NEWS

March 2025

KIDS CAN SAVE LIVES workshop

Saturday 8 March, 10.30am – 12.30pm at Kariong Eco Garden.
Kids Can Save Lives is a simple yet practical course, designed and delivered to reinforce and instill confidence, by Central Coast First Aid.
Learn life saving skills whilst having fun!
Join us for a practical fun-filled session, hands on practice and role plays!
This course is aimed for primary school-aged children. $30/child (5-12 years) or $50 for 2 children. A parent/guardian must remain on site (no charge for adult).
The program is specifically designed to help children learn age-appropriate first aid knowledge to help them know how to respond to an emergency.
Areas covered include:
  • Recognising an unconscious person
  • CPR
  • Calling an Ambulance
  • DRSABCD
  • provide basic care to a casualty
  • recovery position
  • bandages, abrasions, snake bite
  • bites & stings
  • allergic reactions eg to insects, plants
Participants receive Certificate of Attendance.
This course could help save the life of a loved one, friend or neighbour and is generously subsidised by Kariong Eco Garden.

January 2025

We have some wonderful workshops planned this year with local artist Rachel Bunney.

The first one is CICADAS – THE SOUND OF SUMMER on Monday 13 January 2025, 10.30am – 12.30pm.

A ‘Drawing and More’ Workshop with Rachel Bunney for All ages, ADULTS and CHILDREN (children must be accompanied by an adult).

Bookings essential: https://events.humanitix.com/cicadas-the-sound-of-summer

AUGUST 2024

Saturday 31 August – 2024 Trivia night supporting Kariong Eco Garden
5-8pm in Kariong Hall. Book a table of 4-6 people $50 or book individual tickets $10 each: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-trivia-night-supporting-kariong-eco-garden
Saturday 14 September 2024 – ECO DEMO DAY in Kariong ARTS BARN and ECO GARDEN. Solar oven cooking, vege seedlings for sale, music and food. Kariong residents register your solar power to be included in the Kariong Kilowatt Counter. 10am – 4pm. To coincide with Local Government Elections  – Kariong Hall is a Polling Booth. Come and visit after voting.
Saturday and Sunday 21 & 22 September PLANT LOVERS FAIR, Kariong Mountains High School. Visit the Permaculture Central Coast stall and say hello.
Saturday 12 October BIRDS IN OUR BACKYARDS – Citizen Science workshop 10.30am -12noon in the Eco Garden. Bookings link on website in September.
Sunday 13 October WOYTOPIA FESTIVAL, Woy Woy South Public School
9am – 4pm Find out more: https://woytopia.org/ Don’t miss it!
Saturday 9 November FAMILY FIRST AID in the Garden 10.30am – 12.30pm in the Eco Garden. Bookings link on website in October. Family First Aid course with Karben Training Solutions with a Certificate of Attendance.
For more information and to volunteer at any of our events call Lisa 0429 431 889

JULY 2024

Kariong Eco Garden News
July – November 2024
ECO KIDS WORKSHOP with Eco-Artist Rachel Bunney
Have you ever noticed how many bird species come to visit or even live in your garden? As we people build more and more houses and take away more and more bushland, the birds have no choice but to come to our gardens to eat, breed and play.  There are big birds and small birds, birds around only at night and lots of birds around in the day. Some birds we love but there are others we wish would go away. Some birds we make into our friends and some are fun to watch play.In this drawing workshop we will talk about the different birds in our neighbourhoods, hear stories and learn ways we can create welcoming habitats for our fine feathered friends.
Date: Saturday 13 July 2024
Time: 10.30am – 12noon
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/birds-of-our-backyards-a-drawing-and-more-workshop-with-rachel-bunney
Kariong Eco Garden Wiggly Worms stall at Central Coast Kids Day Out – Celebrate Trees on NATIONAL TREE DAY with The Lorax and the help reduce waste to landfill with the ECO FAIRIES
Venue: Narara Valley High School
Date: Sunday 28 July 2024
Time: 10am – 4pm
Tickets: https://www.cckdo.org/

Morning Tea to CELEBRATE 19 YEARS OF KARIONG ECO GARDEN growing in Dandaloo St, Kariong

Kariong Eco Garden is celebrating 19 years since we started on our current site in Dandaloo Street, Kariong, with a motion of Gosford Council and an ECO Festival in Winter 2005.
We have been harvesting rainwater, generating renewable energy, composting organic waste, growing habitat for wildlife and healthy food for humans since the very beginning. Volunteers tend the garden every Monday morning and every second Saturday each month. We provide a venue for nature play programs and run eco workshops. Come along to get some ideas or lend a hand.
Date: Monday 29 July 2024
Time: 11am
Bring: a plate of food to share

 

ANNUAL KEG TRIVIA NIGHT FUNDRAISER
Venue: Kariong Hall
Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 5.00pm – 8.00pm
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-trivia-night-supporting-kariong-eco-garden
FUTURE SOONER Citizens Inquiry into the Health Effects of Coal
Venue: Halekulani (Budgewoi) Bowling club
Date: Sunday 25 August 2024
Time: 1pm-5pm
Details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/400706917962265
ECO DEMO DAY
Venue: Arts Barn and Eco Garden, 2 Dandaloo St, Kariong
Date: Saturday 14 September (Local Government Election day – vote in Kariong Hall)
Time: 10am – 4pm

Details to come – contact us to volunteer on the day. Plants for sale, live music, solar info and solar oven demonstration…
Birds in our Backyards – Citizen Science and making your garden bird friendly

Date: Saturday 12 October 2024

Time: 10.30am – 12noon

Bookings will be available in August. funds raised will go to bird conservation.

 
FAMILY FIRST AID IN THE GARDEN
Date: Saturday 9 November 2024
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Family First Aid course with Karben Training Solutions
with a Certificate of Attendance – no formal qualification.Bookings on Humanitix will be available in September.
This course could help save the life of a loved one, friend or neighbour.
This course is aimed for school-aged children and their adult/s.
Topics:
  • recognise an emergency situation
  • call 000
  • apply the DRSABCD method
  • provide basic care to a casualty
  • bandages, abrasions, snake bite
  • bites & stings
  • allergic reactions eg to insects, plants
WOYTOPIA
Venue: Woy Woy South School
Date: Sunday 13 October
Time: 9am – 4pm
More Information: https://woytopia.org/

SOME WAYS TO SUPPORT THE ECO GARDEN
All donations, no matter how small, are always welcome!
We are with Bendigo Bank and our BSB is 633-000; Account No: 154480586; Account name: Kariong Eco Garden. (Please include your surname and ‘Membership’ or ‘Donation’ in the description)
If you make a deposit please email us to tell us so we can issue you with a receipt. Our email address is kariongecogarden@gmail.com (use SUBJECT: MEMBERSHIP or DONATION)
MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTS CAN ALSO BE MADE AT ANY ECO GARDEN EVENT OR WORKING BEE.
Active Member (Volunteer): $5/year (receive member discounts at all tic
Supporter: $20/year (you are entitled to a member discount at four ticketed events)
Sponsor: $100/year (we can arrange to have a small plaque made to put on a post in the garden)

APRIL 2024

APRIL 2024

Upcoming Workshops at Kariong Eco Garden:

Bringing Back that Good Fire

Date: Saturday 13 April 2024

Time: 11am – 1pm (tour of bushland behind Eco Garden from 10am)

Kariong Eco Garden volunteers have been committed to caring for Country since we got permission to start our community garden on the current site in 2005.

We are custodians of a small area of bushland behind the Eco Garden, which is connected to a large area of bushland surrounding Kariong and stretching into Brisbane Water National Park and land owned by Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Could this land be cared for in the way it has been for thousands of years before colonisation, using Aboriginal knowledge and cultural burning practices?

What would that look like?  How could it work?

We have invited speakers from:

  • Firesticks Alliance – https://www.firesticks.org.au/…
  • National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • Kariong Bushfire Brigade
  • Central Coast Council
  • Greater Sydney Local Land Services

and invited local bloodline custodians and the Land Council to attend and offer information.

We hope that this workshop will help our community learn more about cultural burning and how it contributes to healthy communities and healthy landscapes.

As it says in our Welcome Shelter: We acknowledge with respect the Indigenous custodians of this land and work with their spirits caring for mother earth.

Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-back-that-good-fire

Acknowledgement: banner image and more information from https://www.latrobe.edu.au/new…

 

FUTURE EVENTS: Save the Dates!

REPAIR CAFE – EVERY 3rd SUNDAY of the month (Feb – Nov) – includes Swap Table & opportunity to book a Second Hand Sunday stall in Autumn and Spring.

Venue: Kariong Hall, 2 Dandaloo St (next to Eco Garden)

Dates: Sundays 21 April, 19 May, 16 June, 21 July, 18 August, 15 September, 20 October and 17 November

Time: 10am – 1pm

 

HARVEST FESTIVAL – Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June (NO KEG EVENTS)

For more information: https://www.lovecentralcoast.com/events/harvest-festival-2024

 

ECO FAERIE & GREEN PIRATE TRAINING

Venue: Kariong Eco Garden

Dates: Sundays 16 June and 21 July

Time: 11am – 1pm

 

ECO KIDS WORKSHOP with Eco-Artist Rachel Bunney

Date: Saturday 13 July 2024

Time: 10.30am – 12noon

Details and Booking link to come.

 

FUTURE SOONER Citizens Inquiry into the Health Effects of Coal

Venue: Halekulani (Budgewoi) Bowling club  

Date: Sunday 25 August 2024

Time: 1pm-5pm

IMAGE SOURCE: https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2024/03/call-to-close-eraring-power-station-in-2025-over-health-concerns/

PROPOSED Family First Aid in Garden

Date: TO BE CONFIRMED – 10 AUGUST OR 9 NOVEMBER

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

PRE-ORDER – Proposed Family First Aid course with Karben Training Solutions
with a Certificate of Attendance – no formal qualification.

This course could help save the life of a loved one, friend or neighbour.
This course is aimed for school-aged children and their adult/s.

Guide to Australian Insect Bites

Topics:

  • recognise an emergency situation
  • call 000
  • apply the DRSABCD method
  • provide basic care to a casualty
  • bandages, abrasions, snake bite
  • bites & stings
  • allergic reactions eg to insects, plants

IMAGE SOURCE: https://lfafirstresponse.com.au/blog/guide-to-australian-insect-bites/

 

CELEBRATE SOLAR DAY

Venue: Arts Barn and Eco Garden, 2 Dandaloo St, Kariong

Date: Saturday 14 September (2nd Saturday and Local Government Election day – vote in Kariong Hall)

Time: 10am – 4pm

Woytopia

WOYTOPIA

Venue: Woy Woy South School

Date: Sunday 13 October

Time: 9am – 4pm

More Information: https://woytopia.org/

December 2023-January 2024

Mini ECO Shop in ECO-ARTS BARN, 2 DANDALOO ST, KARIONG
Wednesday 20 December & Thursday 21 December, 12.30pm – 4.15pm

Looking for some Christmas gifts that are locally made?

Spiral Compost Tool – Stainless Steel
$49 at Kimbriki – our Price $45 (just 3 left!)
The Rolls Royce of Compost mixing tools! Hand made in Sydney.
Aeration/mixing is the KEY to successful composting.


Boomerang Bags $5- $10 – lots to choose from, all unique – great way to wrap a gift!

EARTHCARE games $60-$74 ($5 from every game sold goes to Kariong Eco Garden)
https://www.earthcaregame.org/ Mindfully made on the Central Coast. Ages 6-106.

Summer Solstice/ End of Year Christmas Gathering in the Eco Garden
Thursday 21 December 6pm.
Bring a plate of food to share.

WHAT’S ON JANUARY 2024

Monday 8 January 2024 10.00am to 1 pm
Volunteers return to:
Planting, watering, weeding & having cuppas!
Come and join us 🙂


And for the children this school holiday…
Monday 15 January 2024 10.30am to Noon
Make Recycled Paper
Any age and for the whole family
Children must be accompanied by a grown up
Gold coin donation

Monday 22 January 2024 10.30am to Noon
Screen Print your OWN T-shirt with our logo
Any age and for the whole family
Children must be accompanied by a grown up
Gold coin donation

Monday 29 January 2024 10.00am to 1 pm
Volunteers – all ages – we have kids tools too:
Planting, watering, weeding & having cuppas!
Come and join us 🙂

AUGUST 2023

FOR THE LOVE OF BIRDS workshop with Kaye Pointer

Saturday 12 August 2023 – 10.30 – 11.30am

Find out more and book your tickets:
https://events.humanitix.com/for-the-love-of-birds-2023

FUNDRAISING TRIVIA NIGHT

Saturday 19 August 2023, 6-8pm in Kariong Hall, Dandaloo St, Kariong

Find out more and buy your tickets:
https://events.humanitix.com/2023-trivia-night-supporting-kariong-eco-garden

June 2023

NO KEG monthly working bee / workshop day on 2nd Saturday in June.

Instead… we encourage you to support
the Central Coast Harvest Festival – 10 & 11 June 2023

Explore the events and activities of Harvest Festival while you plan your adventure into the hinterland, this comprehensive map will help you plan your day before you set out on your way. Remember reception in the Hinterland can be as patchy as a Country Women’s Association quilt so make sure to take notes and download the program before you join the Harvest Festival Trail.

HAPPY WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY – MONDAY 5 JUNE 2023

What’s happening in the Eco Garden? Scroll to the bottom for upcoming events!

Some of the biggest changes in a long time with the arrival and preparation on our new raised garden beds. We have set up new one new wicking bed (“the garden bed bed”), two new no dig garden beds (60cm high) and four new hugelkultur beds.

If you missed the May Garden Bed workshop you can still come and learn how to make a hugulkultur bed on Mondays 19th and 26th when we set up the last two.

Big thanks to Eco Garden friend Robyn for delivering the new beds from Coast & Country Water Tanks and to all our supporters, bottles and can donors and garden hirers whose donations helped us save the funds to buy them. Thank you!

WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE IS 18 YEARS SINCE OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN WAS APPROVED BY A MOTION OF GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL IN 2005.

OUR MAY GARDEN BED CONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP

John from Woy Woy Garden Teaching us the German style of Hugelkultur gardening
Rosie teaching us how to make a wicking bed with upcycled IBC container
Lisa and helpers making an Esther Dean style No Dig garden

QUICK PICKLING WORKSHOP WITH VIVIAN

Vivian teaching us Quick Pickling

If you missed the Quick Pickling workshop in May, Vivian will be back to teach us on Saturday 9 September. Save the date in your diary now.

Other Dates for your diary

July SCHOOL HOLIDAY craft workshops with Lisa McArthur-Edwards

Woolly Winter Craft on both Wednesdays in the July School holidays – bookings on Humanitix: Wednesday 5 July 2023, 10.30am and Wednesday 12 July 2023, 10.30am

2nd Saturday in July (8/7/23, 10am-1pm) – Tool Maintenance Working Bee – Guest TBC

2nd Saturday in August (12/3/23) – 10am For the Love of Birds with Kaye Pointer. Bookings here. Followed by Working Bee and shared lunch.

2nd Saturday in September (9/9/23, 10am – 1pm) – Working Bee – planting for Spring and Quick Pickling lesson with Vivian

2nd Saturday in October – TBC

2nd Saturday in November (11/11/23, 10am – 1pm) – Kimbriki Eco Garden Guru Peter Rutherford – Topic TBC. Save the date! Bookings will open soon.

May 2023

Stall at Central Coast Kids Day Out – Sunday 7 May at Narara Valley High School

Pop in and lend a hand or say hello as we show the kids wonderful worms or help them make a yarn butterfly or yarn turtle. Buy a Kariong Eco Garden t-shirt or Boomerang Bag or fruit & vege bags. 10am – 3pm. Adults $12 Kids $7 (under 1 year old free) Family $35. All day entertainment. Free rides and shows after entry. Find out more at https://www.cckdo.org/.

Garden Bed Workshop/ Working Bee – Saturday 13 May, 9am – 1pm at KEG – Learn about Hugelkultur, Wicking and Esther Dean Style No-dig garden beds. $5 donation.

Hugelkultur Garden bed benefits include: no/low cost, all-natural materials, carbon storing good water retention. John R (Woy Woy Community Garden volunteer) will teach us how these gardens work and we will set up the first of four in our garden.

Woy Woy Community Garden Hugelkultur Garden under construction

Wicking beds have an inbuilt reservoir of water which waters veggies from the bottom up – the way they like it!! They are an easy working height using a lot less water and minimal work to maintain once set up.

Rosie (Founder of Laguna Earth House) will be our teacher on the day and has been growing food organically for 50 years. She now has a local productive veggie garden with raised and wicking beds.

She will demonstrate the simplicity of set up in this hands-on workshop.

This is what our new wicking beds will be made of – two halves of a 1000L plastic tank.
This is what Rosie’s wicking beds look like.

Link to book in for the Garden Bed Workshop/ Autumn working bee: https://events.humanitix.com/garden-bed-contruction-workshop-autumn-working-bee