Glovers Community Garden is the oldest community garden in Sydney, having been established for 14 years. It is a 600m2 site located on Department of Health land within the grounds of Rozelle Hospital, with which the garden has an informal tenancy agreement. The garden runs according to organic principles, with some permaculture techniques applied. The garden was totally communal until recently, when an allotment was granted to a hospital staff member, on the condition that he still help on the communal areas. Work and produce are shared between the gardeners, who usually meet in the garden on Saturday mornings. There are currently two core gardeners, one of whom acts as coordinator.
Membership is offered after a newcomer has attended the garden for six weekly visits and costs $10 for a year, which serves as a refundable key deposit. The gate is kept locked at all times, including when gardeners are present. Key deposits are used to buy seeds, while tools are mainly donated and the hospital provides free water. A small grant from Leichhardt Council was used to set up irrigation, incorporate the garden and arrange insurance.
Glovers Community Garden has been used as an educational site for many years. Being the oldest community garden, it is widely known among permaculture and horticulture teachers throughout Sydney who frequently visit with classes, which have served as sources of new members for some time. Permaculture Sydney is a source of contact for some. The garden also relies upon word of mouth and advertisements in local cafes and libraries, as well as the sign in the garden shown in plate 3.4. Within the group, communication is usually face to face or over the phone.
Plate 3.4. The Glover’s Community Garden sign.
Decisions concerning planning the communal areas, maintaining the compost and upholding organic principles are made through discussion in the gardens on Saturdays, to make sure the gardeners are operating along the same lines. No issues regarding conflict within the garden were raised during the study.
The garden’s coordinator is relatively new, but has visited Angel Street Permaculture Garden, Waterloo Community Garden and the UNSW Permaculture Community Garden.
Much of the contact with other bodies was lost with the departure of the previous coordinator, so there is now not much contact with ACFCGN, although the coordinator is interested in using the network to gain access to information regarding composting and worm farming, as well as to meet people. Leichhardt Council approached the garden regarding an open day for Seniors’ Week, which attracted some visitors. The hospital staff visited the garden when conducting Heritage walks through its grounds, although this seemed to be mainly sight-seeing.
What the garden means to participants
The garden was emphasised as a space for growing food without chemicals. One gardener holds an Associate Diploma in landscaping, and sees the garden as a space for experimenting with different gardening techniques, learning and watching things grow. There is also emphasis on community building and meeting interesting people in the garden.
Plate 3.5. The Glover’s Community Garden gate.
Issues identified by the garden group
The main issue faced by Glovers Community Garden was a membership crisis when all but two of the members left due to other commitments, taking much knowledge with them. The new coordinator’s discussions with hospital administration regarding events such as an upcoming garden visit by Gardening Australia, have revealed the administration were unaware of previous garden activities and object to the visit as well as a planned visit by the Open Garden scheme as these compromise patient privacy. This objection to garden promotion leaves the core gardeners in a difficult situation regarding replenishing membership numbers.
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