Community food garden proposed for Campion Avenue

Keith Clarke Reserve will soon be home to Balcatta’s first community food garden after being endorsed by Council on 29 June.
 
A group of residents has a vision for a vibrant urban garden that brings people together, inspiring them to adopt sustainable growing and eating practices. It is anticipated it will include communal gardening areas as well as private plots to grow produce in.
 
Sam del Pino from the Campion Community Garden Committee said the goal was to turn an unused area into a positive community space that’s accessible to everyone regardless of what levels of commitment they can make.
 
“The garden area will be at the back, however, we’d like to have a whole bunch of fruit trees and a herb garden along the front which is open to the public, so people can come and pick freely,” he said. Once the garden is flourishing, the bees won’t be the only ones making a buzz.
 
“We see it becoming a real central hub with community events, a little market, fairs, outdoor cinemas, just to see everyone come together and really build that community spirit.” Mr Del Pino said.
 
Keith Clarke Reserve was selected as the preferred site over Collier Milton Barker Reserve, which is a popular site for dog walking, sports and exercise. Keith Clarke Reserve offers more space and is currently underutilised.
 
The City has allocated funds and will provide support to the community group towards the establishment of the garden.
 
“I've already got some fruit trees in pots and we want to get them started because they take a bit of time to get established,” Mr Del Pino said. “Then, depending on funds we want to put in garden boxes and a shed to store equipment.”

Mayor Mark Irwin says this project would be a welcome addition to a growing list of community gardens in the City of Stirling.
 
“We’ve been providing funding and assistance for community gardens since 2009,” Mayor Irwin said.
 
“Now we’re seeing new projects like this one, learning and benefitting from the experiences of established gardens in Joondanna, Westminster, Hamersley, Scarborough and Inglewood.”
 
“You only have to look at how well cared for the gardens are to know how much they’re loved by their surrounding communities.”
 
For more information about community gardens, visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/leisure-and-culture/attractions-and-recreation/community-gardens.