Community garden kicks off

Docklands’ new community garden opened with a day of celebration on July 15.

The City of Melbourne spent up big for the occasion and used it as a back-drop to launch the Docklands Community and Place Plan.

Children were entertained by roving performers and kids coming back from having their faces painted were transformed into other beings.

Channel 31’s celebrity gardener Vasili filmed his regular show at the launch – finishing with a spirited rendition of Zorba on his piano accordion, which got Docklands locals kicking up their heels (pictured above).

Watch the episode here: http://www.c31.org.au/schedule/view/episode/62842

The true essence of the day belonged to the small group of Docklands locals who were already involved in the garden and who had lovingly prepared the beds for the day.

About 25 Docklanders have been involved in the garden and another 30 signed up on the day to participate.

Unlike other community gardens, the Docklands garden is truly communal, with beds being shared by all and everyone being welcome to take from the herbs and vegetables being produced.

The garden group is a loose collective and there is no pressure on it to incorporate thanks to the Docklands Rotary Club offering to be the group’s “banker”.

Docklands Rotary president Joseph Ebbage said the offer was in line with the club’s guiding principle of connecting the Docklands community.

“The last thing a fledgling group of gardening enthusiasts wants is to be bothered with incorporation and having formal office bearers and structures,” Mr Ebbage said.

“We’re happy to step in so they can just get on with what they like doing – getting their hands dirty and producing shared food for the wider Docklands community.”

Mr Ebbage thanked the City of Melbourne for funding barbecue equipment that the club will use in future fund-raising events to benefit the local community, as well as the club’s international project in Fiji.

Docklanders interested in joining the gardening group can attend the group’s regular meetings held every second Wednesday of the month at 6.30 at The Hub (80 Harbour Esplanade).