February – March 2024

Author: 01/31/2024

NEWSLETTERS

Happy New Year 2024!  Welcome to Coastal Community Garden’s second year of Watermelon & Waves newsletter

The Noongar calendar has six seasons including two summers and two springs. As we move into the hottest part of the year, we enter the Second Summer or Bunuru Season which covers from February to March.  Bunuru is typically a season with very little rain, very hot easterly winds and welcoming cool afternoon sea breezes. The local indigenous people know it for the abundance of white flowers which can be seen on the Jarrah, Marri and Ghost Gums.

What to expect in this issue:

Members Story – Sally Hall

I came in a little further down the track than some of the other committee members. I had heard there was a community garden wanting to start up here in North Beach not far from where I live and as an avid gardener I was interested to know more.  My gardening experience came from my Mother who was always in the garden.  She had a vegie patch wherever we lived as well as herbs, fruit trees, roses, and natives. For many years I was unable to have my own garden due to traveling around, renting in flats and when I did manage to start a vegie patch I’d move on before I harvested any produce.  When I finally settled back in Perth to take care of my Mother who had dementia, she kept telling me off for doing things in her vegie garden and if she or I did manage to plant seeds she would dig the spot not knowing there was anything there (even though it was marked or netted).  Eventually I moved into my own place but even here I have challenges.  Firstly there is the high alkaline, hydrophobic sandy soil combined with full on summer sun which scorches everything and no, zilch, narda winter sun due to my block being on a southerly facing slope with tall trees on the north border.  I desperately wanted somewhere I could grow vegies without so many challenges.

Hearing about the community garden inspired me.  I love being part of our church community and knew being part of a gardening community would bring lots of benefits too.  I then decided to increase my knowledge in this area by returning to studies.  This time at TAFE doing Horticulture, dividing the course in two so I could complete it over a year instead of six months. Why rush and be stressed when I’m retired.

Sally observing Wicking Bed construction, CCG.

Sally observing Wicking Bed construction, CCG.

I joined the CCG committee halfway through my studies, when the committee had just had the site for the community garden approved by council.  They were celebrating with a bottle of wine; it just happened it was also a special day for me too, my birthday.  What a wonderful way to celebrate both occasions.  At the time of joining I was so impressed by all the expertise of other members, I was wondering where I was going to fit in.  Then towards the end of 2022 there was discussion about having our own website and newsletters.  Hhhhmmm this sounded like something I could do.  I had previously run my own business in Sydney as a private Mothercraft nurse with my own website and newsletters. I also have a blog where I post monthly about my adventures.  Not bad for a dyslexic person.  I’m not an IT nerd just someone who knows a bit having maintained my own site.  The good thing is I also have an IT friend who is a web designer so when I needed help setting up the CCG site she was willing to help.

Although I’m not physically able to do much these days due to challenges with my back, I’m excited to see how the garden is starting to take shape and looking forward to being part of the community as we become more established.

If you are a member with a story you would like to share with your fellow gardeners, please email us so we can include it into our newsletter to encourage and inspire others.

What’s Happening at the Patch

Aloe Vera just after planting.

Committee members have diligently been hand watering to establish that which was planted before Christmas.  Good news is, our reticulation is now in which means less hand watering.  Reticulation is now watering our trees, the large garden bed and keeping our wicking bed topped up.  The few plants that were put in before Christmas are doing well.  To this we have added sweet potato runners and Aloe Vera which was rescued from a clean-up of a member’s garden. There are many more plants which have not been put in due to summer heat, we are so looking forward to a big plant out at the end of autumn.

Apart from our garden patch work is being done on the website to enable applications for membership.  We are hoping to provide a payment window and registration for our newsletter – Watermelon and Waves.

New Members:

CCG would like to welcome members who have so generously contributed before our gardens have been established.  At the moment member’s fees are being put towards establishment projects in our garden.  I hope you are feeling part of the family through our Facebook group, Instagram, bi-monthly newsletters and occasional updates of what’s happening.  We hope to keep you informed on what’s happening throughout the year as well as eventually being able to share produce from the garden. Please pass the word around as we are looking for new CCG members as well as committee members.  If you would like to become a member, please email us.

Up and Coming Events: 

Finally!  We have organised a Wicking Bed Workshop for Saturday the 10th February from 8am to 11am.  This will be a hands-on workshop to create wicking beds out of IBCS for our community garden.  If you’re interested in getting involved, please RSVP by the 7th February.  For those who are coming please wear good protection against the sun including a hat, long sleeved shirt and sunscreen, a good pair of closed working shoes and gardening gloves. You will also need drinking water to keep you hydrated and a snack.

If you feel you may be able to contribute in any way in the garden, please email us on: coastalcommunitygarden@gmail.com

Link to a yearly calendar will also be coming on our website.

Gardening Jobs During Bunuru Season:

Don’t forget to take care of yourself, stay out of the heat.  When in the garden remember to – slip, slop, slap, stay hydrated and take regular breaks.  Work in the morning or evening when it is cooler to avoid over-doing it in the heat of the day.

The scorching weather and hot dry winds are very challenging at this time of the year. Where possible, cover plants with shade cloth during very high temperatures. Check pot plants regularly and move into a more sheltered spot if need be.  Some pots may be more exposed, those in terracotta pots may overheat or dry out quicker than others.

Watering: Soils are often Hydrophobic at this time of the year and need a wetter-soil agent to help water absorption or better still prevent through good ground covers and mulching.

Mulch: over bare earth where no plants are growing; this will help protect soil biology and aid with water repellent problems.

Pruning:

  • Do not do any hard pruning during the heat of summer as even the burnt dried leaves provide shade for younger growth which if exposed may also burn.
  • Removing dead flowers will help produce more flowers on most summer bloomers. Wear long sleeves to protect your arms if you have sensitive skin.
  • Deadhead roses and apply fertiliser to encourage another flush of flowers.
  • Roses can be cut back quite hard then followed with a good feed to encourage new growth for a full bloom in autumn.
  • Remove flower heads from agapanthus before they seed.

Repotting:

  • Repot plants that have outgrown their pots over summer. Use a premium potting mix and apply a seaweed solution as well. Transfer plants to a slightly larger pot or remove some of the root ball, add fresh potting mix and return it to the old pot.

Indoor Plants

      • Check indoor plants are not in direct sun or dried out from air conditioning.

      What to Plant Now:

      FEBRUARY – MARCH

      Flowers:

      Ageratum, alyssum, boronia, calendula, cornflower, cyclamen, forget-me-not, hollyhock, linaria, nasturtium, pansy, salvia, statice, stock, sweet pea, verbena, vinca, viola, wallflower.

      Vegetables:

      Beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbages, capsicum, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, chilli, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbs, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, melons, spring onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, rhubarb crowns, Silverbeet, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchinis.

      It’s a challenge growing vegetables in the hottest time of the year here in Perth but with a daily hand water and possibly shade cloth you’ll still be able to have a productive garden.  To prevent stressed plants from bolting to seed, keep up the water and ensure seeds & seedlings don’t dry out.

      W.A Fruits and Vegies in Season:

      Apples, apricots, avocadoes, bananas, cherries, grapes, mangoes, rockmelon, watermelon, nectarines, passionfruit, pawpaw, peaches, plums,

      Beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, celery, chillies, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, rhubarb, silverbeet, spring onions, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips zucchini.

      This Issues Native Plant:

      (for our coastal region the Bassendean and Spearwood dune sands Perth)

      Native Flax (Dianella revolute) 

      This lily-like perennial also goes by the names of blue flax-lily, flax-lily, black anther, blueberry lily or spreading flax-lily as it forms an attractive clump with flat, dark blue-green grassy leaves.  It can be found in woodlands and mallee forests throughout Australia.  In late spring early summer, it produces a long spike up to 1mt with a spray of starry blue flowers with bright yellow anthers.  These later produce dark-blue berries.

      Plant care

      This plant grows in extremely variable conditions, can tolerate lime and is suitable for all soil types from coast to the Darling Range. It prefers well drained, moist soil and can be propagated from seed.

       

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      We are hoping to include a calendar of events in our next newsletter. As a part of our gardening family we would love to hear your thoughts and what you would like to see in our newsletter.

      Thank you for being part of our gardening community.
      Yours in the garden,
      The Coastal Community Garden team