Curtin University is looking for volunteers over the Christmas and the New Year break for the Curtin Veggie Garden.
The garden is a student-based volunteer group which meets regularly to work on its Garden Project. The group is seeking members of the community who can offer their skills to host one garden workshop every semester or more.
Launched on 25 October 2007, the 550sqm garden near Kurrajong Village on Curtin’s Bentley Campus produces a variety of fruit, herbs and vegetables commonly grown to suit Perth’s conditions.
Peter Cope, from Curtin Housing Services, said he hoped the volunteers will be able to help the students and the garden will flourish.
“Our intention is to develop a pool of experienced gardener’s and educators to share their knowledge and teach international and domestic students the many aspects and benefits of gardening in Perth conditions,” Peter said.
“We currently incorporate recycling, composting and many familiar gardening practices in our established garden. We are simply looking for local people to bring a deeper community flavour to the project,” he said.
Mr Cope said there are many benefits from these voluntary positions.
“The benefits to you are the pleasures of meeting and working with vibrant, enthusiastic and energetic young people from Australia and all over the world in a peaceful, garden setting,” he said.
“The benefit to the wider Community is a much richer understanding of the diversity of the student population at Curtin University.
Peter said the Veggie Garden is also being used as an assignment for Public Health students who use ingredients from the garden in cooking workshops.
“By holding the workshop, they met their study requirements and at the same time, taught students a few cost effective, healthy recipes and the students prepared, cooked and devoured the dishes.”
Volunteers can register their interest by contacting 9266 2641 or visiting the garden’s blog site for more information http://cvgvs.wordpress.com/
Contacts:
Bonnie Ripper, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 4364, Mobile: 0401 103 373, Email: b.ripper@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
Peter Cope, Housing Services, Curtin University
Tel: 0401 103 643, Email: p.cope@curtin.edu.au
