Recording the Newsletters issued by Casino Community Garden, located on the corner of Adam and Hartley Streets
(adjacent to entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park), South Casino, NSW, Australia.

The garden is a project of Casino Neighbourhood Centre, overseen by the Community Development Project Coordinator. As the flier concerning community gardens says, it is a place of beauty, joy, peace and kindliness, and friendliness too.

All links active at time of publication. Please report any broken link you come across to Jan. Thank you.

2 September 2014

NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2014

Casino Community Garden

Monthly Newsletter #18 Issued September  2014
  


Around Casino Community Garden this Month


Gardening:  Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8.30am

BYO Lunch: Every Wednesday 12 noon.

Monthly Meeting:  First Wednesday of Month.
Lunch 12 noon, MEETING  12.30 for about an hour. 

A big THANK - YOU to Aly Gray for the wonderful poster

News since last meeting
                                           
Welcome to Spring Garden Clinic
Our next big day at the garden will be on Saturday  27th September. The regulars will have everything set up by 1.00pm.  As our visitors always like a look around to start with, Mark will show people around and point out what we have growing and answer any questions before the program gets underway.
Program
1. Tour of the Garden with Mark
2. Roses in your Garden—Samantha Burston
3. Edible Weeds and More—Linda Brooks
 4. Afternoon tea and catchup with friends.


Check out the plant swap and a few jams and relishes for sale.

Pop a gold coin in the bucket to help cover the cost of tea/coffee and pizza etc.
                                                      Edible weed - Purslane

Around the Garden
{  The vegetable seeds have arrived to start the Spring /Summer planting.
{   Preparation is under way for  the judging of the Casino Garden Club competition.
{   Work is in progress on the raised beds along the side of the all weather path for people with mobility issues to access.
{   We are pleased to be donating some of our Rosemary plants to Council.
{   Wonderful rain during the week, combined with the layer of manure from the horses, making the Winter veggies very healthy.                                                              


If the trivia about rosemary interests you… more here  http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2014/07/scientists-find-
           or google for many results.

 Pics this page from internet


Planning Day 20th August
The Planning day was held at the  Casino Library on Wednesday 20th August, facilitated by Nicole Mercer and attended by most of the regulars at the Garden. 

We were asked to identify various aspects of the garden, such as best things about the garden, needs for the garden, how to engage more active members, maintain and allocate leaders, sustainability, funding and promotion.  As already identified and being worked on, the most important need is for a toilet on site.  A local survey will be available for public input later in the year.

World Kitchen Garden Day on 24th August


We celebrated with a Soup and Sweets lunch, attended by 15 people, no program, just lots of chat among friends.  It was a beautiful sunny day, though slightly breezy,  after the rain during the week. 

Pic—Linda  explaining the benefits of Borage.

What is Sustainability?

What impact does our home have on our environment?  What difference does it make if our showerhead is energy-efficient or not?  Collectively, across 2.8 million households in New South Wales, it makes an enormous difference.

If each of us aims to run a sustainable household, which effectively means   thinking about the type and amount of resources we use, about how we recycle and dispose of materials, and the steps we take to manage and conserve the natural environment we all depend on, we are not only conserving energy, we are saving money too.Little things like changing to a water-efficient showerhead can save hundreds of litres of water a year, and stop your dollars going down the drain.

If we build houses that are well insulated and designed, then it will cost less to heat and cool them. If we consider our purchases carefully, a lot less waste will end up as landfill and pollution.

Every year, each Australian generates, on average, more than 2000kg of rubbish; in NSW alone, we throw away $2.5 billion worth of edible food a year.

Water usage remains a key environmental concern and there are many ways to use it sparingly, without
compromising on comfort. Whether it’s fixing a leaking tap or installing a household greywater system, every little bit helps.

Lots of little actions by lots of people can help to turn things around.  The Office of Environment and Heritage NSW has compiled some simple steps and actions we can take. 


Save energy
Look for tips to improve your  home’s energy efficiency rating with better heating, cooling hot water, insulation and lighting.

Be water-wise

Save water in the home and garden. There are so many ways to reduce water usage, such as using a broom rather than a hose to clean paths and decks, turning off the tap while cleaning your teeth and collecting water from your shower to water your garden.

Smarter choices

Choose more water/ energy efficient appliances and compare the running costs of different models.   Before you purchase a TV, fridge, freezer, washing machine, dryer, air conditioner or computer monitor,  check out its energy ratings labels (remember – the more stars, the better).

Recycling and waste

Avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle waste by living sustainably.  The simple things we can do at home and work to conserve and protect our habitat will improve our quality of life.


                                                 Pics added from internet.

 Vegetable Planting Guide by Gardening Australia For September
 Amaranth, Artichoke Globe, Asparagus, Asparagus Pea, Basil, Beans, Beetroot,  Burdock, Cabbage - loose headed, Capsicum, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Choko, Cocoyam, Coriander, Cucumber,  Eggplant, Florence Fennel, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Long Yam, Luffa, Malabar Greens, Mangle-Wurzel,  Mustard Greens, Okra, Oregano, Parsnip, Potato,     Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rosella, Rockmelon, Salsify, Shallots,  Silverbeet, Spring Onions, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomato, Turnip/Swede, Warrigal Greens, Watermelon.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/vegieguide/

Jumping for Joy
The Jubullum Aboriginal Community finally has a beautiful artwork adorning its bus which was unveiled at the Casino Community Garden.

The  reliable old Toyota Coaster is a lifeline to the outside world for the Jubullum Aboriginal Community, so it deserved a very traditional facelift.


 The colourful mural that now adorns the bus represents the things that are most unique to Jubullum's identity.

Recipe Corner
Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Onion and Garlic
An idea for a quick meal or side dish.

By Jean Lawrence


100 grams bacon cut into small pieces
 1/2 sugarloaf cabbage shredded
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 crushed clove garlic
Salt and pepper

1. Take a large frying pan and fry the onion and bacon together in olive oil  for about five minutes.
2. Add the crushed garlic and cook for a further 2 to 3 mins. 
3. Stir in the shredded cabbage and keep stirring until cooked evenly. 
4. Season with salt and pepper.  The cabbage will cook in about 10 mins.

**
  Health tip:


Recipe corner pics internet.

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A reminder to readers in our area about the Facebook group for our Richmond Valley Volunteers.  For Admins to post about our events, and for all of us to know what is going on and support each other.
Please click here to go to the Group to ask to join  Richmond Valley Volunteers .

****************

Suggestions and photos welcome, by email  to Jo (see below) or
Jan—email casinogarden@gmail.com 
or bring  to lunch Wednesdays or the meetings.
  
Ask Jo about  being a member of the Garden— $5/ annum


Scroll down for back issues of the newsletter
  Words  and photos by Jan Brine unless otherwise stated.

___________________

Casino Community Garden
A Project of the Casino Neighbourhood Centre
Contact: Jo Nemeth on 6662 5435 Email: coordinator.cdp@cnci.org.au
Location: Head for Entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park at South Casino—
Garden on Left—corner Adam & Hartley Streets
____________________




6 August 2014

NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2014

Casino Community Garden

Monthly Newsletter #17 Issued August  2014
  


Around Casino Community Garden this Month


Gardening:  Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8.30am

BYO Lunch: Every Wednesday 12 noon.

Monthly Meeting:  First Wednesday of Month.
Lunch 12 noon, MEETING  12.30 for about an hour. 

Tidy Town judging at Garden
Pic from Keep NSW Beautiful FB page

NEWS FROM MEETING WEDNESDAY 6TH AUGUST 2014
                                           
·        We boiled the electric jug for the cuppa today, as THE POWER IS ON! Thanks to Linda for the delicious soups lately.
·          Welcome to Spring Garden Clinic—Samantha Burston will speak on Roses and the second speaker and topic to be confirmed.
·        The form has been submitted to enter the local Garden Club competition. The judging is on 8th and 9th September and Open Garden on 27th.
·       We are in the planning stage for a composting toilet.
·         We have a few projects kicking off soon, including a pagoda-stage area.
·         Thanks to all who helped with the preparation and distribution of  the Appreciation Certificates
·          International Kitchen Garden Day on Sunday 24th August. Linda and Jan would be happy to put on a cuppa / light lunch if there is any interest. Please phone Linda 66673373 or Jan 0429080640 or email casinogarden@gmail.com or   accept for the ‘event’ on Facebook.
·       Thanks to Doreen Matthews for donating a working whippersnipper and staghorns, and also Casino Trading in Johnston Street for shelving for storage in the sheds.  Linda was painting them today, see pic.


NATIONAL TREE DAY 2014
Seven people attended the gardens on Friday and planted the trees donated by St Marks, Casino, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Parish.

Our selection was a lychee, kaffir lime, blueberries and a curry plant.  A hole was initially dug for each plant ant then filled with water to allow the ground below to absorb this water for the new roots to chase,  The roots of the plant are then gently loosened and placed in the hole so that the soil level of the plant in the pot is the  same when planted in the ground.

Back fill the hole ensuring the ground is firm around the plant and water well again to remove the air from around the roots.  leave a water well around the plant for subsequent watering in the coming days.  Ensure the plant is watered regularly until established and new growth appears.




Words and pics National Tree Day - Linda Brooks

MANAGING YOUR CITRUS TREES

Citrus trees were an integral part of an Australian backyard and still have an important place in today's garden. Not only does the Vitamin C in their fruit protect against colds and flu in the colder months, citrus are also highly productive.  Citrus trees don't require a lot of attention throughout the year (they can be virtually neglected, and still weigh down their branches with fruit, season after season) and they are a fruit most children enjoy, especially mandarins.

Try incorporating some citrus trees and chooks in your backyard to create a mini ecosystem, and a great source of interest for your kids.  In Don's own garden he has planted citrus trees next to the chook shed.  The tree roots have grown under the shed to get at the continuous supply of rich chook manure.  Additionally, the chooks act as mobile compost heaps, devouring all the kitchen scraps and adding manure to the soil. They also help clean up pests.

Eureka Lemon is recommended for warm areas.

Citrus Care
  • Full sun
  • Before planting, dig in plenty of chook, cow or horse manure into the ground.
  • Ideally, citrus should be fertilised in August and February.  It is good to alternate fertilisers - say Dynamic Lifter in August/September and Complete Citrus Food in February.
  • Keep citrus trees well watered when young fruit is forming in Spring and early Summer.  Use a sprinkler twice a week to deep water trees in the warmer months.
Grass and citrus don't mix.  Keep the area beneath your citrus free of grass and weeds.  Cover with a mulch such as lucerne, composted leaf litter or compost, but keep the mulch away from the tree trunk to avoid collar rot.
Edited from Don Burke factsheets.

Pruning
Most citrus trees bear fruit all year round, particularly the Eureka Lemon.  The little trick with most of the other citrus crops is to prune once they finish fruiting.  If you miss that window, they will flower straight away.  Leave it too late and you will end up cutting the flowers off, and consequently you end up removing the fruit.  The best time to prune is between the last of the fruit and the first of the flowering.

Take the last of the fruit off, give it a prune back, and you'll find that it will flower in Spring, and bear fruit in the coming season.  The harder you prune back citrus, the less chance you have of getting back that crop the following year.  If you just trim it, and keep it trimmed every year, the tree will be in reasonable shape.

Also remember to feed well with citrus fertiliser, after you've pruned back.  That will promote growth.

Mulching
Grass and weeds compete with your tree for water and nutrients, if left to grow long and rank under the tree they also encourage collar rot.  Wet newspaper, at least 10 sheets thick, can be used to kill weeds and grass under the tree and then topped with mulch regularly to prevent weeds returning.  Always mulch past the drip-line of the tree as this is the area where most of the feeder roots are found.
Gardening Gurus.

Pest Control
This is too big a subject to cover in the newsletter, as there are so many bugs and conditions that can affect your trees, including fruit fly, gall wasp, borers, leaf miner etc. 

Talk it over with Mark or Linda at the garden, ask at your local nursery, or see if you can identify the problem on google. Do look for an organic solution, and your trees and your health and the health of your family will thank you for it.  (Editor)



  New donated Kaffir Lime. Pic Linda Brooks

TLC GARDEN VISIT

Julie Antill was asked to speak on the Turramurra Lookout Community Garden Journey at our next garden clinic, but dates didn't work out, so Julie kindly offered to meet garden members on her visit to Casino last week, and shared her 36 slide presentation, which she has given at meetings in the Sydney area.

TLC started in 2010 in Lookout Park, near the station with no residential neighbours except a large retirement village,  Now there are 24 individual plots and communal gardens including the food forest.

As with our garden, they grow fresh organic fruit and vegetables, make new friends, connect with the community and learn about healthy and sustainable living habits.

It started with interested people looking at other community gardens and doing a permculture course, and with the help of community grants.

About 50 people work in the garden now, with about 30 people for morning tea on Saturday mornings.

The website is at http://www.tlcgarden.org.au  and

Pic from presentation by Julie Antill

VEGETABLE PLANTING GUIDE BY GARDENING AUSTRALIA FOR AUGUST

Amaranth, Artichoke Globe, Asparagus, Asparagus Pea, Basil, Beans, Beetroot,  Burdock, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Cucumber,  Eggplant, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mangle-Wurzel, Mitzuna, Mustard Greens, Okra, Parsnip, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rockmelon, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spring Onions, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomato, Turnip/Swede, Watermelon.
 http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/vegieguide/

RECIPE CORNER
Mini Dampers made with Soda Water
Recipe Linda Brooks
Great to call in at the Garden on Thursday and see Linda instructing two students making mini dampers and baking them in the pizza oven.  We had them for lunch with the hearty veggie soup supplied by Linda.

Ingredients for about 10 people
1 kg SR flour
1 teaspoon salt
600 mls soda water or as required

Put flour in medium bowl, then mix in salt.
Gently stir in soda water until mix comes together as a soft slightly sticky dough.
Put about half cup extra flour in separate bowl to dip fingers in so they don't get too sticky.
Pinch off pieces of dough about size of rounded tablespoon.
Gently shape each piece into a ball and place on baking tray.
Bake in hot oven bout 8-10 minutes until golden.                                     
If not sure done, check by tapping one lightly.
A hollow sound means they are done.                                                                 
To serve split and butter, or just dip in the soup.                             

Also yummy with butter, and rosella jam from the garden.
        Pic of leftovers.

NEW ART ON GARDEN BEDS BY AMY DELLOW

Pics Amy

****************

Suggestions and photos welcome, by email  to Jo (see below) or
Jan—email casinogarden@gmail.com 
or bring  to lunch Wednesdays or the meetings.
  
Ask Jo about  being a member of the Garden— $5/ annum


Scroll down for back issues of the newsletter
  Words  and photos byJan Brine unless otherwise stated.

___________________

Casino Community Garden
A Project of the Casino Neighbourhood Centre
Contact: Jo Nemeth on 6662 5435 Email: coordinator.cdp@cnci.org.au
Location: Head for Entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park at South Casino—
Garden on Left—corner Adam & Hartley Streets
____________________