INSPIRED BY SISTER RESORT GEMLIFE PACIFIC PARADISE’S PATCH, 20 GEMLIFE PALMWOODS RESIDENTS ARE ITCHING TO START PLANTING IN THEIR NEWLY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN.
“As soon as we get the ‘all clear’ from the Home Owners’ Committee, our team is ready to plant all the herbs, edible flowers, and vegetables we have been potting for months, ready for the big transition,” said Deb Sutton, who put the garden group together.
Deb moved into her Palmwoods home last June and immediately started her own herb and vegetable garden, where other residents admired it and an idea sprouted.
“Some of the neighbours suggested we start our own community garden like other resorts, so I sent out a newsletter and mentioned that if anyone was interested, they should come to the meeting, and now we have 20 odd volunteers,” Deb says.
The group then decided to visit Pacific Paradise’s community garden for inspiration.
“Their garden is stunning,” Deb says. “That’s where we got the idea to not only plant vegetables and herbs, but also edible flowers because they look so pretty.”
The community garden has two plots with two large garden beds and GemLife has also constructed planter boxes that back onto a retaining wall.
“We have just been allocated the funding to be able to remove the useless soil and replace it with potting mix to grow in so – once the funds clear – it’s planting time,” Deb says. “Our group has been potting herbs and other plants for a while, so we are looking forward to planting day.”
The garden group has a good plan put together for what to do with the fresh produce.
“Most of it will be divided between the 20 of us and whatever we have left over, we will sell to other residents to create more funds for the garden.”
“Our Country Club is due to finish around December, so once that’s done, we plan to sell to residents from the Country Club direct.”