It is well documented that community gardens provide: Social support and social skills; a sense of achievement; decreased stress and pain; better diet and lifestyle; a greater sense of security; happiness; and enhanced self-esteem. Our garden will provide inclusive, healthy passive recreation for our community. It will bring together people from all walks of life, backgrounds and ages to foster a lively and connected community.

Community groups with a shared passion for fresh organic produce work together to learn and share knowledge of growing food, help reduce family food budgets and provide opportunities for exercise, recreation and learning, as well as spaces for contemplation and relaxation.

Whilst gardening is the focus, community gardens are generally community hubs for a range of activities – learning and education, playgroups, arts and creative activities, preparing and sharing food, community events, celebrations and social enterprise.

Our garden will incorporate permaculture principles. Permaculture points the way to living sustainably in our environment showing waste minimisation, composting and water usage techniques that can be used by people in their own homes. Another way to think about it is as a closed loop system where all the needs of that system are met within the system—one where your resources come from wastes, and your wastes turn into resources. If you know the principle behind a terrarium, a mostly self-sufficient system where the plants live in a glass container with minimal care from the outside, you have the very basic understanding of permaculture for your garden.

June 2025 Update - Stage Two - Pathways Arbours and Plantings

Anyone who volunteers will know how hard it is to coordinate and allow a lot of time for the completion of any major project. In a new garden such as we are also at the mercy of the weather, summer or winter. Yet we are please to announce that NPCG has completed stage one of the site development with the main earthworks and site drainage systems in place. The utilities area designated for the composting and greenhouse have been levelled and gravelled, making it the ideal place for our garden users. The site has been graded to allow for adequate drainage and this has been attractively arranged into winter catchment, with large blue chip and well placed logs, making it ideal for nature play. A small retaining wall has been placed into position to define our native food garden which will require excellent drainage and full sun when planted. Several of our raised beds are now filled and ready for planting; they will make such a difference for our gardeners particularly those with some kneeling or back immobility. It will also keep those pesky rabbits out of the veggies!

Fundraising

We were very pleased to raise a $750.00 from our Democracy Sausage BBQ. These funds will be used for the new compacted pathways and arbours that will look amazing once installed. We will plant along this arbour to create a sensory walk, which will be full of scented and tactile plantings. Over the arbour we will plant climbers, probably fruit bearers such as several varieties of table grapes and maybe even some kiwi fruit.

Our Quiz night was so much fun and we raised nearly $3000.00 which will go towards setting up some power/lighting in the shed and purchasing equipment and plants. We’re very grateful to all our wonderful sponsors and our Charleston community for their support.

Newman Park Community Garden is a sub-committee of the Charleston Community Centre.

The Garden has an open policy and members are free to come and go to work on various garden projects as required. You must be a member of the Charleston Community Centre to cover you under our volunteer insurance. Please make sure you always wear suitable footwear, and a hat in summer.

NPCG committee meets 4th Sunday 9.30 - 12.00 depending on weather and activity.

Contact Veronica Forsayeth charlestoncommunitycentre@outlook.com for more information