, as well as North Adelaide, to be a part of this revitalisation,” Jim adds.

Working bees in August and September have helped to get the garden back on track. Green thumbs have undertaken everything from raising a garden bed for accessibility to planting seedlings, weeding, and repairing irrigation.

In the near future, a sand-rubble mix will also be put down on paths to make the garden wheelchair-accessible.

If anyone is interested in becoming a member of the garden, they can contact the committee via Facebook or on email at commgarden27b@gmail.com. Alternatively, just head along to one of its regular catch-ups on Saturdays from 10am (but check Facebook to confirm).

Elsewhere in your Park Lands, the Walyu Yarta Community Garden in Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21) continues to flourish.