Community Gardening in Alexandrina
A community garden is an area of public land, gardened collectively by a group of people, with the primary purpose of producing food. Community gardens may be on land owned by Council, schools, churches or on social housing estates. There are three main types of community gardens:
- Shared gardens – in which gardeners work together to cultivate shared garden beds and the harvest is shared amongst the gardeners
- Allotment gardens – in which gardeners each have their own garden bed
- Verge gardens – where a gardener cultivates food on their roadside verge and shares the harvest with their local community. For more information on creating a garden on your verge, please see the Alexandrina Verge Planting Guide.
Many community gardens choose to have a mixture of shared beds and allotment beds.
Community gardens provide a shared space where people can come together to grow fresh food, to learn, relax and make new friends.
Benefits of a Community Garden
Community gardening is an increasingly popular activity for growing food locally and encouraging healthier lifestyles. It is also an immensely satisfying and enriching experience for communities, bringing local people together to:
- Make new friends and connect with their community
- Learn and exchange ideas and skills
- Increase access to fresh, nutritious food
- Increase physical activity through gardening activities
- Improve mental health and promote relaxation
- Experience a sense of achievement that comes with growing and eating your own food
- Engage with nature
- Green our public spaces.
Find a Community Garden in Alexandrina
Cittaslow Goolwa Community Garden
Address: 145 Kessell Road, Goolwa
Website: www.cittaslowgoolwa.com.au
Email: garden@cittaslowgoolwa.com.au
Phone: Secretary – 0422 640 254 or Garden Coordinator – 0438 321 674
Cittaslow Goolwa Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association which aims to promote quality of life and sustainability in the community. The Community Garden is run by a committed group of volunteers who maintain the premises and grow fresh produce to supply the local Children’s Centre, Grow Free Carts, and the fortnightly Cittaslow Goolwa Market.
A number of garden beds are also leased to local residents.
Strath Neighbourhood Centre Community Garden
Address: 6 Parker Avenue, Strathalbyn, SA
Email: strathnc@gmail.com
Phone: Coordinator – 0416 173 573
The Strath Neighbourhood Centre Community Garden established in 2019, is evolving to suit the interests of the local community. Designed to be inclusive, the flower garden, espaliered fruit trees and productive raised vegetable beds invite visitors to wander through and enjoy the diversity of colours, textures and perfumes.
Ideally located behind the Neighbourhood Centre the garden is designed to be a sharing, teaching and learning space and the management and infrastructure is being developed to advance this objective.
Clayton Bay Community Garden
Address: 6 Alexandrina Drive (corner Grand View Dr), Clayton Bay, SA
Email: claytonbayneg@gmail.com
Clayton Bay Community Garden is located behind the Clayton Bay Nursery and Environment Group’s premises. Access is via the Clayton Bay Nursery gate on Alexandrina Drive, next to the tennis court. The garden has raised beds and wicking beds for vegetables and herbs, a small orchard, and bee-friendly flowering shrubs. The garden is run by an inclusive and friendly group of volunteers. We meet on Tuesdays 9am-12noon to work in the garden and share morning tea and socialising with the Clayton Bay Nursery and Environment Group volunteers. In-season produce is available for the whole community via a produce cart at the Australia Post Agency (at the Community Hall opposite the Garden).
Milang Community Garden
Address: Corner Coxe & Rivers St, Milang, SA
Website: www.moshcc.com.au
Email: reception@moshcc.com.au
Phone: Milang Old School House Community Centre – 8537 0687
The Milang Community Garden is a program of the Milang Old School House Community Centre and run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers. There are over 40 vegetable beds and more than 40 fruit trees on the site as well as berry bushes. The garden produces fresh, locally grown produce for the gardeners and community and for a small donation can be purchased directly each Tuesday during the regular gardening hours of 9am to 12.30pm.
Port Elliot Community Garden
Address: Reserve 60, Elliot Street, Port Elliot (western end of Elliot Street adjacent to CFS/SES complex)
Website: www.portelliot.org.au
Email: Secretary.fpecg@gmail.com
Phone: 0421 144 671
A new community garden is being established in Port Elliot by a group of enthusiastic volunteers. The garden will have communal gardens and individual plots, a small orchard, and will be wheelchair accessible. We welcome new members, please contact us or drop by on a Thursday morning between 9am - 12noon.
More about the community garden and membership forms on the Port Elliot Town and Foreshore Improvement Association website.
Useful Links
Australia’s peak body for community gardening. Offers information and resources related to community gardens and a national directory of community gardens around Australia.
Offers networking opportunities, information sharing and events related to community gardens.
Offers networking opportunities, information sharing and events related to urban food production including resources for gardeners and community gardens.
Growing Community: Starting and nurturing community gardens booklet
A comprehensive resource covering key topics related to establishing and nurturing a new community garden.