Cloncurry's community garden is taking on a new life of its own in the pandemic.
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The garden at North Queensland Centacare's Neighbourhood Centre in Sheaffe St was opened in 2017 to allow the public grow their own veggies with funding from Glencore
Centacare Cloncurry's community development coordinator Jo Moore said the garden had developed since then according to community need especially since the effects of COVID-19 were felt.
"In recent months with the effects of the community feeling really isolated and needing things to do, we decided to open it up 24-7 so people can come and go as they please," Ms Moore said.
"We supply them with whatever they need like plants and fertiliser and the Saleyards has donated soil and hay as well. The community has got right behind it."
Several groups are now using the facility including a new Cloncurry Garden Group.
Local resident Frances Gray said she started the group a few weeks ago with the support of the Neighbourhood Centre.
"There were garden beds going unused and I'm hoping to get people involved and working towards using council hothouses next year," Ms Gray said.
"This depends on how many people we can ' capture'. We have a few keen ones but it takes time to build."
Ms Gray said the new group was meeting every Tuesday at 10am for a cuppa while waiting for its first batch of veggies to grow.
On Sat 22 August the group is holding a Farmers Market.
"We need participants.also the community can bring their odds and bods to sell," Ms Gray said.
"It is a lovely area and under used so giving it a go. Next year I hope to get a gardening expert to come and address the community on gardening with a lunch etc."
Ms Moore said this was the whole idea of the garden.
"The community can make it what they want," she said.
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