Newsletter #46 | November 2025
- Kaarin Wilkinson
- Nov 5
- 4 min read
'The earth laughs in flowers'
Annual General Meeting
As a registered not for profit association (Midcoast Sustainability Inc), Seaford Wetlands Community Garden is required to have an AGM annually. All members are requested to attend to hear about our developments and plans and how our finances are going. We also want your feedback and ideas on ways to make things better for everyone. We welcome new committee members, especially after having two members retire from the committee this year. This is not an onerous task with evening meetings monthly and other communication via WhatsApp and email. We know our members have valuable skills and ideas to contribute.
Please join us at Seaford Community Centre, Beachwood Grove Wednesday 19th November 7pm-8.00pm
Slater control in the garden
While there are several hundred species of native slaters, the most common slaters found in our gardens were introduced from Europe. Slaters also have several other names including woodlice and pillbugs; the later as they roll up in balls.
These garden bugs thrive in damp conditions and are usually active at night. Over the last decade slaters have become more of a pest in some gardens, especially in heavily mulched gardens. Theys are usually scavengers mostly feed on decaying vegetable matter. They do also feed on living plants especially young seedling and they love strawberries or other soft fruit, especially when it is touching the ground.
As slaters don't have a waterproof wax layer on their exoskeleton they are very prone to extreme dryness. Slaters seek out moist environments so the key to managing slaters centres on their need for moisture.
You can trap slaters in hollowed out orange halves or fill cardboard tubes (such as empty toilet rolls) with moist organic matter like potato peelings. To dispose of the slaters drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
Open day Sunday October 19th
What a fabulous day we had on Sunday October 19th, the highlight of which was the wonderful workshop from Sophie Thomson.
Thank you to all our volunteers and helper who helped to make this a great day showcasing our garden.
We are grateful to ATCO Australia and Onkaparinga Council for financial support for our open day.
Social Impact Grant
We were very fortunate to receive a grant from the Department of Human Services. This has allowed the expansion of the paving and the cementing north of the greenhouse. Through this grant we have also been able to purchase accessible wicking beds from Adelaide Hills Vegie Gardens. Four of these have now been installed. In coming weeks a large pergola will be built between the two sheds and out across the sink providing both shade and shelter.
Useful tools for the gardener
There are a couple of simple tools that are of great benefit to every gardener. Some people would already be using these, especially if they are propagating plants from seed, some may not have considered them. The two tools are a soil thermometer and a moisture meter.
Seeds and seedlings require different soil temperatures to sprout and thrive. It is standard for those keen on growing tomatoes to wait until soil temperatures reach 16 degrees before planting out seedlings. Seeds like beans and corn planted directly into soils like temperatures of about 222-24 degrees for optimal germination and growth. While they will sprout at lower temperatures their growth will be slower. A soil thermometer is therefore a great tool for vegetable growers.
In Adelaide dry summers are always a challenge. Deep watering to 30cms is essential for plants to thrive. A moisture meter is an essential tool for all Adelaide gardeners. This allows us to check different areas of our garden beds and identify patches that may be too wet or too dry for the plants we are trying to grow.
Both these tools would make ideal gifts for gardening friends.
From the Committee
Our garden was looking wonderful for the open day. Please remember to weed on a regular basis. As well as being more aesthetically pleasing this prevents weeds going to seed and reproducing to create the need for more weeding.
Reminder- liquid fertiliser and garden tools are available in the members shed (the small shed). Please ensure you clean tools and then return to the shed. Soil and mulch are also available to bed holders.
There is now a bin in the shed for putting in damaged and broken tools.
Bunnings BBQs
Our next barbecue is Saturday 15th November. This is a great way to work with fellow gardeners in our community so if you can spare a few hours please volunteer for a two-hour shift between 8am and 4pm.
Regular events
Fortnightly Fridays 9.30am -11.30am
Every Friday fortnight gardeners and volunteers meet at the garden to do a few of the regular maintenance tasks, tend their own beds and stay share gardening stories together over morning tea.
Coming dates are
November 7th
November 21st
Driving and Parking cars at the Garden
Please do not drive vehicles on to the garden lease area unless you have express permission from one of the committee to deliver materials or equipment. Please also do not park in the Ambulance/CFS car parks and in Grange and Somerton Courts.
This project was seeded by
Our Committee
Our committee is Kaarin Wilkinson, Jan Brown, Jennie Simon and Roger Whiteman. If you have any questions or ideas please contact us via Facebook , on our website, on the Seaford Wetlands Gardeners WhatsApp chat or on the garden email seafordcg@gmail.com.
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