Community garden at Horsham North

A COMMUNITY garden in Horsham North has started construction in a large vacant area behind the Salvation Army.

The land, which is roughly three-quarters of an acre, is located behind the Salvation Army emergency accommodation units in Lynott Street.

The garden has been started under a three-way partnership between the Salvation Army, Landcare and the Western District Employment Access.

The three parties turned the first sod on July 21.

The sod-turning included a launch with a map of what the parties hope the final product will look like.

Major Carolyn Wright of the Salvation Army said the group received a $5000 grant to start the garden.

“This will be for the first phase of the garden,” she said.

“It will be a wheelchair friendly garden with a big lot – there will be raised garden beds so elderly people do not have to bend down and there will also be a children’s garden.”

The first phase will include the installation of plumbing and a water tank to recycle storm water collected from the Salvation Army thrift shop roof.

“We will also begin growing an orchid from the back,” Major Wright said.

“Talk of this garden began at the beginning of the year and we believe this garden is more central than others.”

Western District Employment Access will assist by providing a team of work-for-the-dole clients to undertake many of the on-ground activities establishing and maintaining the garden.

Landcare’s Rae Talbot said the project was fantastic.

“It gives service clubs the opportunity to have an area set aside for their own section of the garden,” she said.

“There is scope for all sorts of suggestions of how the garden could be used by the local community.”

There will be a synergy between the produce grown and the Christian Emergency Food Centre and the Three-One-Six community lunch at the Salvation Army every Tuesday. Early works will take place over the next six months. Community groups or individuals interested in being involved can phone 5383 1770.

Material courtesy of the Wimmera Mail-Times.