Forster Community Garden

A community garden on the Mid North Coast of NSW just a couple of minutes from the heart of Forster, a beautiful beachside town. Forster Community Garden is managed through the Forster Neighbourhood Centre. The project has been a success in bringing together different sectors of the community whilst creating an artistically, colourful, vibrant place for the community to come together and enjoy growing fresh organic food.  Once a month around the garden a farmers market is held which encourages local producers to sell their fresh fruit and vegetables and home made edible products. The Forster Community garden offers residents of the Great Lakes and visitors the opportunity to come together to share ideas and grow their own organic food in a sustaianble mannor. The garden uses the water collected from the Forster Neigbourhood Centre roof to water the gardens through a drip irrigation system, the volunteers make compost and 'worm wee' is used to fertilise the plants. It is unique in that all garden beds are shared amongst the volunteers unlike other community gardens where individuals look after their own plots. The benefits of being a volunteer are that you can eat organic produce all year round and it won't cost you a cent! All garden beds are planted in beautifully decorated half water tanks therefore allowing access to all members of the community. The garden consists of 20 large garden beds and 20 smaller ones - all to produce vegetables and culinary herbs. Local bush tucker and citrus trees have also been planted. The garden design allows for easy access by people in wheelchairs, and boasts a sensory garden for people who are visually impaired. All members of the community are invited to participate in the garden. Guided tours can be arranged and school & community groups are requested to contact the Neighbourhood Centre prior to visits. The Penenton Creek which borders the garden is also being rejuvenated - with weeds being replaced by natural bush garden. Seven