About the Queenstown Community Gardens

The Queenstown Community Gardens are located just off Gorge Road, 5 minutes drive from the heart of central Queenstown.
Anyone is welcome at the gardens, you just need to become a member and you can have your own plot to garden in.

Gardens Leadership Group

Although there's an annual general meeting every year which all garden members are invited to attend (normally held late September), the leadership group meets quarterly to plan for new developments and make decisions and set policies on behalf of all gardeners that affect the day-to-day running of the gardens.

If you want something new or better to happen at the gardens, approach a leadership group member with your ideas. All members are welcome to attend the leadership meetings.

President - Paula Squire-Thomas

Secretary - Phil Cooper 

Treasurer - Megan Palmer

Leadership Group - Current office holders,  Wayne Christensen, Dave Reid, Neal McAloon, Bruce Thurlow, Dave Tait, Eleanor Pierce, Michael Eatson

IT - Rob Clarkson 

Maintenance - Dave Reid and Neville Mulholland 

How to become a gardens member

Please send an email to email harvestgardensqt@gmail.com. Someone from the Gardens committee will be in contact with you.

Gardens general information

We don't have many rules but this is a brief outline of the ones we do have (we also have other rules that relate to the organization of the group):
  • All plots must be actively gardened  during the gardening season (Sept to May). If they are not, you will be contacted and have three weeks to get gardening. Actively garden means working to state of being productive and tidy. If it appears that crops are going to waste you will be contacted and have a week to harvest it otherwise it will be harvested and donated to local community groups. 
  • Please park outside the fenced garden area but if you do need to bring a vehicle in to drop off heavy items, please ensure that you close and securely latch the gate immediately upon entry.  We have had issues with rabbits and possums in the past so closing the gate is really important. 
  • You will be asked to take part in working bees and maintain an area of the fence.  
  • We run on organic principles, therefore no sprays or non-biodegradable fertilisers. When you cease gardening, your plot must be cleared and all inorganic material removed off site (ie any structures must be removed and the land left level when you vacate). No structures over 150 cm tall. 
  • Please  maintain a metre wide strip between your plot and your neighbours' where possible to allow easy access for a wheelbarrow.  

If you borrow anyone's tools, wheel barrow or hoses etc please remember to return it to where you got it. There are some tools in the shed for communal use hanging up behind the door.

Items on the shelves facing the gardens are also for communal use.  Items on the shelves closest to the road are for private use, if you are putting stuff there please label with your name and try to keep it neat.

You also need to read and agree to abide by our garden rules and our risk management document which are kept in the green holder in the shed.
Annual membership is a donation of $20 upwards plus a bond of $50.  Your membership donation is tax deductible.  Donations and fundraising activities cover our maintenance and insurance but there are several new projects in the pipeline that will require additional funds.
A membership form needs to be completed for each person who will actively garden on the plot and sign that you agree to our gardens rules as well as our risk management document which is kept in the shed in a green folder. 

Please fill in our membership form to apply for a plot in the gardens.
You will be contacted to arrange a tour around the gardens and when you have been allocated a plot, your membership donation can be made to the Harvest Gardens SBS account.
If you require a receipt, please send an email requesting one. Your receipt will be available for collection from the shed at our Gorge Rd site. 
Please make separate payments for the membership donation and bond.
 

Feel free to email us with any other questions: harvestgardensqt@gmail.com