When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included there's a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.
From the International Day of Women website March 2024
International Women's Day
The International Women's Day 2024 was celebrated on Friday 8th March with a theme of "Inspire Inclusion". (Click on the IWD panel above to explore the subject in more detail.)
Take a bow wonderful people of Seaford Wetlands Community Garden - I think you Inspire Inclusion rather well! A moment's reflection on the breadth and depth of our women's involvement in this project is truly inspirational and our newsletter this month highlights several of the many outstanding women from our membership.
I’m Mel and I’ve had the pleasure of being part of our committee for a little over a year.
I love gardening and watching this space turn into a valuable asset in our community. There’s something incredibly satisfying about nurturing plants from tiny seeds into flourishing vegetables. With the upcoming addition of our greenhouse, I’m looking forward to expanding our gardening possibilities and experimenting with new varieties of vegetables in our market garden as well as natives.
In addition to my love for gardening, I take on the responsibility of managing our compost. It’s an essential aspect of our community’s sustainability efforts.
Beyond the garden, I cherish spending time with my husband and 7-year-old son. I enjoy sharing my passion for gardening with my son, teaching him about the wonders of nature and the joy of growing our own food.
In the kitchen, cooking, fermenting, and baking are not just hobbies for me; they’re outlets for creativity and relaxation. I love coming up with new recipes from fresh produce and experimenting with new fermentation recipes, I’m always eager to learn new things and share what I know with others. If you’re curious about sourdough bread or kombucha, I’m more than happy to provide starter cultures to kickstart your own homemade creations.
One of the highlights of my time in our community has been hosting our Friday morning teas in the Garden. It’s a simple yet meaningful tradition that brings us together to share stories, exchange gardening tips, and enjoy each other’s company over a cup of tea and homemade treats. Cooking for our gatherings is a labor of love, and I take pride in preparing meals that bring people together.
Quiche
Ingredients:
- Sourdough pie crust
- 6 large eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1 cup shredded or crumbled cheese (such as feta or cheddar)
- Up to 2 cups add-ins (your choice)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Partially blind bake the crust: Line the chilled pie crust with baking paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edges start to brown, about 15-16 minutes. Remove weights and paper, then prick holes in the bottom with a fork. Bake for another 7-8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, cream, salt, and pepper until combined, about 1 minute. Whisk in add-ins.
4. Pour mixture into the crust.
5. Bake the quiche until the center is almost set, about 45-55 minutes.
Enjoy your quiche!
Sourdough pie crust
Ingredients:
- 250 g All-Purpose Flour
- 5 g Salt (adjust to taste)
- 230 g Unsalted Butter, COLD
- 200 g Sourdough Starter or Discard
- 10 g White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions:
1. Mix flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Grate cold butter into the bowl. If it's too soft, chill it in the freezer.
3. Mix butter into the flour until it's crumbly.
4. Add sourdough starter and vinegar. Mix until it forms a rough dough. If it's too dry, add a bit of ice water.
5. Divide dough into two balls, flatten, and wrap in parchment paper and cling wrap.
6. Chill dough in the fridge for at least one hour, up to 48 hours.
7. When ready to use, roll out the dough.
Enjoy your pie crust!
Hi there! I'm Jan Brown, a local resident of Port Noarlunga South, living happily with my husband Robert and our beloved Kelpie dog, Murphy. You might see us around the garden, as we're quite involved in the community, especially at the Seaford Wetlands Community Garden, where I currently serve on the committee.
My journey with the community garden began when my daughter Mel joined and started growing vegetables in one of the raised plots. Intrigued by her enthusiasm, I soon found myself joining in, and now even my other daughter has her own raised bed there. It's become a family affair.
In my working life, I dedicated 27 years at the Onkaparinga Council, mainly woking with Community Centres. This passion stemmed from my days as a young mother, volunteering to develop the Seaford Community Centre on Beechwood Grove.
Now retired, I've embraced my love for gardening, inherited from my Mum. While retirement keeps me busy, I cherish the time I spend at the garden and the Hackham West Community Centre, along with family gatherings and school and work runs with my grandchildren.
The garden community never ceases to amaze me with their generosity and willingness to share knowledge. Our fortnightly Community Garden morning teas are a highlight, where we not only tackle garden tasks but also enjoy a cuppa and good company.
Exciting developments are on the horizon, with plans for a greenhouse and extension of the market garden. While progress may sometimes feel slow due to volunteer constraints, we're proud of all we've achieved together. If you're in the area, do drop by for a chat. Due to a short holiday the next morning tea I will be attending is Friday, March 29th. I'd love to meet more of our members so please come and say hello.
Our leading photo above and the photos below feature garden produce and creative meals from the kitchen of our amazing member Deirdre Dukes - check out her Instagram food blog on #deelishusdishes
Fundraising Bunnings BBQs
Our next Bunnings BBQ will be on Saturday 20th April from 8.30am - 4pm. We usually work in 2 hour shifts.
Many thanks to the members who helped run the last one earlier this month. We sold over 400 sausages on the day and made our best ever profit of $1170.
Please get in touch if you are able to assist on the day. We're looking for order takers, cooks, and servers. It's an easy and fun way to work as a team and meet lots of people, tell them about our great community garden and raise useful funds.
Love to hear from you - please email Wayne on the garden email:
The Lakeview Pergola
In February last year we successfully applied for a Community Land and Facility Improvement Grant for $8575 from the City of Onkaparinga Council to construct a pergola overlooking the Seaford wetlands. Many thanks to the council for their support in this project. Pavers have been purchased and will be laid soon and we are investigating options for tables and chairs to complete this excellent facility with a great view over the Seaford Wetlands and its bird population.
Photos from our last working bee
Thank you to Jennie for running a workshop on pruning stone fruit trees. Due to her and her team's amazing work in the orchard our trees are growing very well with some already starting to bear fruit. The team then focussed on the fence staining work and made great progress. Meanwhile, Rory and Wayne cleared a site for the greenhouse that will be our next major project. A big thank you to Mel and Jan once again for providing a nutritious and tasty lunch to keep us going. Welcome to new members Liz and Roger for their first working bee and many thanks to all our regulars. Great work!
Coming Up in the Garden and Wetlands in 2024
Purchase of a new greenhouse to be built in the raised bed area
Installation of a wash basin near the shed
Paving of the area under the pergola and applying a second coat of stain, adding a table and seats
Painting the Children's garden fence
Finish weeding the paths and spreading yankomite
Develop the grass and weed area along the Eldercare fence into gardens
Extension of the Market Garden area
Continued development of the Native Edibles area
Fortnightly Friday morning Social Group - next one Friday 29th March
Working Bees - next one Sunday 24th March
Fundraising Bunnings BBQs - next one Saturday 20th April
Official Opening Ceremony - Sunday 28th April
This project was seeded by
