We are blessed at Canton Uniting Church with a small yet abundant community garden full of vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers and shrubs. As you may well know, we are preparing for a much bigger garden which will emerge as part of a more extensive development of our building and grounds. We want church members and local residents alike to be part of this exciting journey and for us all to have pride in creating a rich and biodiverse green space for us all to enjoy.
GROWING TOGETHER NEWS
JUNE 2026
Weeks of rain hampered our efforts to keep the garden under control during late Autumn, Winter and much of the Spring, though the resilience of many of the plants means certainly is not bare! The vegetables and herbs, such as chard, fennel and chives, as well as the yellow raspberries and strawberries, have been particularly prolific. Which it certainly is now! We cropped the yellow raspberries right back and their determination to flourish is clear to see. The delicious fruit will be available to all soon.
Our Garden Goons WhatsApp group has recently been joined by several new residents, so our thanks go out to them. However, most local helpers are informal passers-by. Some people have donated plants for which we are profoundly grateful. This is what we like to encourage – sharing plants as well as ideas. It is true to say that there is a wealth of expertise out there.
Two jobs that have been particularly useful are the construction of a compost heap, made by one of our resident neighbours from disused wooden pallets, and the setting up of a structure for our runner beans. Huge thanks to them. Most of us are not tall or strong enough to undertake some of the jobs. In addition, church members and local people rallied round to water the garden every evening during last summer’s heat wave. And it is happening again! We are truly blessed.
We are now trying to be more organised: meeting as a group at 5.30 on a Friday afternoon. When we get in the swing of the routine, the first 15 minutes will be to agree, over a cuppa, what we are going to do until 6.45. Do join us if you can.
Over the last couple of months, we have been planting an abundance of produce. This includes potatoes, tomatoes, rocket, dwarf French beans, brussels sprouts, chicory, courgettes, parsley, sugar snap peas, lettuce, sweetcorn, beetroot, oriental salad mix, and some bee butterfly wildflower mix. The potatoes have grown fast and are always fun to dig up and find. A bit like a treasure hunt! The other vegetables and herbs are starting their new lives but should start to flourish over the next few weeks. We will let you know when they are ready to harvest and you are welcome to help yourselves. There are already herbs ready for the taking – including mint and fennel. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the ‘fruits’ (ha, ha) of our labours.
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to the garden. Even if it was just for a day, it has helped. And a quick and kind plea to anyone thinking of joining us sometime for a chat and contribution to making our garden plentiful – whether it is weeding, planting, pruning or harvesting. However, all are also welcome to sit, relax and enjoy our small oasis of greenery.
