Communal Garden Workshops

The Garden is within the Burton Community Precinct, at the Burton Community Hub.

It is a shared space and place for people to connect, learn, relax and be inspired. Features include: a produce garden with raised, vertical and in-ground garden beds, fruit trees and herbs; flowers; a local native garden surrounding a water feature; propagation and undercover work areas; and seating. A meeting room (The Hive), kitchenette and café style casual eating space are connected to the Garden and used as part of the nature inspired programs that occur in the Garden. In the Garden we offer programs that provide opportunities to:

• connect with likeminded people
• learn about different types of gardening
• build garden items and create art works
• learn about healthy eating, cooking and nutrition
• join in shared food events; and
• contribute to environmental sustainability

There are two main community programs that operate in the Burton Communal Garden

1. Over 50’s Social program run Tuesday to Thursdays prioritising Salisbury Seniors
   
   
2. Burton Community Hub Program

The Burton Communal Garden will run a wide range of sessions and events during the year.

Topics include: home food production; waste reduction; healthy living; music and food; and many more.

Register via email to receive information on upcoming workshops or call garden coordinator Shannan on 0401 984 785.

For adults over 50, there is a range of gardening groups available for you to choose from.

If you like being outdoors and in the garden, you’ll love working in our Garden. We will be growing seasonal vegetables, fruit trees, herbs and flowers; connecting with Green events throughout City of Salisbury and Adelaide; holding nature-based craft session and gardening information talks; quizzes; shared meals and much more. There is always something to do and you are welcome to join any of the activities in the Garden to keep it looking good for all to enjoy.

Email to register your interest in these programs or call (08) 8406 8251

Tuesday to Thursday

Pottering in the Garden drop-in, 9am to 12noon
Gardening can be very therapeutic, especially in the company of others. Join us in an informal morning of planting, sowing, pruning and tending to the plants in the Garden. Help us maintain the Garden and learn as you do.

Tuesday

Friends of Nature Group 9am to 12noon
Be involved in projects to help the natural environment in your local area. These sessions involve a mix of activities to increase your knowledge on aspects of the local environment, and grow plants to help it.

Building Projects in the Mini-shed 9am to 12noon
We’ve lots to build for the garden to develop it; Planter boxes; pot holders, Come and joins us, it’s a relaxed atmosphere, we can help you learn basic woodwork skills, or you can share yours.

Wednesday

Mixed Craft 10am to 11.30am, bookings required

Seed Sowing and Saving 9.15am to 10am, 1st and 3rd of month

Garden Tips Talks 1pm to 2.30pm fortnightly (age: 18+), bookings required

Various gardening and sustainable living topics. Assisting people to develop the relevant skills and knowledge to grow their own food at home confidently and successfully, live sustainability and positively contribute to the environment and their health.

Thursday

Building Projects in the Mini-shed 9am to 12noon
Be involved in projects to help the natural environment in your local area. These sessions involve a mix of activities to increase your knowledge on aspects of the local environment, and grow plants to help it.

Friends of Nature Group 1pm to 2.30pm
Be involved in projects to help the natural environment in your local area. These sessions involve a mix of activities to increase your knowledge on aspects of the local environment, and grow plants to help it.

Cost: $4 per person, tea and coffee supplied

Bookings: 8487 1820 (Burton Community Hub)

Tree Netting Garden Tip

Salisbury Seniors Magazine Issue 19, page five has a short article about Backyard Fruit Trees. The article briefly discusses two tips to get the most from your fruit trees, which include pruning and protecting them. To find out more about netting fruit trees read the detailed article here.

Local Native Plants Photo Montage

Salisbury Seniors Magazine Issue 21, page six has an article about the beauty of natives. View a photo montage of natives for some inspiration.

Seasonal Tips

• Summer gardening tips
• Spring gardening tips
• Keeping fit for gardening, mobility and stretching exercises

Starting a food garden at home is rewarding and does not have to be hard.

It can be as simple as finding a bare patch of ground, weeding with a hoe, loosening the soil, planting some seeds and watering. However, if you want healthy, robust, tasty and nutritious plants then it is worth considering a few things first about your situation and resources and having some basic knowledge and skills. This is what the resources in the notes aim to do- provide you with; some useful practical information to enable you to grow a variety of fresh nutritious foods at home.

We aim to cater for budding gardeners with varying ambitions, from turning their yard into a thriving food source, to those wanting a few pots of their favourite herbs. Our shared aim is to grow food with the best nutritional value and taste and to eat it fresh from the garden.

If you are growing in the ground you will need to understand the type of soil you have and how to prepare it for growing produce. There are comprehensive notes on the soils in Salisbury Council and recommendations based on where you live.

If you are not growing in the ground there are notes for growing in containers of various types, including wicking beds.

There are notes on how to grow and manage various vegetables and fruit trees, as well as making composts and worm farms, organic fertilising and pest control, and looking after your health and our environment.