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Balcova
Community Garden Workshop Photographs by Morag Gamble and Evan Raymond, June 2003 |
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The Balcova Community Garden was designed and constructed in June 2003 in a participatory design workshop led by Morag Gamble & Evan Raymond (SEED International), Basak Altan (Designer from California) and Mark Schirmer (Green Architect from California). The idea for the garden came from Basak Altan and her mother, Sema. Sema, who lives in Izmir, did an incredible job of making the connections with council and the community. Her persistence paid off and she has started something amazing. The Council is so pleased with the project, even in it's intial stages, that it has decided to dedicate more land to this type of garden and is making many resources available to help get them started. The community is excited about having access to a small plot of land to grow food since most people live in apartments. Already there is a long waiting list. Over a period of 9 days in June 2003 the garden emerged. On the first weekend we showed a slide show of community gardens from around the world for inspiration and ideas. This was followed by a site and needs analysis, visioning workshop, and design charette. During the week the plan was laid out on the ground, pathways laid and the water connected. Members came to choose their site and started preparing it for planting. The final weekend was spent out on site establishing the community compost system, demonstrating ecological gardening techniques, digging the pond and developing ideas for the structures, community meeting areas and shared orchard.
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| Basak and Sema Altan - the garden initiators | Morag and Basak leading the introductory garden design workshop | The half hectare site was prepared and fenced by council before the workshop. |
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| Vulcan - the main support person from the local Council closely observes the design workshop. | Evan leads a site observation workshop | Evan Raymond |
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| The visioning workshop | Sharing ideas and hopes | One plot is taken by a group of nursing students who will work cooperatively to manage the garden. |
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| Mark, Morag and Basak facilitating the participatory design process | Group design process at the Community Cultural Centre | |
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| Groups spend an afternoon designing the garden based on their vision | Each group presents their ideas and finds common ground. | Checking the group's design with the Mayor and head municipal gardener |
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| After combining the designs and getting the go-ahead from Council, we check it out on site and make final adjustments. | Marking the design on the ground | Marking the allotments |
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| The plan complete | Discussing which plot to choose | Gardeners claim their allotment |
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| Checking that everyone is happy with their plot and registering each person with a plot number. | Gardener preparing their plot | Marking the edges with rocks |
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| Laying the paths | Discussing design for the common garden areas. | |
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| View from the furnicular railway | The raised garden bed boxes ready for installation | The first box goes in |
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| The first plants go in | Community compost workshop | Digging the central pond |
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| Nurses see the potential of community gardens for public health and healing. | Mayor visits the site and watches compost making | Discussing the organisational structure, garden guidelines, and garden development plan. |
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| Making a demonstration no-dig garden | Laying the weed barrier | Applying the mulch |
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| Watering it all in | Gardeners keen to learn new techniques for natural gardening. | Morag enjoying the workshop and happy with the process and outcomes. |
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| A happy Mayor who has promised to at least double the size of the garden to meet new requests for plots. | The Balcova Community Garden core group. | The first co-ordinator of the garden |
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