Gardening, Education, Connection, Community
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Ever thought of joining your local community garden? Now’s your chance! Aug 2022
On Sunday 4th September 11.00am, the Coffs Regional Community Gardens (CRCG) members old and new are invited to attend our annual general meeting (AGM) when the new committee is elected for the next 12 months. The committee just has to meet at least 3 times a year and is responsible for overseeing how the garden is managed and communicating with our members.
The past couple of years have given us a few challenges, in the form of COVID restrictions and major rain events. Despite this, members have managed the garden responsibly with patience and energy and the space is functioning well, thanks to the hard work of a group of volunteers.
There have been 2 successful Coffs Garden plant sale mornings, raising funds for the garden which will remain a regular seasonal event, and working bees at the gardens have seen a new shed erected and our rather dilapidated compost bins relocated, as well as an on-going project to Hugelculture the Mandala garden. The garden is also the magical space for Monday morning yoga sessions.
The garden partnered with the Coffs Council through their living coast sustainability project, and completed 3 workshops at the garden over the past year – Native Bees (facilitated by Jim Higgins); Plant propagation and raising seedlings (facilitated by Peter Green); and Integrated Pest management (facilitated by Phil Bowden). There were other workshops this year, including Midwaste workshop on composting; a Soil Heath workshop facilitated by Ian Thomas, and Exotic Pests & Diseases workshop facilitated by DPI.
The Coffs community garden is a place for promoting the permaculture ethical principles of caring for mother earth, caring for people, growing and sharing organic food, and growing healthy. The garden also provides educational and information resources to empower people to live and promote sustainability, plant regeneration, organic gardening, soil health and biodiversity, and provides a wonderful space for gardening therapy and as a venue for hosting meetings and community events.
For more information about becoming a member or about events going on at the garden go to www.coffscommunitygardens.org.
Check out our latest article in the local and on-line Coffs Coast News of The Area – https://issuu.com/…/coffs_coast_news_of_the_area_2…/10
Work commences to Hugelculture the Mandala garden! July 2022
It might take us as much as 5 years – but the work has begun! We are improving and raising the soil level in the Mandela garden using the Hugelculture (or hugelkultur) method!
Put simply, hugelkultur is a centuries-old, traditional way of building a garden bed from rotten logs and plant debris. These mound shapes are created by marking out an area for a raised bed, clearing the land, and then heaping up woody material (that’s ideally already partially rotted) topped with compost and soil.
Garden members, hard at work
Tribute to Mike Daniell, by Steve McGrane
Although this is undoubtedly a sad day, we are here to celebrate the joyous life of my/our friend/husband/brother or colleague Mikey. It is my honour to share the time I spent with Mikey and the moments and pleasures I will never forget and to bring back your own memories of your time with the gentle Mikey. And, a more loving and adoring couple you will never meet, Mike and Rhonda. They met 51 years ago, in a little supermarket in Rosehill and married for 48 years. Mike adores Rhonda, and Rhonda the same, that lives on forever…
I met Mikey around 16 years ago at a CROPPO meeting, a Coffs Harbour based organisation for organic growers. And to Graham and Elise Knoxs, Mikey was always No5 (in-joke, Mikey will understand)! Although Mikey and I met at CROPPO, it was later during the birth of Coffs Community Garden, that I really got to know Mikey as a force of nature, literally,. Mike was one of the original committee members. He served for many long years through thick and thin, being made a life member of the garden. From the day I met him I was fascinated by this kindred spirit with an obvious high level botanical knowledge, an inquiring mind on everything biological, gained from years of formal and informal study along with extensive professional experience in such esteemed institutions as Que Gardens London,and Sydney Botanic Gardens, to mention a few. Mikey’s absolute passion for plants and animals is legendary and talking with Mikey, was like having David Attenborough in your lounge room. Mikey’s articulate and accurate discussion about all things biological was an engaging experience that I always looked forward to sharing, and I miss already. Mikey and I shared many passions. I remember that on a number of occasions Mikey wanted to get his own aquaponics systems at home, always asking how I could help, but every occasion, Rhonda was behind his shoulder, shaking her head, fearing yet another project! Sadly Mikey never got his aquaponics system, but I’m sure you’re up there Mikey, right now, badgering God for an aquaponics system, Mikey is such a determined soul, look out lord!
Because, if you wanted something done Mikey’s your man, he could fix anything, with meticulous care. Research was his forte and he relished the chance to be involved in any project that meant digging deep, literally. Share a task with Mikey and you knew it would get done. He excelled in coming up with ideas and had solutions to everything. Most of all, I hold dearly, the passion he had for his own garden and the joy he expressed whenever a new flower or fruit emerged. You can’t mention Mikey’s passions without mentioning “Miniscule”. That is a French animation about insects, a passion to this day, that Mikey and I still share even though hes moved on to greener pastures. Speaking of greener pastures, Mikey’s own garden remains a tribute to botanical collections and he was always so pleased to present you with cuttings or potted up plants he’s lovely nurtured. If Mikey gave you a propagated plant you knew he enjoyed your company. Mikey is a legend and along with Rhondie, at Coffs Harbour Community Garden, and both life members in recognition of their tireless work. At every Community Garden Workshop, you’d find Mike and Rhonda there at the crack of dawn, and still there long after the event. Mikey was that type of guy that supported anyone that needed a hand. All he asked in return, was a small amount of appreciation, and he gave you the world. While the world seems to be crumbling, It’s a comfort and reassurance that people like Mikey have never shifted from their morals and principles of human kindness. I’m not saying Mike was an angel, he was certainly capable of dispensing direct displeasure whenever disrespect was shown, though his sense of loyalty and honour lives on in my memory. Some people leave this planet a better place, some just enjoy the ride, some give their all, Mikey was all of this and more. Rest in peace Mikey.