Kath Moller has been involved in the Duncraig Edible Garden (DEG) since 2013, just after the Duncraig Library forecourt site was offered to the group by the City to start a community food garden.
Growing the community
Since starting in the group, Kath has been a workshop presenter, preserves maker, committee member and treasurer. Kath loves seeing other people realise that they can make a difference and grow things, no matter the size of the space. Seeing people get to meet and join in with a community that gathers around gardening also brings Kath a lot of joy.
What’s happening in the garden?
February is the hottest time of the year and during the Noongar season of Bunuru, Kath and the DEG volunteers are concentrating on keeping the perennial plants alive, by watering deeply and protecting the soil and not planting new annual plants until the weather cools.
Kath’s summer tips for growing food at home:
- Food can be grown in very small spaces such as window sills or balconies, or on a larger scale in the spaces at the edge of a courtyard.
- If you have a larger space, you could replace your lawn with fruit and vegetables to provide a wealth of food in the area, using about the same amount of water that the lawn used, but you can eat the results.
- Planting things together that have similar water needs is a good strategy.
- Plants are less stressed by the heat if their roots are sheltered by mulch-covered soil that keeps the root zone cooler and reduces evaporation from the soil as well as helping the soil microbes to survive. Looking after the soil microbes means that they can transfer the nutrients to the roots of the plants, and the plants grow much better.
- Water during the cool of the morning to prevent water loss through evaporation. It’s much better for the person doing the watering and for the plants.
- Wicking or self-watering pots are good for growing salad vegetables in summer.
- Whether planted in the ground or in pots, covering soil with mulch helps to reduce evaporation.
Get involved
Kath encourages fellow City residents to come and garden with the DEG group and help create a space where food and the community can grow sustainably together. DEG volunteers meet every fortnight on alternate Saturday mornings between 9am-12pm, on opposite weeks to the Poynter Farmers Markets, in the garden located at the forecourt of the Duncraig Library, cnr Warwick Road and Marmion Avenue, Duncraig.
For more information, visit the Duncraig Edible Garden website.