Welcome to Watermelon & Waves, our Coastal Community Garden Newsletter.
The Noongar season of Makuru is the coldest and wettest part of the year from June to July. Read more from our GROW page.
What to expect in this issue:
- What’s Happening in our Garden
- Up and Coming Events
- Gardening Jobs During this Season: June – July
- What to Plant Now: MUKURU SEASON
- This Issues Native Plant – Cushion Bush – Leucophyta brownii
Paul erects windbreak
Member’s Story
We are delighted to bring you our most recent committee member’s story.
Mim Neates
Early on, years ago, I had heard rumours in the community about a garden starting up. I was thrilled to hear the site chosen was in North Beach, very near my home! I attended the first meeting held on site, surrounded by like-minded enthusiastic people. Thanks to all the amazing founding committee members and their unending dedication to seeing this project through, the Coastal Community Garden is alive and well today with incredible plans for a very bright future.
I have in my working career been involved with school gardens and sustainability education. In retirement now I thankfully can make time to continue following this passion and am excited about meeting new neighbours! Natalie Charlton who has been leading the team, is now planning an incredible family adventure and isn’t currently able to dedicate all her spare time in the role of Chairperson on the committee this year. I am honoured to meet with so many talented, knowledgeable committee members and fill the Chair role, in order to assist the committee continue their fantastic work with the garden.
I love being among nature and love any excuse to enjoy it! It would be wonderful to continue expanding our very friendly, welcoming community. Please come and join us.
Thanks for our founder – Natalie Charlton
It is with a hint of sadness we bid farewell to our inaugural chairperson and founding member Natalie Charlton. Nat and her family are heading off on ‘the big lap’ around Australia so she’s handed the reins to new chairperson Mim Neates.
Thank you Nat for all your work
Nat has been a driving force behind Coastal Community Garden, putting up her hand to start looking into creating the garden way back in 2018. She has worked tirelessly from then, liaising with the City of Stirling to find a suitable site, putting together a working group and interim committee right through to council meetings, community consultation, meeting with the North Beach Tennis club and finally getting the garden started at our current location.
Nat has met with local politicians and councillors, coordinated volunteer groups on site in the garden and managed our official open day in October 2024, all while working as a nurse and busy mum to 2 young kids. Nat’s never been afraid to get her hands dirty either – always digging in at our regular garden days.
We will miss your enthusiasm and welcoming personality both down at the garden and at committee meetings. Safe travels, keep in touch and come back to the garden soon!
Sad Goodbyes
There have been a few changes within our community garden committee, new members have joined and some older members who have committed so much to the foundation of the garden have needed to move on. We would like to thank; Shelli Hockey, Michelle Lawson, Meredith Worthington, Carol Flemmer, Dan Adams, and Paul Bolla for their invaluable contribution to the committee and the garden. Some of these departures are recent whilst others have helped out with the initial work and since moved on. Most are still involved in the garden and can often be seen helping out on our Gardening Days. If you have any skills you feel might benefit the Coastal Community Garden please let us know via our Gmail contact email.
What’s Happening in Our Garden – Work done recently
Our monthly Gardening Days are a great way to be involved with our gardening community. Come and meet our new members, many of whom signed up on our raffle day which happened to coincide with voting day. We had 27 fill out membership forms and a lot more buying the raffle tickets. We were thrilled to present three gifts, very generously donated by Greenleaf Pharmacy North Beach and Bunnings Balcatta, to our raffle winners.
Compost Bins
Winter rains have begun and with them an abundant crop of weeds and although it has made the garden very lush and green they need to be brought under control before they smother our young plants. This has kept us very busy with weeding and mulching as well as composting and generally cleaning up around the garden beds. You will also see that our very clever volunteer Paul has put up a windbreak along the tennis fence to help lessen the easterlies, helping our young saplings establish themselves. Another windbreak will go up along the south row to protect our fruit trees.
We have three new compost bays for rotational composting for all our produce from the garden (except the grass roots and seeds). Many thanks for the great work team!
Please check our Facebook group for the next Garden Day and join in the fun.
New Members:
CCG would like to welcome all our members who signed up on the 3rd May or through our website page. Thank you for so generously contributing to the work in our garden both financially and physically.
Up and Coming Events:
All up and coming events will be posted on our Facebook page. We would love to meet you as you get involved in your passion in the garden. Please remember to bring sun protection, gloves and water. There’s still lots to do and all hands are much appreciated.
Mark your calendars for these up and coming events:
- Gardening Days – Saturdays from 1-:3:00pm. Our next Saturday is June 21st don’t worry if you don’t have gloves or gardening tools; there are plenty in our shed.
- Keep posted on what’s coming up through our Facebook group.
We hope to send out a reminder email for any important events that might come up before our next newsletter.
Gardening Jobs During Makuru Season:
Learn about what jobs we have suggested for this season on our new Seasonal Jobs page which can be accessed through the GROW page.
What to Plant Now:
This too can be accessed through our GROW page, under the heading Grow in Season then look for MUKURU SEASON – June – July.
This Issue’s Native Plant:
Once again this can be found on our GROW page under Grow Natives. This month we take a look at Cushion Bush Leucophyta brownii. This page also covers information on other native plants we have looked since starting our newsletters.
I do hope you enjoy reading through our new pages.
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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 Costal Community Garden team
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