HORSHAM will soon be home to a brand new community garden.
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The Patch will be an all-abilities community garden where people will be able to cultivate plants and swap their unused produce.
The garden will be officially opened on Sunday and is located next to the Salvation Army Op-Shop on Lynott Street, Horsham.
Horsham Rural City Council Landcare facilitator Wendy McInnes said the project had been many years in the making.
“Over the last two years the project has been lovingly tendered with the vision to create a garden for the whole community,” she said.
“We had heard the Salvation Army was interested in doing something with the blank patch of land next door. So we approached them with this idea and created a committee for the project.”
The Patch was a Pick My Project nominee earlier this year. Although it received 100 votes, unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the project to secure funding.
Ms McInnes said the project had received funding from a number of places, including a grant from Horsham Rural City Council.
“Once the money came in, we started putting in the infrastructure and planning the layout,” she said.
“We will have some community garden beds for people to rent out. There will also be some raised beds to allow for disability access.”
The garden will incorporate work for the dole projects, the recently opened Kalkee Road Children's Hub, school painting days, Horsham Urban Landcare and a monthly vegetable swap.
“The aim for the project is to create a sustainable community garden that will be around for a long time,” she said.
“The Salvation Army will be able to use the fruit and vegetables grown in the garden and distribute it back into the community through the weekly lunch they hold.”
She said an education hub was included in the design.
“It will be away for people to develop their skills, learn how to grow their own food and share knowledge with others,” she said.
“There will also be regular workshops to teach people about specific areas of horticulture.”
The Patch will be officially opened on Sunday, November 18. The Horsham Urban Landcare produce swap meet will start at 11.30am, with the official opening starting at 12noon.
A free barbecue will start at 12.30pm which will be followed by a guided tour of the garden.
People will be able to become members of The Patch on the day.
For more information or to RSVP to the event, contact Wendy McInnes on 5383 6220. Alternatively, you can head to the Horsham Urban Landcare Facebook page.
