Goulburn Community Garden
                                        October 2016
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This lovely community garden and food forest garden in Goulburn NSW, is growing on what used to be the site of two tennis courts, approximately ½ an acre in size.
 
These gardens have a truly community focus, with Summer Solstice and Winter Equinox celebrations each year, regular Thai Chi classes held on the lawn laid by local TAFE students, regular garden workshops, garden art throughout created by local students, an annual open day, and more.
 
The raised veggie beds, which are available for hire, have been constructed out of hardwood sleepers and are thoughtfully oriented to take advantage of the northerly sunlight. Soil in the beds, food forest and maintained garden boundaries is improved from onsite compost bays and the worm farm, which consists of an upcycled bathtub. All gardens utilise the town water supply.
 
The food forest is home to an impressive collection of around 200 permaculture and medicinal plants, such as the increasingly popular shrub Elderberry, used to make drinks and herbal applications; and Sea Kale, a tasty and interesting herbaceous plant from the Brassica family.
 
Members make a Calendula (Marigold) skin balm as follows:
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Pick lots of Calendula flowers.
Remove the petals and put them loosely into a cardboard box to dry for a few weeks.
Pack dried petals into a large glass jar then fill to the top with olive oil and seal.
Allow olive oil and petals to infuse for a few weeks in the sun.
Decant the deep golden oil into another jar. It's now ready to use and is a lovely, gentle skin balm.
 
For more: goulburncommunitygarden.org.au 
 
 

The garden has been built on an old tennis court site.

There are individually tended garden beds as well as community areas.

Community members braving the elements for my visit.

Calendula, commonly known as Marigold, has many uses for both people and beneficials.