Brief History of the Garden

The development of the garden began in about June 2000 (or maybe even 1999?) and was managed by student volunteers from Macquarie University as the space was then known as the ‘Permaculture Garden.’ The original intention was to build an ecosystem that loosely follows the principles of permaculture and/or sustainable management. Since January 2001, the space has been evolving into a ‘Community/Permaculture Garden’ as more local residents became involved in addition to the students.

The site where the garden lies was formerly an orchard growing area. Therefore, this area continues to allow the local community (residents and students alike) to participate in an organic and healthy food production system that is there for all to share and enjoy. Creating a ‘sense of place’ for present and future generations is an important characteristic of this garden.

Values Associated With the Garden

Over the years, the community garden team has fostered a sense of appreciation, responsibility and love for their local environment. This has been demonstrated through actively participating in a variety of environmentally sustainable and socially-conscious practices. As all food and garden materials can be completely recycled through a composting or worm farming system as well as re-using building or unwanted household items on-site (those that are typically discarded in ‘Local Council Clean-up Days’). The team discourages the use of commercially produced agricultural products (in particular: pesticides, herbicides and weedicides), many of which greatly contribute to extensive land degradation and loss of biodiversity seen in Australia today.

Those involved with the garden can also develop a hands-on understanding of an organic food production system (seeing, tasting, smelling, touching and hearing the inter-connectedness of all living things, where the idea of Permaculture has been based upon). All materials used in the garden have been kindly donated, collected from other sites and recycled to form multiple uses. All labour including administration and co-ordination costs have been performed on a voluntary basis. Note: Thanks to Lynette Johnson (former Garden Coordinator) for most of this information.