Spring has arrived in Southbank

Each year we find ourselves saying, “how quickly spring has arrived”.

Southbank Sustainability Group (SSG) is now busy preparing garden beds and planting seeds and seedlings that will be ready for harvest in November and December. We are listening to the buzz of bees, watching dragonflies as they hover and there are butterflies in among the yellow Calendulas and other flowers planted to attract insects that aid pollination.

Beds have been composted and mulch is being added to help conserve water. We will have plenty of leafy salad greens and herbs in a few weeks. Please read the signs, which ask that plants not be harvested yet and watch out for the painted rocks.

Red rocks mean plants are not ready for harvest, yellow rocks mean harvesting is a few weeks away and green rocks let you know plants can be harvested now. Please bring some scissors and cut off what you need.

With warmer weather on the way we are looking for volunteers to help with watering the gardens over spring and summer so email us using the address below if you are interested. Watering the garden beds is a great way to meet locals and visitors to the area as they explore the garden beds.

Recently I was asked about the history of the gardens by a new Southbank resident. It prompted me to think about the benefits of community action and the preparedness of the City of Melbourne staff at the time, to assist a group of locals improve a small corner of Southbank.

In February 2017 as part of the City of Melbourne’s Sustainability Month activities, a few Southbankers gathered to plant herbs in some small planter boxes located at the Boyd Community Hub.

In discussions it became apparent there were quite a few residents looking for an opportunity to meet like-minded people with an interest in gardening and sustainability. With support from Nadine Ford, Boyd’s community animator at the time, these discussions lead to the creation of Southbank Sustainability Group, an informal group of people looking to make a practical difference and support community building.

This was the beginning of some important changes.

The group convinced the council that there was benefit in establishing a permanent vegetable garden open to all residents as part of the new Boyd Park. The council assisted by purchasing and locating the raised garden beds on the Boyd forecourt. Residents turned up fortnightly to assist in planning and planting the first crops.

For a while there was an “orchard” – a dozen fruit trees located behind the Boyd building. This has been lost with the development of the apartment building.

It is interesting to reflect on what has happened over the past eight years. What started as “guerilla” gardening on a small patch of dirt near the Kings Way overpass by 12 or so people is now more than 30 raised garden beds and planters providing pleasure, connection and friendships for many local residents.

The connections and friendships being made while digging up weeds or planting or simply enjoying a coffee at the end of the fortnightly garden meetup all have a positive impact on our health and wellbeing, as well as providing a fun way to meet other locals.

So come and enjoy meeting other likeminded Southbankers in the garden. We meet every fortnight on a Saturday morning between 10am and noon for a little gardening (no previous experience required) and discussion. We are located in the community garden in front of the Boyd Community Hub. September meetup dates are on September 13 and 27.

About the group

SSG is a solutions-focused community group of Southbank residents working to bring positive change in sustainability practices. Reach us at [email protected], facebook or Instagram.

If you are interested in getting involved with SSG join us at a Saturday meetup or send us an email. •