A Great Start to the New Year

After the Christmas break Mr Councilworker was back at the site on Monday 4 Jan and this time brought a friend with him in a Bobcat.

A few hours later and we had the block earthworks completed.

With the trench digger attachment on the Bobcat the trench for the mains water piping was dug much more easily than by hand.

The trencher was traded for the post hole attachment and the holes were dug for the fence posts... ...he'd finished in the time it would have taken to dig one hole by hand (with a crowbar).

Our group of five helpers proceeded to lay the pipe and backfill the trench.

Later in the week one of the Heath Team organisers managed to get these two huge bales of Pea Straw from a farmer for FREE!!!

Christmas Eve Surprise!

We had an surprise on the morning of Christmas Eve with a phone call to say the council would meet us at the Community Garden site to start the Earthworks!

When we arrived we found a couple of visitors already there. Two ponies had escaped from the next paddock...just as well we haven't planted yet!

One of the ponies was so friendly he had to check out the ute to see what was on it!

And share a banana!

The ute had the new concrete fence posts that have been exchanged for the creosoted ones by the Health Team Organisers.

Mr Council Worker made a great start levelling out the block!

While we were watching we found a few of the local critters in/on the soil nearby!
Please click on the photos to see the spider (one of the many) and mantis we found.

Early December 2009

With many other activities to occupy their time the council has yet to begin the Earthworks on our block. This has given the Steering Committee loads of time to sort out the boring paper work that goes on behind getting a Community Garden up and running.

We have been:

• working on pamphlets and a welcome pack for potential plot holders
• snavelling bits and pieces around town for bed edging, corrugated iron and old tanks
• taking delivery of the pre-fabricated tank beds made locally by a tank building company

We had word of a great source of horse manure and straw mix from the meatworks to be delivered when we have the earthworks and fencing completed and can arrange for a truck to collect it!!

Marking Out 6 Oct 09

Members of the Steering Committee met

to mark out the block.

The view from the North Eastern corner marker

Our clump of shade trees in the North West corner.

These are staying...even if some committee members have to chain themselves to them!

It is hoped this area will become the Communal Meeting area.

Looking from the South West corner.

This area is earmarked for Compost Making and bulk storage.

Two vehicular gates will give access on both sides.

Meet the neighbours

9 Oct 09

The hot pink marker ribbons were later added to each of the markings.

The points for the Fence post holes and Car Park area
are now ready for the Council boys to do the earthworks!