Yesterday, I went to the Stanthorpe Community Garden* for it’s open day and was blown away by the scope of its design. More than just a bunch of garden beds for people to plant stuff in, this is a holistic project that showcases different methods of construction in its walls and garden edging, and encourages use of local materials in composting, gardening and resources.

A drainage area is being turned into a pond, an old railway shed is now garden storage and kitchen, and grass clippings and prunings are being mulched and turned into compost. There’s a section allocated for community art, as well as a native garden and much more. I looked around for the KFC as there always seems to be some commercial business making a quick buck of any community gathering, but no, there was none to be found. Just some snags being barbecued for a fundraiser, and whispers of a pizza oven being constructed.

I saw Carol throwing bits and pieces together for a ‘lasagne’ style, no-dig bed, and then Sarah started talking composting. My daughters grabbed a paintbrush each and started decorating the metal walls of a double bay while Suzette explained that people can drop off their green waste and this will be mechanically mulched to provide ingredients for the compost heap. While I watched someone planting potatoes in the hillside I found out that another local, Tom, is coming to turn the compost with his earthmoving equipment. I also heard from Kath how Granitenet volunteers will be used to enhance the existing Community Garden website to be a portal for all things community and all things garden.

Overall, I found the community garden inspiring and exciting. The potential for community involvement and learning and sharing is mind-boggling. People from all around the Granite Belt can come spend a few hours tending the garden, weeding, watering, and harvesting, and while contributing to the garden, are sharing their skills, networking, being productive and getting healthy food and exercise in the process.

And then I was hit with a way I could duplicate this model in my own life! Yes, that’s it – a community messy house! There must be heaps of people sitting around, twiddling their thumbs and wondering what to do now that the dusting is done and they’ve colour-coded their rubber bands in the kitchen drawer. Frustrated people who feel the urge to clean and organise but have no chaos to tame, can now express their inner yearnings by coming to my Community Messy House. There will be something for everyone – walls to clean, dishes to wash, yards to weed, videos and DVD’s to categorise and a crisper drawer in the fridge to unearth.

But it won’t be just a static place where people come to work – no way. People can express their passion for order, efficiency and style. If artistic souls feel inclined to knit a striking throw-rug for my worn couch, they are most welcome. Kitchen whizzes can bring their own spices and herbs and create gourmet dishes that will waft appealing fragrances throughout the Messy House precinct. While needy people (such as myself) partake of the meals, free-childminding and cleaning service, those who contribute can feel better in themselves for improving the life of at least one family. Hmm… I really think this will catch on.

But hang on, I realise that perhaps someone has already created this service. They call themselves ‘Mothers-in-Law’.

 

* http://www.granitenet.com.au/groups/environment/communitygarden

 

 

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