Perth Voice Interactive

INGLEWOOD ON BEAUFORT is continuing its funky makeover of the suburb by installing a pop-up garden.

Hot off the back of running the inaugural Inglewood night markets, community group IOB is now turning its attentions to a community garden in the area.

It will start with a more humble pop-up garden—basically a shipping crate filled with herbs and a lemon or olive tree—on the corner of Tenth Avenue and Beaufort Street.

“The crate will packed with basil, chives, parsley, oregano, mint, sage, thyme and Rosemary,” says IOB member Alex Frankcombe.

“Locals will be responsible for looking after it and watering it.

“We are looking for some folk to come down on Saturday and help us plant.”

Mr Frankcombe hopes the pop-up garden stimulates interest in a full-blown community garden.

IOB is currently looking at sites beside Inglewood Library, and on Normanby Road and near Macauley Park on Hamer Parade.

It has applied for $30,000 in funding with Stirling city council and the WA communities department.

“We started looking at sites last year, but the search was derailed when we found out we couldn’t put a garden on land belonging to a council sport organisation,” Mr Frankcombe says.

“So now we are having another look around and trying to get locals enthused about the idea again.”

A North Perth community garden established in 2013 has been a rip-roaring success: it has around 55 families as members and includes a worm farm, frog pond, water-harvesting tank, reticulation and fruit and vegetables.

Members can lease their own 3.5sqm plot or share a bigger plot with others.

Mr Frankcombe hopes to open the Inglewood community garden next spring.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK