Nambucca Heads
"Growing Together Community Garden"
The Nambucca Heads Growing Together Community Garden (NHGTCG) is a joint project between the Nambucca Heads Uniting Church and the Uniting Mid North Coast Community Care.
The garden was officially opened by Mayor Rhonda Hoban on 29 September, 2016 and aimed to foster, nurture and develop intergenerational experiences.
The project was assisted with both the church and Uniting gaining grants which enabled the development of the garden infrastructure. Further grants have enabled additional developments to be undertaken.
The early development of the garden involved many different groups in the community including the Nambucca Heads Men's Shed, Nambucca Heads Primary School, Youthie, Valla Lions Club, as well as individuals from the local community, including local indigenous artist Denise Buchannan painting a large mural. Aa number of local businesses also assisted in the gardens development.
The project has achieved national recognition by gaining an Australian Government, Aged Care Quality Agency, Better Practice Award.
The garden aims to bring people of all ages together in a safe environment where people can interact in the various activities associated with the garden. As well as gardening a number of activities have taken place in the Old Fire Station building, such as a playgroup, art classes, singing lessons and Quaker meetings.
Unlike many Community Gardens, this garden doesn't allocate specific gardens to particular individuals but all garden members share the gardening tasks with various members taking responsibility for specific aspects of the garden.
The garden has been designed to be attractive to people of all ages. It is laid out to be dementia friendly and accessible to people in wheelchairs and those who require pushers.
The garden is a space where garden members enjoy each other's company as they garden, chat over morning tea and share the produce of the garden.
Volunteers regularly attend to the chickens by letting them out, feeding them and returning them to their enclosed area later in the day.
Members meet on Tuesday and Friday mornings from approximately 9.30am to 12.30pm.
For further information contact Graham on 0491621156.
