NEWS
WEED-IT NEWSLETTER
WHAT'S ON AT THE GARDEN
NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS
Dear Members
All members have a duty of care to one another to ensure we work in a safe and a virus-free environment using the current Government social distancing measures.
• Friday morning tea starts at 10am – these have recommenced for full vaccinated members only.
• Please bring your own cup/thermos to the garden as the club cups are off limits.
• Covered shoes MUST be worn at all times – no open shoes, thongs, flipflops or bare feet – this is a requirement of Newcastle Council. Any member found to have incorrect footwear will be asked to leave.
• Exercise a 1.5 metre social distance between each other as some of our members are elderly.
• Bring garden tools from home where possible.
• If you need to use club tools, please ensure you clean & wipe down the tools when returning to the container.
• Garden gloves are a great way to protect your hands from infections and cuts, when working in soil. Bring water and wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
• All members MUST sign in and out of the attendance book every time they visit the Gardens and use the QR code to check in each time they attend.
* Members are reminded not to randomly plant anything around the Gardens or to touch produce or plants in another members gardens. Unless the Committee give you permission to do so, don’t plant anything in the Community Garden beds.
• Remove the weeds from pathways and your gardens weekly. Gardens left unattended for more than a month or overgrown may be given to another person waiting for a garden plot. If you are going to be away, notify the Committee.
• Please remove all noxious weeds and take them home with you or place in the green bin for pick up by Council • Do not put onion weed, stinging nettles, wandering dew or other noxious weeds in the compost bays.
• Plants overhanging pathways between garden beds need to be pruned back regularly.
• The continuation of the weeding of the Camellia beds, the pathways and around the whole site when you visit would be greatly appreciated.
• Members are reminded to only plant things in their own garden plot. Do not randomly plant things around the gardens as it could be removed.
Regards. John Hoskin, President
GARDEN NEWS
PREPARATION OF GARDENS HEDGING & BEAUTIFICATION
With inspiration from Rodin’s gardens in Paris, this structured hedged look will add visual interest to capture the eye and a path leading across the lawn to a garden seat and entrance through the hedges into the garden bed area beyond.
The two rows of hedges have been planted with the help of John, Bill and Michelle with a big thank you to Bob for his healthy hedging plants. The roses are looking amazingly healthy and full of new growth and plenty of buds and the hedges are almost ready for their first trim.
Planting and Soil Temperature
There are four essential elements for seed germination. These are water, air, soil conditions, and temperature. Click the link to the left to download a PDF that has information about soil temperatures for seedling planting
COMPOSTING BAYS COMPLETED
The composting bays are now up and running and producing plenty of rich, great smelling compost for use in your garden plot. Many thanks go to Tristan, Brian, Greg, John, Stan, John and Ray. A special thank you to Mark Pepperall for helping us source the timber pallets for construction.
Also I would like to thank Greg Horan for his assistance with the construction of the back supporting wall of the compost bays.
The internals of each bay are lined in shade cloth and each bay is large enough to allow for the piles to be turned over as it breaks down. The piles are covered to keep the heat in and speed up the decomposition. John’s had his heat gun on it and it is up around 75oC which is perfect for killing any weed seeds.
OUR HONEY HAS A NEW LOOK!
NOTICE - 2022 AGM
Companion Planting
Veggie Garden Seeds
I came across a great website the other day and thought I’d share it with you. It’s called Veggie Garden Seeds. They have a great range of seeds for Australian natives, trees and grasses, tubers and bulbs, garden veggies, flowers, herbs as well as tools and books. Check out their website for their full range.
Why not consider buying seeds for one of these:
Common Name: Strawberry Spinach
Scientific Name: Chenopodium foliosum
Life Cycle: Annual
Remarks: Pink savoury fruits. Leaves and berries can be eaten. Strawberry-like berries can be eaten fresh or used in preserves.
Plant Height: 50cm
Season: Spring
Sowing Depth + Method: 3mm deep, raise seedlings
Spacing: 50cm
Position: Full / Part Sun
Days until Germination: 7-14 days
Approx. Number of Seeds: 30