Stoneville Parkerville Progress Association growing its community

Published on Thursday, 27 April 2023 at 11:15:24 AM

The Stoneville & Parkerville Progress Association (SPPA) is actively engaged in supporting the interests of local residents.

Many people value the advocacy work that associations such as the SPPA do. However, SPPA also has a deep investment in the wellbeing of its community, taking on projects to promote the welfare of local residents.

One such project is the Stoneville Community Garden (SCG) which was the vision of long-standing association members who wanted to provide an inclusive space for everyone to experience the pleasures of growing vegetables, fruit and herbs.

The garden is sprouting into a place where residents can enjoy the many benefits of this shared community asset. The long-term vision of the SCG is to provide a garden where the community can come together, connect socially and share the vast collective growing and gardening knowledge they have.

SPPA members David and Claire Palmer were instrumental in getting the community project off the ground.

With the help of an initial funding boost of $11,140 through the Shire of Mundaring’s Community Grants, and funds from Eastern Metropolitan Council, the Association repurposed the garden two years ago in the spot previously occupied by the Stoneville playgroup. The group has received additional Shire grant funding of $1402 for a water pump and retaining walls.

Set amongst natural bush, this garden is an ideal place for people to come and enjoy.

Mr Palmer said the vision for the space was coming to fruition.

“We already have a Facebook following of over 200 local members,” he said.

 “We have a good turnout to our regular busy-bees. Once the garden is more established, we expect our numbers to grow and more residents to become regular users of the space.

“They will get to enjoy and share an abundance of healthy home-grown produce.

“Under the leadership of six members of the association, we are progressing well with several projects already completed. We have levelled the grounds and installed both a 28,000 litre water storage tank and five productive wicking beds.”

There are several projects on the horizon for the SCG including:

  • An additional four wicking beds
  • Retaining walls and shade cloth for the gardening beds
  • Levelling and paving pathways
  • Solar panels
  • Establishing fruit trees
  • A seating area

If you are interested in finding out more about the community garden, contact stonevillecommunitygarden@gmail.com. Learn more about both the Stoneville & Parkerville Progress Association and the Stoneville Community Garden on Facebook.

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