What are the Weedies up to?
Who are the Weedies?
The Weedies was established by Mick Lee in May 2020 as the volunteer community gardening group at Beyond. We plant, prune, and weed along many verges and in the Beyond reserves. The Weedies meet regularly on Friday mornings—in rain, shine and cold—from 9.30 to 11.30, and there is often a cuppa at the end to exchange ideas. Weedies who are not available on Fridays contribute their time on other days — just look for the hi-viz vests!
Pruned branches and weeds for Alexandrina Council collection
Weed Control
The Beyond ponds are a breeding ground for native endangered fish which are protected by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Glyphosate is a threat to animal and plant life in water ways and soil microbiota, therefore, hand weeding or Slasher (https://www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au) is the preferred method at Beyond. Biological pest control measures, for example introducing predator-type bugs, or non-toxic and organic methods will be used instead of poisonous chemicals. Weed control sprays must be frog and waterway friendly products used in strict accordance with manufacturer’s directions. (Beyond Urban Design Guidelines, p16)
Planting
The Weedies made a big effort over 3 weeks to plant more than 50 tube stock trees and shrubs in The Ponds Reserve (between the ponds on Dragonfly Blvd and the new Chiton Estate) as well as Musk Duck, She-Oak, Firetail and Peregrine Reserves, and verges on Sun Orchid Drive and Needlebush Drive. Altogether, this totalled about 450 trees and shrubs - look for the bright green tree guards. Thank you to those Weedies who took trees and shrubs to plant in verges and reserves near their own homes and who are looking after them to get a good kick along as they establish their roots.
Planting a verge on Needlebush Drive
Donations
From time to time the Weedies need supplies, for example, tree guards/stakes/bamboo canes for planting out tube stock, gardening gloves, secateurs, Slasher, hoses, biochar, Seasol……………! A huge thanks to Bill Marsh for his recent donation of Slasher weed control with a pressure pump to manage some of our more delicate areas. We have had more manna from heaven. Thanks to Jacqui Clarke, Robin Howard, Pete Mayfield, and an anonymous gatherer of recyclables with their mindful eyes who found unused left-over guards and stakes to add to our supplies. Thanks to Jacqui and Cittaslow Goolwa for tube stock of local native vegetation. Thanks also to Ian Brett (Alexandrina Council) for providing generous supplies of Seasol, biochar, Slasher, and equipment, (snips, loppers, new tree guards and stakes, Scat (bush Rats), first aid kits, hose connectors for the mains water outlets, upright wheelbarrows, gloves, and saws). Thanks as always to the Weedies for their time, focus, tools, and effort. Non-Weedies are also welcome to donate when feeling so moved …. a chat, sharing ideas, a hot cuppa?!
Planting at She-Oak Reserve
Planting (again)
Gardening (weeding/pruning/planting) at Beyond has been done in stages, including removing/placing dead plants and filling empty spaces to minimise weeding and council weed control spraying. The below map is included here to show the Weedies planning notes.
Previous gardening focused on seven reserves and verges. Planting included provenance trees, shrubs, and groundcovers where possible.
Current gardening is focusing on weeding edges of The Ponds Reserve and planting the remaining Cittaslow tube stock trees and shrubs in Musk Duck and Firetail Reserves.
Future gardening will include work at The Ponds Reserve, The Creek and all Reserves as needed.
Bringing home tube stock from Cittaslow Community Garden for planting in Beyond verges and reserves.
Community
Friends of Beyond Inc. is now a member of Cittaslow based in Goolwa. Cittaslow is a community-based organisation with organised activities which focus on bringing people together to promoting quality of life and sustainability. Groups include the Community Garden in Skewes Rd, Food and Wine, Cittaslow Corner, Producers and Artisans Market, Environment, Public Events (e.g., Vogalonga), Education, Greening & Clean-ups, Arts Projects. Friends of Beyond members can access to these activities too. (Note: All tube stock used for planting at Beyond has come through Di Hogg and Joel Shayer’s membership and involvement with Cittaslow Environment group)
