About Us
Who We Are
Moss Vale Community Garden is a place where the community can gather to grow and share healthy food whilst developing supportive friendships.
It is a place where the natural environment is respected and revered, promoting biodiversity in both native ecosystems and food growing systems.
Through workshops and advocacy, MVCG aims to provide information and best-practice advice to new and experienced gardeners on organic, permaculture, sustainable and regenerative gardening practices specific to the Southern Highlands.
Vision
To cultivate a thriving, inclusive community where people connect with the land, with each other, and with the joy of growing — guided by sustainability, creativity, and a shared love of fresh, seasonal food.
Our Story
The Garden, as members often affectionately call it, has grown out of the dreams of a handful of caring community members.
In February 2004, the concept of a community garden in the area was raised by Anglicare as a response to the high level of social isolation and resulting suicides in the shire. Our community was in need of a place for people experiencing loneliness and despair to come for a friendly chat over a comforting cuppa. The garden is now an independent, not-for-profit organisation – Moss Vale Community Garden Incorporated.
Anglicare approached Wingecarribee Shire Council, who agreed to provide land for a peppercorn rent for the fledgling Wingecarribee Community Garden. The small group known as Together in the Highlands formed, planting fruit and vegetables to share and encouraging others to join in the gardening experience. Anglicare provided support in many ways and, with a grant from The Area Assistance Scheme, fencing, a greenhouse and a Zincalume shed were erected.
In 2008 The Garden became known as Moss Vale Community Garden (MVCG) with the hope that it would provide a stimulus for a community garden in every Highlands town. It grew not only in size but also in members/volunteers.
With the continued support of Anglicare, another grant was achieved, this time from the NSW Environmental Education Trust. This grant programme started in 2009 and ran for approximately 2 1⁄2 years. It was quite extensive and provided the opportunity for the community to get their hands dirty, creating environmental structures such as a straw bale shelter and a pizza oven. Many workshops were run, ranging from Square Foot Gardening to Cheese making.
MVCG has become an education centre for the shire, promoting the importance of caring for the environment, recycling and reducing waste and, with a permaculture influence, demonstrating how to grow and enjoy food together at the Garden and at home. We operate using off-grid solar power and all garden waste is converted onsite to compost and worm casts. Over the years The Garden has welcomed many groups and individuals and encouraged them to share their knowledge and experience. It has also partnered with Wingecarribee Council and fellow not-for-profits such as Climate Action Network Wingecarribee (CANwin), Moss Vale CWA (evening group) and others, to present workshops and presentations on sustainability to our shire residents.
MVCG continues its tradition of success at the Moss Vale District agricultural show. This affirms the great work of our members in the production and processing of quality produce. Congratulations to all involved and thank you to the show committee for their ongoing support.
We look forward to continuing our work with the community in encouraging people to grow together, and feel the satisfaction of picking something from the garden and enjoying it with others. Volunteering in the community is a two-way street. When you give, you receive so much more in return.
