Charlie's Garden: Bringing the Community Together

A couple of YFMers recently visited Charlie’s Garden in Redfern - Lucy Jackson followed up with the garden coordinator Deborah Segal to learn how the garden has brought together the community.How did you get involved with Charlie's Garden?I live nearby and happened to walk past the garden one day; there’s a blackboard set up outside the garden and it had contact details for anyone interested in getting involved.Can you describe the most positive aspects of being involved in a community garden?Being part of a community garden introduces you to all different perspectives on growing plants and producing food. For example, one of the ladies in our group has been teaching us about the benefits of Indonesian palm products for compost. It’s also a great way to meet the local community, hear stories and share recipes and ideas.How does the garden impact your local community?The garden brings our community together; from the local coffee shops to the dog-walkers and families who come past. The kids from our local school also come down and we teach them about where their food comes from. Often we give extra food away to the community – I love it when it’s something they haven’t seen before, you watch their eyes light up with excitement and curiosity.What would be your advice for other communities looking to set up their own garden?Start with the practicalities – engage with your local council, choose your location wisely and consider things such as public access, sunlight and water drainage. It’s also important to involve the community early on, so that they feel it really is their project. Something we do is to hold quarterly workshops, open to anyone who’s interested. This helps to maintain strong local support for our garden and helps us build great relationships.If you’re interested in getting involved with Charlie’s Garden check out the Facebook page or contact Deborah.Photo Credits - Alecia Wood