Holder garden
Holder Community Garden has been operating since August 2001. There are currently 17 double plots (90 sqm) and 12 single plots (45 sqm). The garden will be going through some changes over the next year and it will expand slightly. We are always looking for new and enthusiastic people to join our community.
The garden has a number of communal garden beds at the south end containing plums, apples, mulberry, peach, nectarine (which are fruiting this season 08/09) and bay tree. Around the shed there are plantings of thyme, garlic chives, golden oregano, mint, rosemary, horseradish, sage and yarrow along with crab apples and a grape vine. The communal bed at the north end has been relocated because it was in the way of the new cycle path. The bed has been relocated to a neglected garden plot. The plantings are currants, raspberries, gooseberries and goji berry. A new garden bed being built next to the mulberry tree will have a mix of native plants (correas and westringias) and drought tolerant plants (leucadendron and cistus). Growing on the fence line are grape vines, roses, hardenbergia and a choko.
The garden has a very sunny northerly aspect, but is exposed to the prevailing elements especially after losing trees in the fires of 2003. But the new rows of Casuarina trees planted outside the garden since the fires are growing well and will increasingly protect the garden from the prevailing north westerly winds. The drought and unseasonal weather conditions have proven to be a challenge but somehow the garden has been able to go with the ebb and flow of the seasons.
The garden has its share of fauna which has increased since 2006. A very friendly pair of magpies raises their chicks in the large pine trees each year and is very keen to accept gifts of worms and grubs from gardeners to feed their chicks. Other residents or visitors are Harry the Sacred Ibis, brown snakes, geckos, field mice, willy wag tails, little blue wrens, starlings, wood ducks, rabbits, a feral cat, hawk gliding on the thermals and mob of choughs.
A number of gardening contractors regularly drop off grass clippings and leaves for members to use on their plots. The gardeners snap up these donated supplies eagerly and use them to help improve the soil and make good compost piles. On occasions the garden receives a supply of woodchips which are used for weed suppression on pathways and communal gardens.
Sadly number of long time gardeners have moved on, but happily a number of new keen members have joined. We have a very diverse membership, which means there are always lots of different ideas, techniques, tools and skills to borrow. Perhaps the best way to describe the Holder approach to gardening is by using Mario’s quote:
“There are three ways to garden – the right way, the wrong way, and my way!”
