GUIDE: Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to this open day at the community garden. Our garden belongs to the local community and as you'll see what we grow here is mostly fruit and different kinds of vegetables.

First, I'll tell you some background information. Well, recently we made an interesting discovery at the garden. Before we didn't know much about the history of this site. We only had a few documents and records. Then we {[found some ancient implements like spades and forks][1]} for digging. They were buried in the earth. Experts say these are at least 1000 years old, so people have been using this land for growing produce for a long time. There are some photographs of these implements in the clubhouse, as well as a diagram of what we think the garden might have looked like if you want to look later.

So why was this location so good for gardening? As you can see, we're in a slight Valley and storms blow very hard up this Valley, which can be a problem. But being in a Valley, we get good freezing Frost here in winter, which gardeners like because it kills the bugs. The great thing, though, is {[the stream that runs through the Valley so we can irrigate the gardens even through long, dry summers][2]}.

Now what we do know is that in 1860, gardening stopped here. This was a time of rapid development in this area, and on that date the {[City Infirmary was constructed on this site][3]}. So this is where doctors and surgeons were {[to take care of the health needs of the grown population][3]}. Also, many new houses were put up for people who commuted into the city each day to work. There was even talk of a new military camp, although that never happened in the end. Then in the 1980s, the old buildings here were removed and this land again became a productive garden.

Today these gardens produce large quantities of fruit and vegetables. Each pot of land is worked by a volunteer member of the garden, and they {[donate what they grow to families in this neighborhood who are struggling financially][4]}. Occasionally we're approached by local businesses and restaurants wanting to buy our organic produce, but we just don't have enough.

We also have a good relationship with the local College. In fact, several of the academics there are members of the garden. Each week, {[undergraduates enrolled on the College's horticulture course have a class here to learn about their subject][5]} firsthand and in future, the College hopes to hold workshops here to help local people establish vegetable gardens at home.

Okay, now I'll just point out a few places of interest around the gardens. So can you all look at your maps, please? Okay.

So we're now standing at the main entrance to the gardens outside the club house. So you might be interested in our worm farms. This is where we make fertilizer to get there from the main entrance. Head north. You'll pass gardens on either side of the past. Just before the past curves round to the right. There's a turning on the left. Go down there and {[the worm farms are inside the first building you come to][6]}.

It's also worth visiting our seat store. Again, head north and follow the path as it curves round to the right through the gardens. You'll come to the orchard, follow the path around the edge of the Orchard. But don't go too far. {[The seed store is actually located inside the orchard][7]}. A very pretty spot. Now the machinery shed might interest some of you. From the main entrance, just {[go into the car park and walk right to the end. You'll see a little path heading out to the west][8]}. It's down there. Our compass heaps are also pretty impressive. So head north from the main entrance, go past the first gardens and take the first turning on the left. Go to the end of that path. {[The compost heaps are built in the shape of a letter U][9]}. The drying room is also interesting. That is where we dry fruit to preserve it. To see how it's done, walk up through the gardens till you come to the Orchard. Keep heading north and the drying room {[is right at the very end of that path - as far as you can go][10]}. Now, one other thing I'll mention are the outside toilet facilities

You must log in before continuing!