Geraldton’s new Mitchell Street garden to help the community grow

A group of green thumbs in Spalding gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new Mitchell Street community garden on September 26.

Some of the planter boxes were already brimming with herbs, fruit and vegetables as eager locals visited for a sausage sizzle and to sign up for the group.

City of Greater Geraldton community development co-ordinator Fred Block said the project was going to be a great addition for the community to grow, trade produce and socialise. “Most of the boxes have already been signed up for,” he said. “Today we celebrate handing over control of the garden to the Spalding community.”

Leslie Lee, a Spalding resident, has taken an active role in planting and organising the project. “I was very excited to get involved with the garden and it’s great to see the whole thing come together,” he said. “It’s the right time of the year to get planting and it’s nice to see the place full of life.”

Chat and Do community group’s Heather Carroll was happy to show off the tomatoes, basil, parsley and lettuce the group had begun growing in three hand-painted planter boxes.

“We’re very pleased to be involved in the garden and the boxes are set up to self-water so it’s easy to manage,” she said.

The garden was built as a collaboration between the City of Greater Geraldton and the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health with Central Regional TAFE building the boxes.

Construction began last year using $26,000 in grants from the City of Greater Geraldton and Department of Communities.