Welcome to Goulburn Valley Community Gardens
Who Are We?
Goulburn Valley Community Gardens (GVCG) is a volunteer run, not-for-profit,inclusive community group affiliated with the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria, aiming to establish, maintain, and network multiple community gardens throughout the Goulburn Valley region.
Program Goals
Goal 1. Provide a community garden to facilitate the production of healthy food by the community.
Objectives:
A. Provide garden space
B. Provide physical resources for garden programs
C. Provide education/training
D. Provide a 'place' for everyone who wants/needs it long term
E. Put into place procedures to provide financial sustainability of the GVCG program
F. Provide fee subsidies/work trade arrangements for low-income participants
G. Provide appropriate outreach support
Goal 2. Provide programs to encourage gardening for personal and community health.
Objectives:
A. Provide a garden therapy place.
B. Provide education concerning gardening for personal and community health, including mental, social, cultural and environmental considerations.
C. Develop gardens as a community ecosystem.
D. Provide appropriate outreach support for each project.
Benefits of being a GVCG Gardener
1. Reduced registration costs for GVCG classes and workshops.
2. Access to free plants and seeds.
3. Access to other gardening resources like tomato cages (free or at a reduced cost, as they become available).
4. Educational support: We are here to help you with any gardening question you may have.
5. GVCG newsletter and notification of all classes and events.
6. Social events that are planned throughout the year.
7. Part of a growing network of Community Gardeners and supporters across the Goulburn Valley.
Mark Your Calendar!
The following list of important dates for the garden season:
Aug 1st: Applications available for New Gardeners.
Sep 30th: Application due for New Gardeners.
October: All gardeners must attend one of the Garden Orientations held in October.
Dec 1st: Must have planted in garden plots or it will be reassigned (no refunds after this date).
Feb 1 : Garden Check: plots not being taken care of &/or where food is not being picked will be reassigned.
April 1st: 2014 applications available for Returning Gardeners.
May 1st: Plot must be cleaned up or lose deposit. 2014 application due for Returning Gardeners.
Why Community Garden?
Our gardens are more than a place to grow food. They are about friendships, building community, healthy living, greening urban spaces, environmental awareness, increasing wildlife habitat, reducing food costs, and sharing diverse cultures. Our gardens bring people together from all over the world, and different social groups.
Any community group, family, or individual from the Goulburn Valley area may apply for a plot to grow vegetables.
We also host events throughout the year on gardening to connect gardeners and community (with thanks the the City of Greater Shepparton City Council). Some topics we may cover include (but are not limited to): beginning gardening, seed starting and saving, organic pest management, seasonal cooking, companion planting, lasagne gardening, floriography, edible weed walks, rain barrel building. Please let us know if there is atopic you would like us to present.
Our Locations
We are currently based in the Shepparton area, and tend the North Shepparton Community Garden located at the Community Hub on Parkside Drive, Shepparton. We will extend our locations as they become available. All our gardens are in partnership with local organisations and businesses.
When We Meet
*We meet at the North Shepparton Community Gardens every month to tend the garden.
*Management Committee meets every month
Feel free to contact us, or check out our Facebook site for more details.
So Get Involved!
If you love gardening, or even just want to learn, volunteer with us!
Become a financial member at just $10 per year.
Rent out a garden plot (fees will depend on plot size, and work-trade options are available for those proven to be experiencing financial hardship), and enjoy your harvest!
Got some land and not enough time or energy to tend it? Register it with us to convert it to a Land Share Garden.
Come along to our garden gatherings and participate with the activities we host.
Contact Us!
Find us on Facebook: GvCommunitygardens