A community garden aimed at bringing together the most vulnerable members of the community has been launched in Doreen’s Katandra estate.
The garden, Katandra Rise, was created by the Five Squared Property Group in Doreen in a vacant block next door to its office.
It includes 12 individual plots, one communal plot, a garden shed and 12 car parking spaces which are managed by Five Squared.
The garden is already yielding tomatoes, chillies and lettuce.
Green-thumbed children from nearby Doreen Primary School visited last Thursday to launch the garden and assist with watering and planting.
Teacher Helen Mollard said the pupils from grades 2 to 6 were part of a pupil welfare group which helped build self confidence and self-esteem.
“We selected four children from the group to help out in the community garden. Those children will learn about gardening and pick some of the produce and bring it back to the school,” said Ms Mollard.
“For the students, it is about making them feel special as they have been specially selected to represent the school. Everything they take from the garden and bring back to the school can be used for learning and they will get first-hand knowledge from the horticulturists and gardeners who are working at the garden.”
Ms Mollard said children from the school would maintain the community garden as part of a school-wide sustainable living project.
Gardening tools and plant seeds were donated to the garden by Masters Home Improvements in South Morang.
Five Squared co-founder Ashley Lewis said the purpose of the garden was to spark social interaction between residents in the community.
“We had a vacant block of land next door which wasn’t being used for anything and research shows [that] community gardens are beneficial in growing free fresh fruit and vegetables for people in need,” he said.
“It creates a place which brings together ethnically diverse people and people who may be isolated from the community, including the elderly. It also contributes to the general health and well-being of the community, promoting physical activity and social inclusion of residents.”
Mr Lewis said a larger garden with 50 plots is proposed for the site and could be built within two years, depending on the level of interest
He said the garden was for the entire Whittlesea community.
“With the current trend in people having small gardens in their houses or residents who may be short on gardening space this community garden provides an ideal space for everybody to share the produce they grow.”
The garden is at 9 Marley Boulevard, Doreen.
