From near closure to thriving hub: Nambour Grown’s turnaround

Just a year ago, Nambour Grown Community Garden was on the brink of closure. Now, it’s thriving — thanks to the determination of its president, Racheal Pascoe, her husband Gavin, and a committed group of volunteers.

“About 12 months ago, they were going to close this garden down … and we thought, ‘well that can’t happen on our watch’,” Ms Pascoe told the Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catchup on August 7. “With that fighting underdog spirit … we’ve turned this place around.”

The garden now offers a space for people to grow food, connect with others and share produce. “We’ve got people who are renters who can’t have a garden bed where they are, so they come here. At the end of the session we do a little harvest and we share our bounty,” she said.

A barter table allows surplus produce to be swapped. “If you have 16 cabbages and 22 pumpkins you can bring them in and then take something different home.  

Business sponsorships secured at a Chamber meeting last November raised $3000 in an hour, funding garden beds that sponsors can now see in action. The garden has also hosted high-profile visitors, including ABC Gardening Australia’s Sophie Thompson, who led two rambles during the Queensland Garden Show.

“She quietly said to me, ‘do you normally get this many people?’” Ms Pascoe said. “We had 45 people trail after us … I think she’s used to maybe a dozen.”

Nambour Grown welcomes new members of all skill levels. “You don’t have to be an expert gardener, just come along and have a go,” Ms Pascoe said. Meeting times are posted on Facebook and on-site.

For those wishing to support the garden financially, she added: “Even if it’s just the smallest amount, we would really appreciate your help.”

• You can find Nambour Grown at Facebook.com/NambourGrown/ 

Racheal Pascoe addressing the attendees at yesterday’s Coffee Catch up.