Freshwater Community Garden

Freshwater Community Garden is now into its 14th year of existence and is a testimony to the persistent work of local volunteers with a small level of assistance from local government.

Volunteers in the unfenced Crown Reserve Garden, tend the plants, mow the lawns, remove the weeds and harvest the crops. Many friendships have been formed during these activities.

These local bottom-up environmental initiatives, according to the Finnish Futures Research Centre have a wider application globally.

Freshwater Community Garden seeks to create an attractive, welcome, shared and safe place to grow fruit trees, vegetables and flowers using sustainable practices, and to promote social harmony and inclusion through building community capacity.

The purpose of the Garden is:

To encourage the spirit of co operation, consultation, community pride and achievement.

To build the capacity of the community through the development of skills and knowledge.

To provide opportunities for formal and informal learning about recycling resources (including garden organic recycling), reduction of waste and water, composting and other techniques associated with sustainable living.

To promote community connection and understanding through meeting and socialising with like minded people.

To co operate with nature to establish and maintain an ecologically balanced and sustainable method of growing fruit, vegetables, flowers and trees.

To support the growth of similar gardens within Warringah and other areas through the provision of information and resources where possible.

Community Garden Membership

We realize that an allotment in the Community Garden is a sought after prize and we always welcome Friends of Freshwater members to apply for a bed, however, space is limited and there is a waiting list for paid up members. 

The allocation fee is $80.00 per annum which includes Membership in Friends of Freshwater which is $25 per annum (to ensure members are covered by our insurance) and once a Community Garden bed is available it is first come first served for the the Garden plot.

We are thrilled that there is always a number of members interested but we also require that anyone who applies for and is waiting for a plot visit the Garden and talk to the co-ordinators to ensure that expectations are met by all parties.

Friends of Freshwater – Community Garden Plot

(includes Friends of Freshwater annual membership fee)

Cost: $80.00 for application of an allocated space. Please contact Peter Harley or Maureen Nicholls to apply for membership.
There is a limited amount of space and prior approval is necessary.

Members can apply to the Garden Committee to have the fee waived if payment would cause financial hardship.

Friends of the Garden – For people who do not wish to garden but would like to be involved, can participate in social activities, attend working bees, attend workshops. Also, if Friends of the Garden members have skills that they would like to contribute to the garden, i.e. assist in composting, propagating etc

The annual Friends of Freshwater membership fee of $25.00* per individual ( due every October ) and is included in the Garden Fee

Rules and Conditions of Freshwater Community Garden

Once the Garden application is approved, the Garden plot fee can be paid for here:

Payment for approved garden plots

The Garden Gallery