Soil & Soul Palmwoods Community Garden - How it all started

The Palmwoods Community Garden, “Soil & Soul” emerged when I was asked to take on a more significant role in the church than working one day a week as Community Pastor.  When I began working with both the existing congregation and the community for two days a week, I realised that the church owned land that had been sitting dormant for a long time (due to the Uniting process and the Presbyterians’ move to the Methodist church). I suggested that these two blocks should be either sold and the money put to good use in the community, or the land itself used as a point of connection with the community.  Hence, the suggestion of a Community Garden.

After much church, community and professional consultation the Soil & Soul Palmwoods Community Garden came about and has since evolved into a new area of ministry. Some aspects we had hoped for and others we hadn’t envisaged but came about from promptings of needs, dreams and, I believe, the nudge of God that sparks in humanity and creation. The land is thereby leased by the Palmwoods Community & Business Association from the Uniting Church at no cost.

We have regular gatherings of gardening, Reflection in the Garden, shared meals and now a Harvest Swap.

We also hold special events such as Concerts, Workshops on Gardening and Bush Craft for young and mature, Red Bench Launch for awareness of DV, Multicultural Meals (Lovo & Bush Tukka), and special Working Bees for big jobs such as erecting the new shed. Some members come to church; some come to Reflection in the Garden which focusses on creation to practice mindfulness, sometimes meditation, storytelling and art forms; others just find solace by coming to the garden and looking to the hills, having a chat, sharing a meal, or getting a helping hand from the produce or the Free Pantry.

The garden is a place to build relationships with each other, our community, nature and our creator. It is good for the mind, body and spirit. It is also a place for education on sustainability, inclusiveness and to encourage respectful relationships and discussions. Besides the blessing of the church paying the rates, we gain income for insurance, tools etc.  by membership fees, grants from government and community agencies, and winning prizes such as the Healthy Towns Award. We also collect rainwater from our neighbours shed, make our own compost and try to keep the garden as sustainable as possible.

As I have a second job managing a bookshop, I am able to use this as a conduit for sharing information about the garden and getting to know local people and families and gaining their trust.   The bookshop shares its space with a café and large garden in the middle of town, so this aligns well.

Our Sunday Worship group is a small but diverse and friendly congregation; however we now see our community family as being something much larger with the opportunity to carry out the directive of Jesus to love our neighbours without judgement and to share what we have while caring for all creation.

It could be said that we are literally, spiritually and figuratively trying to find our common ground whilst also seeking to plant seeds that will grow under our Creator’s guidance.

Maybe one day there could be a Community Hub in this space where people could meet for services, sharing, counselling, repairing things, learning and all sorts of life affirming activities.

Article by:  Kay Nixon, Community Pastor, Palmwoods Uniting Church