Westside Community Garden is located at 56 Milner Rd in Gillen, along the fence line between the Centralian Middle School and Jim McConville Oval, on Central Arrernte Country. Everyone is welcome. We hold regular working bees, on the first and third Sunday and Thursday of the month from 3PM – sunset. Keep an eye out on working bee times as they change with the season.
Vision
The creation of a culturally safe and sustainable arid lands garden that nurtures the development of a local food secure community.
Values
We are an inclusive, diverse, and participatory community guided by permaculture ethics and principles.
Garden Membership
Membership is open to all people in the Central Desert region who are interested in contributing to growing a culturally safe and sustainable arid lands garden. All garden members are expected to actively participate play in the Garden, and there are many opportunities for members to contribute, depending interests and capabilities. Members volunteer for a minimum number of hours every year at working bees, workshops, garden events, harvesting for Food for Alice etc.
Working bees
Come along and get active at one of our regular working bees. Held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday and Thursday of every month from 3PM – sunset. There’s plenty to keep everyone busy, from planting, mulching, turning hot compost, harvesting and pruning.
School and community visits
We welcome visits by school and community groups to the garden, and these can be arranged by contacting [email protected]
Become a committee member
Our motivated Garden Committee member volunteer their time, effort and passion to bring Westside's vision for an inclusive and sustainable garden to life. Committee members attend regular meetings and take on diverse roles and responsibilities in order to grow and maintain a garden that the whole community can enjoy. Committee members don't need to be expert gardeners, but must be willing to commit a certain level of involvement. If you'd like to express interest in the committee, email [email protected].
Connect
Follow our Facebook and Instagram for updates, and to watch the garden grow!
Thank You
The Arid Lands Environment Centre gratefully acknowledge the financial support received from the Northern Territory Government, through the Community Benefit Fund major grants program, which has supported our Community Garden Network Project, predominantly, the establishment of the Westside Community Garden in Gillen, Alice Springs.
We also are grateful for the ongoing support from Centralian Middle School where the garden is located, without which this beautiful community space would not be possible.