When Sunshine Coast residents Lars and Kashmira Hansen heard the facility – located at the Nambour Showgrounds – was weeks away from closure last year due to lack of use and maintenance, they put the call out to the local community to join them in revitalising the space.
“The garden had unfortunately fallen into disrepair, with the area overrun with weeds and the soil quality no longer ideal for growing vegetables and other plants,” Mr Hansen said.
“Sunshine Coast Council and not-for-profit organisation ECOllaboration were the first to put their hand up to help, with council donating mulch and compost, and 12 conservation and ecosystem management trainees from ECOllaboration assisting us with weeding, stabilising the banks and rejuvenating the garden beds.”
Mr Hansen said once the garden beds were ready for use and a committee of volunteers had been established to lead the initiative, Hall Contracting had stepped in to help fund workshops, tools and plants.
“It’s been a real collective effort to get Nambour Grown up and running, and it’s been so encouraging to see first-hand that community spirit is very much alive and well across the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“The recent $2,000 cash injection from Hall has enabled us to purchase a range of plants and gardening tools for adults and children such as shovels, garden forks and rakes, and it will also fund free workshops over the next 12 months to teach community members about organic gardening, waste minimisation, and other sustainable practices.
“Perhaps most importantly, the funds will enable us to purchase some raised garden beds to provide opportunities for wheelchair users and community members with mobility issues to join in the fun.”
Hall Contracting CEO & Director Cameron Hall said he hoped the donation would help to bring the community together and provide a welcoming and inclusive space for people of all ages and abilities.
“Something that really appealed to us about Nambour Grown’s vision for the space was that it centred first and foremost on fostering community connections,” Mr Hall said.
“The gardens themselves provide a fantastic opportunity for learning, but the offering is much bigger than that; it’s a space where people from all walks of life can come together to connect, collaborate, and share their interests and skills, whether that’s regarding gardening, pottery, woodworking or something entirely different.
“We’re incredibly proud to be supporting this initiative and giving back to the community we’ve been a part of for more than 75 years.”
Disability care worker Denny Henderson-Wilson is working closely with the Nambour Grown committee to establish an inclusive space and said the community garden would be a welcome addition for people with a disability on the Sunshine Coast.
“There’s a real gap in the region for outdoor spaces that are accessible and cater to the needs of individuals living with a disability, so we’re eager to create this offering,” Mr Henderson-Wilson said.
“Our focus is not only on providing people with opportunities to take part in outdoor activities, socialise and learn new skills, but also cultivating a sense of belonging for everyone who joins the Nambour Grown community.”
Nambour Grown is currently welcoming new members and invites Sunshine Coast residents to get in touch if they would like to collaborate in any capacity or donate time, seeds, cuttings or seedlings.
For more information, please visit the Nambour Grown Facebook page or email nambourgrown@gmail.com.
