The Wednesday Group

from Wednesday Group coordinator Alda Rudzis.

It’s a crisp, sunny Wednesday morning, and a small group of volunteers are
happily greeting each other at the SAGE Garden on Queen St in Moruya,
against a backdrop of gentle bird song and the distant chatter of fruit bats.
Over the next few hours, these volunteers will plant, weed and harvest the
fresh produce they have been carefully tending in the garden’s raised beds.
The produce is then washed, sorted and packed into boxes, ready to deliver
to local groups including the Moruya Woman’s Refuge, the local Youth
Refuge and the South Coast Community Kitchen.
Groups receive about 25 kilos of produce each week, providing nutritious food
for vulnerable families and residents who are feeling the impact of rising cost
of living. In summer, each produce box might contain tomatoes, cucumbers,
beans, zucchini and potatoes, while the winter boxes might contain lettuce,
pumpkins, rhubarb, silverbeet and citrus fruits. Some produce is also kept to
be used at the SAGE Garden’s popular Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice
community events.
The morning’s work ends with coffee at a local cafe, where talk usually
revolves around all things gardening and food. Recipes are often shared, with
a focus on in-season produce.
For the group’s members, this chance to meet and share with like-minded
people makes their volunteer experience all the more rewarding.
“I had such a warm welcome from the Wednesday group when I first arrived in
Moruya,” says volunteer Sue. “It’s great to be in this network of fellow
gardeners. No matter what level of veggie-growing skills you have, everyone
can find a job to do. And it’s truly gratifying to know that our harvest positively
impacts members of our community who need a little extra help”.
Bronwyn was also new to the area when she joined the volunteer group four
years ago.
“I have found SAGE to be so much more than a garden,” she says. “It’s a
community and an attitude to life that’s so wonderful to be part of.”
SAGE’s Wednesday group welcomes new volunteers who are looking to spend
a few hours in the fresh air with friendly locals, while helping improve food
security in the community.

For more information, contact Wednesday Group
coordinator Alda Rudzis