Coffs Regional Community Gardens
Gardening Education, Edible Plants Nursery & Organic Abundance
Garden Opening Times and Opportunities at the Coffs Regional Community Gardens
Feb 13th
Coffs Regional Community Gardens 2015
Members, their guests and visitors are most welcome to attend the Coffs Regional Community Garden during its open hours. These are currently Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00am to 3.30pm and Sunday from 10am to 4.30 pm.
During these times you are able to explore the garden and enjoy the many and diverse attractions. Some of the main attractions include:-
Our small livestock such as (Chickens, Muscovy ducks, Jap quails, Rabbits, Guinea pigs and fish).
Our extensive edible plant collection
Sustainable Auquaponics system
High tech composting toilet system
Stand alone Solar power systems
Members edible and useful plants nursery
Children’s sand pit and play area
Regular workshops
Monthly members pizza and movie nights
Customized group tours and CHCC Ambassador tours
Alternately you can join in with the working bee that’s in progress at the time you arrive, this could be any combination of gardening and animal care work.
Another option is just to have a leisurely wander around, enjoy the peaceful ambience and just hang out with a cuppa.
Anyone can become a member of the CRCG simply by asking for a membership form, having the garden management system explained to you and paying your membership fee.
Another membership option is to apply for your own private plot. The CRCG has 26 of these available for members to lease for their own special gardening experience.
As a member you are eligible to join any of the interest groups or “pods” within the garden. These include ‘Media and Promotion’, ‘ Grants writing’, ‘Catering’, ‘Nursery ‘, Garden Maintenance’, Aquaponics’, ‘Animal Care or the ‘Flowers and beautification’ group.
The CRCG is entirely based exclusively upon Organic production principles including promoting natural predator organisms, extensive plant diversity, onsite nutrient recycling through composting, worm farms, liquid fertilizers and the management of our productive animals.
All produce from the garden is shared amongst the members that help with the maintenance and care of the garden.
All seeds used in our nursery are non hybrid and most are own saved varieties. Members of CRCG have access to our nursery which contains a great range of edible and useful plants that you won’t commonly find in retail nurseries and at prices you won’t beat elsewhere.
So we hope to see you at the eastern end of the Combine St Reserve in Coffs harbour to see the many features of what is now one of the very best community gardens in NSW and Australia.
By Matthew Downie (Coordinator CRCG)
Workshop – ‘Cooking straight from the garden’ presented by Arlan Ilon this Sunday 14th Dec
Dec 10th
Would you like to be able to improvise with whatever is fresh, organic and in season growing in your garden? Walk around the CRCG and do a delicious harvest and then prepare a sumptuous seasonal feast for your friends and family. Covering some traditional easy to make stir-fry and accompanying dishes, you’ll also learn how to cook the versatile and very delicious cassava and many different types of easy to grow spinaches and herbs.
- Fresh Garden harvest
.
Staring at 10.30am sharp and finishing at 12.30. Food and refreshments available in addition to eating the gourmet dish that you prepare!
The price is just $10 for members and $15 for non financial members.
Sustainable Aquaponics – An Introduction (Workshop this Sunday 23rd Nov)
Nov 21st
Learn about this revolutionary and still evolving method of growing both fish and vegetables together naturally and organically. You’ll learn about the types of systems and components that can be used including flood and drain, flow through, floating raft, CHOP, bell siphons, timers and filters. We’ll cover nutrients in the system, mains power installations and complete solar stand-alone systems. We will also discuss the range of crops that grow in aquaponics systems, fish species that can be used and foods that you can grow yourself to feed your fish.
Bronze Perch
Starts at 10.30 am sharp and goes until 12.30, Light refreshments are served at the end and is FREE to attend.
Presented by Matthew Downie and Steve McGrane
Mega Open Day this Sunday the 9th of November at the Coffs Regional Community Garden
Nov 5th
FREE workshops & kids’ activities.
- 10am to 11am – Composting and nutrient recycling systems
- 11am to 12nonn – Using local bamboo for a green economy, garden and building
- 12noon to 1pm – Lunch available and open garden self guided tours
- 1pm to 2pm – Sustainable Garden Watering strategies
- 2pm to 3pm – Fully Sustainable Aquaponics system and Garden Animals
Then Following the open day, a Movie & Pizza Night
With the award winning documentary
‘The Secret of OZ’ – (Solutions for a broken economy)
The Secret of OZ
Cost for this:
members $10,
non members $15
(includes Pizza and Movie).
Fantastic New Mural on the Coffs Regional Community gardens Compost toilet by amazing artist Robyn Henley
Oct 17th
There is nothing quite like a beautiful mural in a prominent place to raise the spirits and create a welcoming vibe for all who pass by.
The Coffs Regional Community garden has plenty of attractions to impress and inspire visitors to the site but until recently some beautiful artwork was one of the few things it was still waiting for.
Long
time CRCG member and supported Rhondda Daniell mentioned to her sister Robyn Henley of an opportunity to come and visit from her home at Shell Harbour on the south coast to Coffs Harbour, where the community garden had a fantastic composting toilet with a prominent yet “BLANK” front door and adjacent wall.
Robyn soon made the journey to come and visit Rhondda and hubby Mike for a few days and promptly came down to the CRCG for a look at the blank space. She came back the next day armed with paints, brushes and a beaming smile and then began a wondrous transformation of the blank door and wall into a most beautiful work of art. Created at no charge to the garden and purely for the love of art and its expression, you have left an enduring legacy with us Robyn! Much thanks and appreciation from All the members!!
A few words from the artist….
“For years, I have loved to paint. I have enjoyed attending classes of several well-known artists and have explored different forms of art. I have painted in oils and acrylics and really enjoy watercolour, pastel and mixed media. Added to this is my love of drawing and creating murals in many different situations. Over the years I have taught and enjoyed art as a teacher and artist. I love to capture the beauty of Australia. I enjoy many different subjects and have always loved variety and spontaneity in my work. I have exhibited in a number of exhibitions, and have sold many of my artworks.
Thank you for the opportunity to create this mural for Coffs Coast Community Gardens and I hope it will bring lots of pleasure to those who enjoy many hours pottering in the garden in the fresh air and sunshine”.
Thank you,
Robyn Henley
Robyn & her new mural
