Newsletter #47 | February 2026
- Kaarin Wilkinson
- Mar 1
- 6 min read
There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments
Hope is one of the essential tools of a gardener
From the SWCG Chair Jennie Simon
Thank you to the members who attended our AGM in November 2025. Our committee for this year are: Jennie Simon Chairperson, Kaarin Wilkinson Secretary, Jan Brown Treasurer and Roger Whitman General committee. There was a good general discussion on what members would like to do for workshops and social activities. We will be looking into places to visit as a social group outing. If there is somewhere in particular you would like to visit please let a committee member know. We will attempt to hold a quarterly outing. There was also a discussion on the need for a toilet. We are looking into our options for a toilet and the costs but are struggling to gain the cooperation of council.
In 2026 the regular gardening group is every Friday morning followed by our social cuppa. We look forward to seeing more members being able to come to the garden and join in. BBQ’s will continue at Bunnings on the 3rd Saturday of the month with May being a month off. Please volunteer where you can as this is our main fund raiser for the year. Mary Fogherty was awarded with a Bunnings voucher as the Volunteer of the year. Mary is regularly at the garden plodding away on our weeding. We thank her for all the hours she puts in often on her own. During 2026 year we plan to finish of areas of the garden and bring everything together following the original ideas for the gardens. As our Native area grows we are creating a more interesting walk around and attracting more birds and butterflies with splashes of colour from the native plantings. We will be adding edgings to gardens to define our walking space and would appreciate any help with laying this. A job that needs to be done during the first part of 2026 when the weather is warm enough is for the edging to be laid out flat so it’s easier to work with. Our market garden is up and running and produce when harvested (when not sadly stolen) and available at the gate on Fridays for a donation which contributes to our fundraising.
Growing our membership
For only $20 anyone can become a member of Seaford Wetlands Community Garden. Members receive our newsletter, have access to free workshops or discounted workshops and are always welcome to our Friday garden groups and working bees. They are also able to purchase Neutrog products at greatly reduced prices. For most people, even those with a small garden, the savings they will make on their annual Neutrog supplies as well as workshops will more than cover the membership fee.
If you have friends or family who are interested in also have access to these discounts we encourage you to direct them to become a garden member.
The more members we have the stronger our voice in the community. A larger membership assists us with getting grants, and support from the local council which is imperative for the ongoing development of the garden. We need the support of as many people as possible to promote our need for closer toilet access. Please encourage your family and friends to join. Let’s encourage everyone to get out in nature and enjoy gardening.
A challenge for every member.
In the next month get someone you know to become a SWCG member and double our membership.
Bunnings BBQ’s
Our current volunteers are doing a fabulous job and the dollars raised are contributing to development and maintenance of the garden. More volunteers are always welcome as our regular people do take holidays, have special events or sometimes even get sick.
Volunteering means doing a two-hour shift on the day and you can choose from one of four roles:
to take the orders using the EFTPOS machine or cash,
cook the sausages,
prepare the drinks, serviettes and bread, or
serve to our customers.
Shifts are:
8.30am-10.30am (this includes set up from 8.30 ready for service at 9am)
10.30am -12.30pm
12.30pm-2.30pm
2.30pm – 4.30pm (this includes pack up from 4pm or earlier if all the sausages are sold)
Closed shoes should be worn and long hair tied back. Bring and apron or we will have one to share.
Our next BBQ at Bunnings on will be Saturday 21st March - please contact Jan via What’s App, phone, email or Facebook. More details closer to the date. Thank you for your ongoing support, Jan Brown 0406663118
Garden care as autumn approaches
In March it is time for Adelaide gardens to begin to transition from a summer garden to an autumn one. Time to tidy up and prepare the garden for autumn planting.
Things to do in March include:
Remove any dead and unhealthy-looking plants
Check the garden for bugs and treat with organic products like Eco-oil.
Keep an eye out for diseases as many love the warm humid weather we are having and will attack plants. Remove diseased plants and put in the green bin, not the garden compost.
Check the soil for water retention as soils often become hydrophobic (water resistant over summer). This is corrected by adding lots of organic matter.
Prepare the soil for new planting. After summer vegies are removed it is essential to add organic matter and compost to replenish the nutrients that you summer vegies have taken out. Water well and keep moist to allow soil organisms to do their work.
Always remember to mulch your bed if you are leaving it unplanted for any time. All garden beds need a blanket of mulch to protect the soil and make it a healthy environment for the soil microbes.
Autumn Planting
Lots of vegies can be planted in your kitchen garden in autumn. Remembering that these vegies grow slower and take longer to produce than summer vegies so always good to plant early once the intense hot days of summer are over. Root vegetables including carrot, beetroot, parsnip and turnip. All best planted direct as seeds. They will take a while to sprout and can be helped by covering with a light cardboard to retain moisture until they germinate.
Try some different leafy greens like celery, shallots or the wide variety of Asian greens.
Legumes like snow peas, sugar peas and broad beans can also be sown at this time of year at this time of year. Garlic corms can be planted from March through the next few months and will take 6 months to produce.
Autumn is also the time for planting brassicas. Things like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale. These are usually planted as seedlings either purchased from a reputable grower or you may like to propagate your own. Brassicas need protection from white cabbage moth.
· Some people are happy to try to remove manually by checking the underside of leaves for the yellow/white eggs. However, this needs to be done daily so not a task most people have time for.
· Some gardeners rely on decoy butterflies made of white plastic to trick the moths into thinking the area is already occupied. I have tried this with limited success.
· You can use organic sprays to kill caterpillars without harming beneficial insects but read all labels carefully.
· Try companion planting. Herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme will deter moths, though not prevent them.
· The best method is netting done as soon as seedlings are planted with fine mesh or what is called ‘exclusion netting’. If not done on the day of planting moths may lay eggs before you install the netting and you will provide a great feed for the caterpillars that then hatch under the netting. You must ensure that the netting is taut as if leaves touch the netting the moths can lay their eggs through the netting. Always secure the netting tightly with pegs or heavy objects.
Bunnings BBQs
Next Barbeque is Saturday March 21st election day in SA.
Regular events
Fridays garden group is now weekly 9.30-am -11.30am approximately.
Every Friday gardeners and volunteers meet at the garden to do a few of the regular maintenance tasks, in the orchard, market garden, native garden, children’s area or green house; tend their own beds and then share gardening stories together over morning tea.
Our gatherings are always weather dependent. We will not usually meet if the forecast for the day is 35 degrees or more nor as the season changes if it is raining heavily.
These mornings are a great way to spend time tending your own bed, meet other community gardeners, including your committee members and learn more about our planned activities. Friends and family are welcome to join us so bring them along.
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 Jennie Simon, Kaarin Wilkinson, Jan Brown 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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