St Kilian's Community Garden

As an Earthcare Parish St Kilians is committed to responding to the 7 Laudato Si' Action Platform goals proposed by Pope Francis in 'On Care for Our Common Home". [https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/]. 

After a busy Season of Creation in September 2022, a small group of parishioners began to plan a community garden at St Kilians. Gardener, artist,and parishioner Lyn Byrne produced an initial plan. The parish community was consulted and asked for feedback. Volunteers for working bees were recruited. The Parish Pastoral Council got behind the project and we were off and running. 

The work began in earnest in 2023. We met on Wednesday mornings, and after preparing a cross-shaped, disability-friendly central pathway, we tested the soil. The results recommended not growing food in the current soil. A community grant from the City of Greater Bendigo provided funds to build 8 wicking beds with Doxa School offering to build frames for 6 raised beds. With another Highways and Byways grant, we have just filled the raised beds with vegetable grade soil, ready for planting.  

We continue to meet on Wednesdays (8am start in Summer and 10am in Winter) with a delicious morning tea mid-morning in the "Cafe". The Year 3 students from the primary school will start a weekly gardening program this term on Wednesday afternoons, using 2 raised beds.

We have been able to provide a weekly supply of vegetables to Food Share. We have also expanded our planting to Asian vegetables which are the favourites of many of our parishioners. 

We hope that our volunteer base will grow as we continue to grow this welcoming environment.