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 – don’t place it in the compost bays.
• Plants overhanging pathways between garden bedd, need to be pruned back regularly.
• The continuation of the weeding of the Camellia beds, the pathways around the community beds and anywhere weeds have sprouted due to the rain and humid weather.
• The continuation of the preparation and cleaning up of the community beds. Members are reminded not to randomly plants in the community beds.
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. Keep your eyes open for the changes being made between December 2020 and January 2021.
UPDATE – 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. UPDATE – John has included an updated photo of the new hedged area in the February 2021 Weed-it Magazine with the area now planted out and mulched… next will be the soft pink and deep pink scented roses! this is going to look and smell amazing when it’s completed.
UPDATE – 29 August – with our hedges starting to grow and the roses that were recently planted–we have just begun to see the beautiful pink buds begin to bloom… and the perfume is devine! The roses are looking amazingly healthy and full of new growth and plenty of buds.
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 finishing touches were made on the composting bays in early June. Many thanks go to Tristan, Brian, Greg, John, Stan, John, 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 in a large piece of carpet 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.
Can we all water the community beds as we are making inroads to make these productive for our communal benefit. Preparing the beds also assists with crop rotation, which is beneficial to soil and plant growth.
OUR HONEY HAS A NEW LOOK!
Spring Picnic & Celebrating
21 Years - Sun 27 Sept @ 1pm
The Committee is organising a Spring Picnic for its members and to celebrate 21 years of the Gardens ongoing success!
To be held on Sunday 27 September at 1 pm, at the March Street Gardens. Members are asked to bring their own picnic lunch, chair and/or blanket. There will be a cake and a raffle.
Due to Covid and social distancing the Picnic is limited to 20 members only. Please RSVP as soon as possible to Bill & Rose via email to: nova2@tpg.com.au
Let’s get together and celebrate Spring and turning 21 in our flourishing gardens. Hope you can join us!
NEW COMMITTEE ELECTED
Secretary – Michelle Hessing
Treasurer – Bill Ayre
Photographer – Stan Rupnik
Community Plots & Social Co-ordinator – Rose Ayre
Community Beds
Two of our members, Angela and Sandy have been working on the community beds and have planted many new seedlings for us all to eventually enjoy. Please remember to water our community beds.
Tristan’s kale is coming along and members will notice the relocating of some veges as we attempt to organise our planting layout. We are keeping like produce together, so that next season we can rotate each plot and change what is being grown to assist with soil health and retaining nutrients. See the September 2021 Weed-it for some great companion planting information.
Various garden plots are starting to come alive with the new veges and flowers beginning to bloom as the weather warms up. We also have a number of new members – which is terrific to see.
