Miranda Community Garden

My garden only grows one vegetable, tomatoes. But it can produce some fruit, Guavas, Bananas, and Avocadoes spasmodically, it’s quite sandy soil and a bit of a jungle.

So it was with much anticipation that my journey to Miranda to see the Community garden would deliver. A short walk from the station up Kiora Road to the Kingsway, left turn and a 100 meters to traffic lights which allowed pedestrians to cross and face Central Road.

Arriving in a suburb packed with high rise buildings, it’s a great relief to find an oasis, in the form of raised garden beds, fruit trees, green water tanks and an irrigation system, and worm farm, plus a group of friendly calm enthusiastic volunteers.

At the introductory ceremony 22 souls discussed the garden management, there I met Joan, Brien, Lindsay and Jan. It all seemed quite democratic and a little aspirational, with visitors coming from the local Kids 4 Kare Kindergarten and other interested volunteers. A photo album recorded the garden's history from establishment, on land owned by the Uniting Church.

10 raised garden beds built of thick timber slabs filled with dark soil, compost and liberal dose of horse manure, provided the growing medium.

Rock melons wallowed in a bed of lush green leaves, they looked prolific, but had not yet reached their maturity date. The beans had delivered several crops and had climbed their trellis, showing many white flowers. I am told the corn crop had been good. Tomato beds were delivering varying quality from small to monsters. There were watermelons, pumpkins, peppers, egg plants and figs protected by netting.

There is always some produce to be distributed amongst the volunteers, and in some case produces made into jams and pickles, stored in jars for sale.

All this is protected by scarecrows made by schoolchildren entered in various competitions.
On my way home I called at Ted's Photographic and had my days activities printed. The day was enhanced with quiet reflection, sampling my Miranda Community Garden pickles, biscuits cheese and wine.

Tim Williams