This project was made possible thanks to the support of the Woollahra Council Environmental Grant.
You may have noticed we’ve been busy upgrading our garden plots. After more than 10 years of constant use, many of the original structures were beginning to show their age — with some even being slowly reclaimed by insects, weather, and time.
Rather than simply replacing the old plots like-for-like, we saw an opportunity to rethink how they work for our community.
The upgraded design introduces a steel post system with removable sleepers, making it easier to inspect for damage and replace sleepers as needed, rather than rebuilding from scratch. Sleepers just slide in and out! No screws needed!
It’s a big job, and we’re not getting any younger, so we hope this method makes it that much easier for us in 10 years’ time, and for future Rose Bay Community Gardeners.
It also restores deeper, double-level beds — meaning more soil, improved drainage, and ultimately more productive, “supercharged” growing conditions.
The results are already promising, with upgraded plots showing strong, healthy growth!
These changes also reflect what matters most to us: the plots are not just for growing food, but for people. They double as informal seating areas for accessible gardening, workshops, and having a yarn with neighbours. This social aspect is just as important as the food we grow, especially in a shared community space.
So pop in and see us sometime! Our monthly working bee, on the 3rd Sunday of each month, is a great chance to meet members, get a feel for the garden and find out more about getting involved.
