Tigger Does Mullumbimby Community Gardens

Regular readers will have noted a couple of posts – here and here – covering the new and developing Mullumbimby Community Gardens project underway not so far from Zaytuna Farm (about half an hour east, if travelling by car, or a day’s ride on horseback).

Readers of those posts will have seen the panoramas I took to try to keep track of progress. Well, despite clambering up onto their shipping-container-come-tool-shed to take those shots, I always thought that I wasn’t quite high enough to really do the place justice.

So, this time I thought I’d go along with a pogo stick in hand! I had to use a super-fast shutter speed, as travelling at these heights does make for shaky hand-holding of the camera. After several attempts, and not a few bumps and bruises, I managed to get a couple of publishable shots.

Taken after the fifth bounce, when I had a bit of a rhythm going

Captured on my final descent – before crash landing
in the neighbouring sports oval

Okay, you’re probably getting a mite suspicious at this stage, so I’ll come clean…. Jeannette Martin, the Mullumbimby Community Gardens Co-ordinator, actually emailed me these particular shots. I’m not sure how she got them – perhaps a personal jetpack?

Anyway, the earthworks Geoff & Nadia marked out have been actioned as you can see. The swale lines make for an aesthetic form on the almost-flat property. These shallow swales will help keep the site hyrdrated during peak dry times, and will also reduce the impact of the inevitable flooding the site gets.

Jeannette also told me about latest developments. This Saturday 14th of November the group will be:

• Constructing the first allotments from bamboo
• Creating another Food for All garden bed
• Expanding the path system with wood chips
• Planting out the Mandala garden and swales
• Sharing in the wonder of their bamboo shelter and Café
• Setting up a new office
• Measuring out the site for the "Sharing in the Wisdom of our Elders" raised garden beds in preparation for the Hybrid Adobe Workshop

But, above and beyond all that, Jeannette has really upped the ante on me with these shots, dammit. I’ll have to get to thinking how to better them for the next update. Any of you happen to own a hot air balloon?