During 2010 TGP is pursuing a number of initiatives. Each of these is firmly based on active involvement by the membership in a voluntary capacity. Our members bring with them a broad spectrum of skills and experience, and contribute to our projects in ways which best match their individual skills and the focus of the initiative.
The Tucker Garden Patch
Experimental and Demonstration Site
TGP has leased 1 acre of land from Hillview Herb Farm and is well under way developing examples of intensive market garden growing and water management techniques for small farm growing. This site is being used to test various regimes of crop management, and temperature and irrigation control, and to disseminate information to the community. Already a number of workshops have been well attended and an active website (www.tuckergardenpatch.com) has been established as part of communicating knowledge with community members and interested people. [Download Brochure]
Orchard & Berries
Gloucester’s climate is predicted to be favoured under climate change. As some of the country’s important fruit and vegetable areas become casualties of increasing dryness, reduced water supply, and urban spread, Gloucester’s potential is excellent. With support of a FRRR grant TGP has commenced the establishment of an orchard to trial varieties suitable to our region. Different varieties of berries are also being trialled to see their suitability fr a new industry for the region.
Read More on the Tucker Garden Patch page - CLICK HERE
Local Growers Market & Community Stall
As fuel costs rise, everything which we bring to the community, and everything that we send away to sell, costs more. Research indicates that major economic gains for the community and the nation result from giving more emphasis to local production, distribution and consumption systems. TGP is promoting and welcomes the initiative of our Council’s economic development program in establishing a local growers and producers’ market. TGP has actively been working with other organisations to get this up and running. Already the markets through TGP’s community stall is providing an opportunity for small producers to participate in the local market along with larger growers. An on-selling system to serve markets in the adjacent large population centres is also being prepared. Our community and visitors from other areas have been fully supportive of this initiative with both stall holders and customers equally satisfied with the marvellous atmosphere and quality of product.
Read More on the Farmers Market page - CLICK HERE
Grants
With the support of funding from the Hunter-Central River CMA and the FRRR/ABC (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal), a research programme was commenced in April 2010. This will have the twin objectives of encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming practices through increased productivity, and establishing a Gloucester based system to give producers efficient accesss to metropolitan markets.
Dirty Fingers
Gloucester Public School
The first joint session between GPS and TGP was held on Wednesday 5th May 2010 at the Tucker Garden Patch. About 24 primary aged children attended with their teacher Miribai Stockwell and a group of enthusiastic and helpful mums. We learned how to make paper seed pots, mix seed-raising medium in which to grow the seeds, had a quick tour of the gardens, tasted, smelt and felt lots of the different vegetables and herbs growing there. Kate and Marnie visited the school to help the children plan where to plant the different varieties of vegetables they have potted. The next project now that the seedlings have been planted is to develop a worm farm so that we can turn food scraps into fertiliser for the vegetables.
