Barnabas House's community garden will be ready to go by spring

The project has hit a number of obstacles after originally being planned to open by Easter, but project leader Catherine Sharpe is nothing if not determined to get things growing and has assembled a crack team to build the garden.

It's turning out to be quite the group effort with help coming from Bunnings, Murrumbidgee Regional High School and community volunteers, as well as residents from Barnabas House itself.

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Bunnings has pledged to donate seedlings and plants once the garden is ready, and year 12 students from MRHS have been commissioned to build the fence surrounding it. Ms Sharpe is keen for more community members to assist though.

"I'd love for more people to get on board with it, or donate some soft-fill maybe ... this is the first step to turning it into something amazing."

Her goal is to build the garden into a 'focus point to build relationships' as well as an opportunity for residents to grow food and knowledge. Of course, the garden will be available for any to use, not just Barnabas residents.

Ms Sharpe said that they're currently sitting on 12 raised beds for fruits and vegetables, but are hoping to double that soon. For now, the team has been clearing ground and preparing for the installation.

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One of the younger workers on the team, Ms Sharpe's eleven-year-old daughter Sofia said that the work was "exhausting and long" but that her payment in the form of fanta, a pie and some extra pocket money made it all worth it.

Ms Sharpe commended Sofia on her work ethic though.

"She definitely earned it, I've been really impressed. She worked hard all day."

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