Peak Hill Community Garden Propagation Workshops Inspiring New Gardeners
In March and April, volunteers led three fantastic propagation workshops, inspiring participants to propagate and gain a deeper understanding of the seasonal planting protocols.
Capacity building - LEP23-005-CWLL-01_LLC_013
The issue
The Peak Hill Community Garden is a beautiful community space in the centre of town, that is entirely overseen by volunteers.
After the initial Crop Swap event was held at the Garden with Mindy Woods as part of the Building Health Communities Challenge, there were registrations from community members expressing their interest in being involved in activities at the Garden.
Central West Lachlan Landcare worked with Peak Hill volunteers to increase engagement in the Garden space. Three propagation workshops were proposed.
The solution
The first workshop, led by Cliff George, focused on propagation preparation, having the correct supplies to propagate, knowing the timeframes for planting, watering requirements knowing when you should expect germination and how you should transplant seedlings into a garden area.
Cliff's second workshop provided information about propagating Old Man Salt Bush. This workshop included gathering seed, processing seed and planting conditions.
The third workshop, led by Judi Unger, focused on propagating Quandongs. Like Salt Bush, Quandongs are a native plant to Central West NSW, but still very under-utilised.
Each workshop was a 'hands-on' experience with all participants engaged in propagation.
The impact
As well as being physically engaged in the workshop, preparing seed trays, seeds and planting, workshop attendees also had the opportunity to take home their trays in the hope of being able to move on seedlings to a position in their own garden or patio where they are providing healthy food throughout the season.
Being able to use the Peak Hill Community Garden as an educational space was absolutely fantastic. It also sparked off harvesting of persimons for jam making, which will be used for a future Crop Swap and Learning Day in October.
Learnings
Sharing knowledge of propagation is empowering to a community. Equally, sharing delicious food using homegrown produce adds an additional level of appreciation to a workshop when you can taste what you are propagating.
Key facts
- At the initial Crop Swap event, participants signed up to be more engaged at the Peak Hill Community Garden.
- Workshops were proposed.
- Three workshops covering general propagation, propagating Salt Bush and propagating Quandongs were held at the Peak Hill Community Garden.
- Local volunteers led the workshops.
- Teaching and encouraging others to propagate is an empowering process.