Mudgee’s community garden will become an educational tool focused on waterwise growing methods, thanks to funding allocated to the Uniting Church Cudgegong Cluster.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders visited Mudgee recently to announce $12,000 from the Community Building Partnerships program has been allocated to a project which will see the garden transformed.
“While we’ve been lucky in 2020 to have had some rain to ease our water issues, the fact remains we live in a hot part of the state and drought will return in the future,” Mr Saunders said.
“This funding will see the garden, which is accessible to everyone, developed in such a way that it will showcase drought-resilient growing methods that are suitable for local conditions. Wicking beds will ensure a significant reduction in the amount of water needed and a reduction in the frequency of watering as well.
“One of the key learnings from the drought was the need for all of us to be more careful with how we use our water, and find new ways to utilise the resource and I congratulate those involved in this project for thinking outside the square when it comes to the upkeep of the garden.”
Mudgee Community Garden co-ordinator Angela Middleton said the funding is a huge boost, especially given that the garden had to close for a period during the pandemic.
“We’re looking forward to involving the wider community once again in transforming the garden and inspiring people to grow food to take home, and to grow food on their balconies and in their home gardens,” she said.
“The community will benefit as the garden will be much more productive and sustainable in both material inputs, such as water and fertiliser, and in volunteer time, as the finished garden beds are significantly easier to maintain.”