Miranda Community Garden (or the MCG)
The Miranda Community Garden was started in early 2010 on a block of land adjacent to and owned by the Gymea Miranda Uniting Church. The aims of the Miranda Community Garden (MCG) are: to connect with people of similar interests; to share gardening knowledge and ideas; to have fun and help each other; and, last but not least, to grow fresh vegetables, fruit, etc in a sustainable way. The concept is for a true Community Garden in which members share gardening, maintenance and produce. Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate. At present we have about 30 enthusiastic members, the majority from outside the church congregation. Membership fees are currently $30 per year – concessional rates may apply. To date over 30 garden beds are in operation together with some waist-high beds. We continue to harvest lots of vegetables to date including beans, spinach, potatoes, corn, tomatoes and lots more. Also we have installed rainwater tanks, an irrigation system, garden edging, paths and multiple compost bins.
·Gardening takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning commencing after about 9 am.
· All interested people are invited to get involved.
· Enquiries welcome - please phone either Brian on 0421 868 030, Gillian on 9540 3813 or Sally on 0412 682 159.

New Grant from Sutherland Shire Council.
Great news! We have been successful in obtaining a grant of $11,000 from the Sutherland Shire Council 2020/21 Community Grants and Subsidies Program to expand the Miranda Community Garden. The grant will enable us to provide paved areas and gardens suitable for people with physical disabilities.

10th Anniversary Celebrations. The MCG held its 10th birthday celebration at the garden on Sunday 15th March 2020. Many people said how much they enjoyed the day, particularly the yummy lunch. We were lucky with the weather which enabled the high school music groups to perform outside near the garden. Both the Kirrawee High Year 10 Combo and the Caringbah High Jazz Combo performed brilliantly. Some photos follow:

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Click on images for a larger version

Facebook Page
The Miranda Community Garden now has an active Facebook page. Please check it out.

MCG Slide Presentation
At the church service to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Miranda Community Garden a slide presentation was presented. A copy of our PowerPoint slides follows: Click here (PDF 4.3Mg)

Membership Agreement. New members can join us in the Garden twice prior to joining the Garden. After that new members are required to sign the attached Membership Agreement and pay their annual membership fee. The Membership Agreement can be downloaded here.

Waist high garden beds have now been installed in the Miranda Community Garden to allow people in our community who would like to participate in the garden but cannot because of physical limitations. You are welcome to come along and try them out!

The Waist High Garden Beds Opening BBQ & Naming held Saturday 7 September. Winning Name was chosen by vote for entries in competition. Sharon Paterson cut the “Happy Garden” paper chain celebrating new beginning.

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Shire Farmers' Market.
The Miranda Community Garden participated in the Shire Farmers' Market at Sutherland on 9 July 2016. Some photos of our stall follow.

Grants. The Miranda Community Garden gratefully acknowledges various grants that have been received over the years to help establish and improve the garden. Grants have been received from:

• Second Chance (an outreach of the Gymea-Miranda Uniting Church) for $2000 in 2010;
  
• Uniting Church New Missional Gatherings Seed Fund ($5000 in 2010)
  
• Sutherland Shire Council Annual Community and Arts Grants Program ($3080 in 2013, $7540 plus GST in 2014, $5947 in 2016 and $1210 in 2018).
• In addition the Garden gratefully acknowledges the kind annual donations by Bunnings (Caringbah) of equipment and supplies to support the Garden.
  

Sally Peterson and Brian Sowerby with the Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce at the 2018 annual presentation of grants at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre. Click on the image for a larger version Some members of the Miranda Community Garden accepting a grant from Sutherland Shire Councillor Tom Croucher. The grant from the Sutherland Council Community Services Program was presented on Tuesday 19 February 2013. Click on the image for a larger version The Miranda Community Garden has been successful in obtaining a grant of $7540 from Sutherland Shire Council's Annual Community Services and Arts Grant Program. The grant will be used to enhance community engagement in the Miranda Community Garden by providing a garden shed, raised garden beds and to improve our irrigation system. The raised garden beds make the garden more suitable for use by older people and people with disabilities. Councillor Tracey Cook visited the Garden on 11 February 2014 to present a cheque to the garden. Pictured at the garden are, left to right: Marise Myers, Alan Myers, Sally Peterson, Craig Hall, Councillor Tracey Cook, Judy Morris, Iain Minto and Joan Collins. Click on the image for a larger version Recipes of the Month Recipe 1 Potato and Cabbage Bake Recipe 2 Chinese Cabbage Stir Fry Recipe 3 Aubergine Parmigiana (Melanzane alla Parmigiana)y Click on the images to download Recipe 4 Easy Rhubarb Custard Cake Recipe 5 Honey and harissa glazed eggplant Recipe 6 Anne's Caramel Slice Click on the images to download Recipe 7 Baby Egg Plant, Tomato and Ricotta Lasagne Recipe 8 Rhubarb and Cinnamon Cake Recipe 9 Joan's Egg Plant with Pork Mince Stir Fry
Dr Miriam Pepper of Uniting Earthweb brings us a story about the Gymea Miranda Uniting Church community garden.
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Click on images for a larger version
Click on images for a larger version
Click on images for a larger version
Click on the images for a larger version
Click on images for a larger version