For the past four years, a group of gardeners have had the vision of opening a community garden for Woonona.
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After discovering a plot at Dapto, and thinking it was far for residents, garden co-convenors Lindy Cheetham and Rod Logan began the process to secure a spot closer to home with Wollongong Council.
The Community Garden of Woonona now on Carrington Street, has been officially open since the beginning of January.
"Every suburb should have a community garden," Ms Cheetham said.
Since opening, both co-convenors have seen families and residents come together and enjoying taking part in all parts of the garden.
"So it's about kids enjoying themselves outside, it's about people coming and getting their hands in the dirt, it's about people coming and having a big chat," Ms Cheetham said.
Ms Cheetham also added that it has given people the opportunity to get out into the community.
"We have a heap of people who aren't as able as they used to be, dropping in on their motorised scooters, or with legs bandaged up and bringing those bamboo stakes," she said.
"So one of my aims is that we will produce a lot of food so each week, people will be able to go home with quite a reasonable amount of food," said Mr Logan added.
"It won't be just one lettuce, and one carrot," he added.
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The co-convenors said running the garden would not have been possible without community support.
"All these people with different skills turning up, and wanting to be involved which is fantastic," Mr Logan said.
You can head down to the Woonona Community gardens on Saturdays from 8:30am to 10:30am.
If you cannot make Saturday, they are hoping to introduce Sunday sessions.
Membership is $50 per person, and $80 per household, but Ms Cheetham wants people to know that they do not have to pay straight away.
"People can come here three times and check it out before they actually have to join," she said.
"It's come hang out with us three times and if this is the place you want to hang around, and the gardens open to members all week, so from dawn to dusk."
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