An empty Yanchep lot has been transformed into a lush garden by a group of dedicated volunteers who love a good yarn.
Eight years ago, the Yanchep Beach Joint Venture enlisted the Merriwa Women’s Shed to create a community garden.
Yanchep resident Marge Riggs showed up one day and despite not having a green thumb, she took up the running of the garden.
“I came for the herbs and stayed for the community,” she said.
The women’s shed members eventually “returned to their shed”, while the City of Wanneroo supported the purchase of tools, Yanchep Central Shopping Centre donated water and reticulation and Bunnings offered seeds they cannot sell due to damaged packaging.
The Yanchep Community Garden has since flourished and now brims with fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Marge said the volunteers were of different ages and backgrounds, each bringing their own strengths.
“People come through with different things they are passionate about or they want to grow – some love herbs, some love eggplants, some just love weeding,” she said.
“Our Thai lime tree was looking quite sad and one of our members knew that feeding it chook poo would do the trick, as she did that when she lived in Indonesia.
“We have a cherry guava tree and every year one of our members makes them into jelly or jam and shares it with us.”
Marge said she has made lifelong friends with Yanchep Community Garden members.
“We’ve had members take trips together or help each other through knee replacements,” she said.
“With community gardening, most of it is talking and hanging out, not much of the talk is about actual gardening!”
