Image: Avid gardeners at the club. Photo: Supplied.
BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
Pristine lawn greens have long been the domain of Australian bowling clubs.
But Marrickville Bowling Club is branching out, with an off shoot gardening project which is ‘greening up’ the place and drawing the community together.
Last week, members of the club celebrated the hundredth pot as part of their plan for a community garden.
The idea for the garden, which features native and edible plants, came from bowls volunteers Ross Carson and Mary Crotty.
The club’s board of directors were enthusiastic about the garden from the get go.
The club’s treasurer, Janet McClean, said that the garden was welcome because of the extra greenery it brought to the built-up, light industrial suburb.
“What Ross and Mary proposed was creating something new and green. A bonus for the club that everyone can enjoy, plus if you need something for tonight’s recipe, it’s there for the picking,” Ms McClean said.
The garden began as no more than “a few succulents in hanging pots” but now the garden has enveloped the club’s two bowling greens.
Still not happy with the level of plants, Mr Carson sowed the seed for the goal of a hundred pots.
“We’re avid gardeners – love it,” Mr Carson said.
“We saw an opportunity to create something that makes a green difference at the bowlo. Our chance to give something back in a way we enjoy.”
The growth in the garden has translated to more volunteers who are helping with the upkeep of the garden.
Volunteers dig weeds out for “an hour or so” and are rewarded with a “bag of fresh leafy greens”.
“I like that I can make a contribution and this is a valuable one, I think,” Ms Crotty said.
The garden is still in its early stages and those wishing to volunteer can contact the club.
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