Monthly NewsletterAugust 2010
Warners Bay Community Garden
Dear

Here is our groups latest news, including a report on our exciting first Vegeblitz, plus the delicious pumpkin soup recipe we served at our June Market Stall. We hope you enjoy!

If you would like to contribute to our monthly newsletters (perhaps a seasonal recipe!) please contact Shelley (click here!)
WBCG granted $52 800!!
We are so excited to share with you the absolutely fantastic news that the NSW Government's Department of Human Services, Community Services, have just granted the Warners Bay Community Garden $52800 towards materials, administration, and a part-time caretaker for the future garden.

The grant (funded by the Community Builders Program) was applied for in December 2009 and we have just been told of our group's success! A representative from the Dept will be meeting with the group in Charlestown on the 25th August to discuss the finer details of the grant. If you would like more details please don't hesitate to contact: [email protected]
1st Vegeblitz was great fun!
Report by Maree
Well, I reckon the first Warners Bay Community Garden's organised VEGEBLITZ (Sat 10th July 2010) was such fun - and wasn't the weather just gorgeous!

I wasn't sure if anyone would come, but I made a pot of pumpkin soup and fresh loaf of bread anyway... at least I would eat it if no-one else came.  I wondered if I should tidy up the garden - but I thought its probably better to see the 'before' and then (after the 1hr of work) the 'after'.

I shouldn't have worried though - right on time at 1pm, I opened the door to see the first VEGEBLITZ team member - Tony, standing there ready for
action with his own spade and pitchfork. We got stuck straight into the clean-up of my vege garden and were joined shortly after by several other friends (team members: Dani, Heidi, Lani, Sonia and Steve) - pulling out the ageing pumpkin vines, putting in my bags of manure and digging it through.
 
The diggings were quite interesting - with several strange bones and old gardening gloves etc found. I'm not sure they believed my stories about the bones.... 
 
George the water dragon!
Suddenly, George the Dragon appeared.  I'm glad someone spotted him before stepping on him - I know I had trouble seeing him as he is so earth-coloured.  We must have disburbed his sleep I suppose - mind you, he always likes to come out and have a chat when I'm around, so I suppose with the sun shining today, he thought it might be nice to pop out for a while.  We just worked around him and saved some Pea Straw mulch in a pile ready for spreading in his area later when he'd gone back to bed.  
 
Heidi and Lani helped with the Yacon (Peruvian Ground Apple) harvest and found some wonderful clay which they promptly began to sculpture into miniature clay Dragons - with the famous George modelling for them.
 
My camera died last week but I looked up and there was Steve with his camera taking pictures of everything!  Fantastic!  



So - when's the next VEGEBLITZ, and where?  Maybe next weekend at your place! 
 
If you want to be a part of this - just email or call me.  The idea is just that we all help each other to get more food growing.  Its a lot more fun to work in a garden with friends anyway!  It doesn't matter how much space you have or don't have. Its amazing what you can do in pots.
 
Cheers,
Maree
 
Ph:  4943 0305      M: 0410 405 815
Next Meeting 1st August 2pm
Our next group meeting is on Sunday 1st August at 2pm at the Lions club hall, Sweet St Warners Bay. All welcome.

As always, afternoon tea is provided free of charge. Please come along and meet your neighbours, share your ideas and see how you can get more involved with the group.

The focus of the August meeting will be planning for WBCG's stall at the Lake Macquarie Smart Living Festival at Speers Point Park in September, progressing the Vegeblitz garden working bees, updating everyone on Council's site assessment progress and the grant allocation(!) and discussing ideas for other gardening and community related activities and opportunities for our group.

A gold coin donation is welcome to assist with hall hire costs.
Next Market Stall 8th August
Our next market stall will be on Sunday 8th August at the Warners Bay Lions Club Markets in John St. We'd love to see you there!



Why not stop by for some home grown organic seedlings for $1 each (or 6 for $5) ready for planting, and have a chat with other members and friends of the Warners Bay Community Garden group!

Seedlings are grown in recycled newspaper pots ready to pop straight into the garden, eliminating transplant shock. If you would like to join the seedling growers group (all materials provided) please contact Trish (ph 49471821).

Why not join in the fun for an hour or two behind the seedling counter, or help setup or pack down the stall? You'd be made very welcome! For details about the August stall and to register as a volunteer, please contact Ruth ([email protected]).

All funds raised from the market stall go toward Warners Bay Community Garden activities such as seedling growing, materials and garden building!
Delicious Pumpkin Soup!
Ingredients
1  large Jap Pumpkin peeled seeded and cut into chunks
6 carrots peeled and chopped
2 onions chopped
2 cloves of garlic crushed
2 tbls olive oil
1 tsp curry powder
1 small tin of coconut milk
2 cups water
salt

Method
Saute onions and garlic in olive oil then add carrots, pumpkin and curry powder mixing well. Pour in 2 cups of water and bring to the boil, stir well and then cover and simmer until pumpkin and carrots are well cooked and easily squashed with a spoon.  Add coconut milk and puree with a stick blender adding more water until desired consistency is reached. Finally add salt to taste. Serve with sour cream and enjoy!
Save the date! Sunday 12th Sept!
Our September (spring!!) market stall will be hosted at the Lake Macquarie Living Smart Festival in Speers Point Park on Sunday 12th September,  from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm.

We'd love to see you there! We will have lots of organic seedlings ready for spring planting in your garden (herbs and vegies!), plus some interesting gardening displays, and an activities zone!

If you would like to be involved with the stall, have some ideas for displays or activities or would like further information on what we have planned so far, please contact Shelley via [email protected]

For more details on what to expect at the festival please visit the Festival's website: http://www.lakemac.com.au/page.aspx?pid=1050&vid=14
Council Progress 
You guessed it! Council are still deliberating on the new assessment process for determining the site of the Warners Bay Community Garden. Fingers crossed the process is determined this month. We'd all love to be able to start planting in Spring.

If you would like to visit another community garden while we wait, a great place to find one (and a host of wonderful resouces) is: http://www.communitygarden.org.au/ - just click on 'Around Australia' at the top of the page.
If you'd like any more information please call or email Trish.
Click here for contact details.  
 
Sincerely,
 
The Operating Committee
Warners Bay Community Garden Inc.
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