You may have noticed the Bass Coast Landcare Network River Garden taking shape in the paddock on the Bass Highway between the BCLN office and the Bass River. The River Garden is a trials site for horticultural innovations that can be applied across the region from a household to commercial scale, that will also incorporate a community garden and education facilities. The garden has been conceived as a co-creation with the local community and we would like to invite interested community members to participate.
To date we have planted a ‘water-wise’ orchard on a gentle slope in the north-west corner of the site, a series of swale beds, nuttery and berry trellis with the guidance of horticultural expert Jarrod Ruch, former head ranger at The Briars on the Mornington Peninsula, local Horticulture Trainer Adrian James and Permaculture Guru Ric Coleman.
There is space and the opportunity at the River Garden for much, much more....
At the centre of community involvement will be the community garden, a collaborative growing area in the middle of the site featuring a permaculture style food forest and a variety of organic vegetable beds. We can't wait to involve you in a range of Volunteer sessions and Master Classes to collaborate and learn together, some of the innovative solutions to grow our own, nutrient dense, sustainable food. We also hope to eventually use the commercial kitchen in the Bass hall for cooking and preserving demonstrations with the wonderful produce from the garden.
To date we have planted a ‘water-wise’ orchard on a gentle slope in the north-west corner of the site, a series of swale beds, nuttery and berry trellis with the guidance of horticultural expert Jarrod Ruch, former head ranger at The Briars on the Mornington Peninsula, local Horticulture Trainer Adrian James and Permaculture Guru Ric Coleman.
There is space and the opportunity at the River Garden for much, much more....
At the centre of community involvement will be the community garden, a collaborative growing area in the middle of the site featuring a permaculture style food forest and a variety of organic vegetable beds. We can't wait to involve you in a range of Volunteer sessions and Master Classes to collaborate and learn together, some of the innovative solutions to grow our own, nutrient dense, sustainable food. We also hope to eventually use the commercial kitchen in the Bass hall for cooking and preserving demonstrations with the wonderful produce from the garden.
New volunteer and Workshop Programs
We are very excited to get our community involved in our new River Garden Volunteer program which will run alongside our River Garden Workshop Days. Read below for more details.
River Garden Blitz!! Community Volunteer Sessions
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Saturday 14th May 9.30am - 2.00pm
Growing a Food Forest with Ric Coleman Have you wondered what all the fuss about food forests is, what they are, and why they are great for growing more food with less resources? Our next River Garden Blitz day in Bass on Saturday 14th of May will focus on Creating a Food Forest where we will be welcoming back Permaculture Guru Ric Coleman, who has been teaching and putting into practice this, and many more permaculture concepts and principles over the past 35 years. This day will run from 9.30am - 2.00pm with a free lunch for those who register. We can't wait to welcome you to the River Garden... Come along and join our River Garden Community, meet like-minded people, learn from expert speakers, assist to maintain the growing spaces and more. There are tasks for all abilities, sharing of information and produce plus learning for all. We are looking at turning most of the swales area of the River Garden into a functional food forest and we welcome you with a chance to learn how to do it, while helping to prepare the site and plant some of the layers with us, we need your help!! Bring along your water bottle, your favourite garden tools if you like (although we will also supply tools), your garden gloves, and long pants are preferred. We will provide some tools, tea & coffee, morning tea and lunch, guidance and plenty of space to socialise, learn and take part in this great community space! Parking is in the car park between the Bass Hall and Op Shop, entry to the River Garden is via gates at either side of the Landcare office. There is also an all-access entry and small parking area via the road at the side of the op shop for anyone with mobility issues. We would love your help in continuing to turn the River Garden into a fully functional, productive growing space where we can learn from each other and grow healthy nutrient dense food... see you there! P.S. Thanks to new funding from VicHealth, we will now be featuring speakers and demonstrations at each of our Monthly (second Saturday of the month) Blitz days, YAY! Please let us know if there is anything in particular you would like to learn about at the River garden and we will see what we can do.... |
Thanks to new funding from VicHealth, we will now be featuring speakers and demonstrations at each of our Monthly (second Saturday of the month) Blitz days, YAY! Please let us know if there is anything in particular you would like to learn about at the River garden and we will see what we can do.... 
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River Garden Guiding Principles
Community Projects
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Current Projects
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