WEDNESDAY'S GARDEN
Everything about the Organic Garden expresses the essence of Margaret River community. Over 30 years, this little plot of land, nestled between the high school ovals and the TAFE art department, has evolved into a magnificent garden paradise, with sustainability and connectivity at its heart.
Every Wednesday for three decades, the gardeners of Margaret River have come together to plant and sow, to dig and reap, to design and create every pathway, sculpture, sign and saying in the garden. Every weekend, people of all walks of life, ages and stages in our community come together to share our knowledge, our cakes and coffee in the volunteer cafe and years of fundraising events. And every other day the garden grows and shades and provides sanctuary and safe space for birds and insects and animals, and any soul who wanders in.
From young parents, to artists, from school to TAFE students, from littlies to lost souls to wise elders ... anyone and everyone has always been welcome.
Community members from throughout the garden's fabulous 30 year history have been invited to share their memories and reflections for our book, Wednesday's Garden. Alongside delightful memories, run the original history, philosophy and wisdom of the founders, the long time visions, inspirational successes and heroic failures of intrepid gardeners and the tales of an ever evolving hub of community cafe volunteers. As you turn page after colourful page, you'll be enthralled how the garden inspires photographers and poets, cooks and celebrities, child's play, education and deep contemplation of the age-old mythological connections to the Angel Raphael and the deep earth wisdom of the Golden Bough.
Irresistible to readers, thinkers and picture people, Wednesday's Garden will be your treasure, your resource and your choice of gift for loved ones for many years to come.
WHY A BOOK?
As we stand on the threshold of another decade, Wednesday's Garden traces the story of our town's sanctuary from 1988 to the current crossroads in 2018, where its survival is under threat of development. This beautiful book captures the essence of the garden and will give our community the resource we need to ensure that the insight Joni Mitchell so passionately expressed, will never be sung of our beloved Organic Garden …
“Don't it always seem to go,
that you don't know what you've got till its gone...
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Our gardens are precious, and here in Margaret River, we are so lucky to inhabit this treasured "garden of earthly delights" - an abundant and fertile sanctuary to share with communities around the world; a living, breathing showcase of just how a healthy, engaged, creative and connected community can nurture the universal gifts of Mother Nature together, and share with those from far and wide, for the benefit of all.
CREATING THE FUTURE
Already the garden has seen children grow to adults who now bring their children here to experience this learning, growing, colourful world anew: childen who grew up playing hide and see in the secret alcoves, performing plays in the amphitheatre and music in the gardens, selling cakes at fundraising stall, dressing up as faeries and making picnics, planting with their parents, seedlings that now stand as trees shading their own children.
We place high cultural value on the garden, working hard and celebrating its many colourful
community attributes, growing its green shade and safe spaces for generations to come; so bound we are to our sense of place here, and the health and welfare of our community, as we each continue the cycle of life within our piece of shared paradise.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Supporting us by way of the simple reward of pre-purchasing the book, or spoiling yourself with one of our extra special rewards, including Cullen wines and tours, Wilyabrup getaways and hot glass experiences, will give the Garden community the chance to raise $15000 to have 2000 copies Wednesday's Garden published and printed in full colour.
By ordering your $30 book ahead, or making sure you can order enough for gifts as well, you will be playing an active part in honouring our
special place. This book is a true story from the heart of our town and the “hands on” resource we need to educate and grow awareness, thus fully informing real options and realistic planning to ensure the garden's long term survival and to share the story of Wednesday's Garden far and wide.
Photos by Kane McDonald, Olivier Marrill, Jan Lane and Shelley Cullen
