Raised bed gardeners, L to R: Zac, me, Sam, Helen, Rachel, Luke (holding a pot of Herb Robert)

On Friday about 8 of us worked on the road gardens and we:

• turned the compost bins in Peace Park and in the streets
• took about six wheelbarrows of compost from the bins to put onto the new Pine Street Road raised bed garden in front of Don and Helen’s house
• installed a leaky drain for the new raised bed garden
• planted some lemongrass (offcuts from existing plants which were transplanted); a small bird-attracting plant from Randwick nursery (Grevillea John Evans) with fund provided by the supportive Sydney City Council
• were given some pots of a herb, Herb Robert – thanks, Helen: Luke took one for his restaurant’s herb garden and I’ve got the others to plant this weekend outside Steph’s house in Myrtle

Earlier that morning, I met the helpful and knowledgeable Michelle from the Sydney Council, to discuss recycling some big sandstone blocks uncovered during excavation for the rain tanks in Peace Park and that’s a little treat that will be delivered to the park some time in the next month or so.

The top photo shows some of our Friday crew behind the raised bed garden.

Raised bed garden with some planting and mulch

The almost completed raised bed garden; a leaky drain (ag pipe covered with geofabric) is under the ground and the gravel beside the footpath to direct rainwater below the ground to the plants so they’re watered even if the soil above is compacted – a self-irrigating design.  The little plants in the foreground were donated by a passionate garden and plant person, Janet, a local artist, who designs art with plants; terrific gift, Janet, thanks so much.  More plants will go in and more mulch, too.

Ahh, sweet stuff.

M