THE South Coffs Community Garden has officially installed its new “glasshouse”, built with the proceeds of a $15,632 NSW Community Building Partnership program grant.
South Coffs Community Garden President John Higgins said the new structure was impervious to rain and its interior humidity and temperature would soon be automatically regulated, creating the perfect environment for the year-round cultivation of seedlings and specialty plants.
While the structure is being referred to as “the glasshouse” it is, according to Mr Higgins, a polycarbonate house.
“It doesn’t break in hail; more light gets in; and it is lighter and cheaper than glass,” he said.
Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh joined the Garden’s volunteers at the community celebration to welcome the new piece of infrastructure.
Mr Singh congratulated South Coffs Community Garden’s hard-working team on the installation.
“This is a wonderful day for everyone involved with the garden, where new friendships bloom and new skills grow,” Mr Singh said.
“The garden’s new freestanding glasshouse will allow for the year-round cultivation of seedlings, cuttings and plants, opening up opportunities for community members to produce their own fruit and vegetables.”
Mr Higgins was pleased that the garden would soon be placed to reliably offer seedlings at its Garden Gate Market, which is held between 9am and 11am on Sundays.
Changeable weather – too hot, too dry, or too wet – often spelled disaster for seedlings, Mr Higgins said.
“We got tired of disappointing people,” Mr Higgins said. “But soon we’ll have them all year round.”
People interested in visiting the South Coffs Community Garden can come down on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 8:30am to 11:30am, between now and the end of the month. After that, opening times will be from 8am to 11am.
The Garden Gate Market offers communally grown produce for sale every Sunday between 9am and 11am. Market shoppers choose their produce and it is picked while they wait.
Any leftover produce from the communal section of the garden is donated to Pete’s Place, or the Soup Kitchen.
By Eve NESMITH
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