Chance would have it that major works out the front of ACC were scheduled for after the Alphington Show … and just in time for coronavirus lockdown. In some ways (not that we would ever wish a pandemic on anyone anywhere) given how much of a hoo-ha they ended up being, it has been perfect timing.

Over the last couple of weeks Kalimna has captured some of the work going on in the garden with the gardening group and by the two lots of contractors (for the ramp and the pergola). She also documented the progress of our community art projects. And this week she made us a little video combining all these elements. Check it out!

So … we’re hoping that by the end of today all the main bits and bobs (including the book library) are in their permanent place. Wouldn’t that be exciting!?! And then … after the holidays we’re going to pay some attention to the front yard.

Limes from next door, tamarillos from mum, feijoas from Jenny

Every year I forgive my next door neighbour John (Giovanni) his prolific spreading and digging of blood and bone (surely one of the most unneighbourly of products on earth) when he drops off bags of mandarins and oranges that he has grown in his garden.

This time at home has been a boon for neighbourhood fruit and the sharing of such. Have you also experienced this phenomenon?

I’ve eaten feijoas from my mother-in-law and from the community basket in Yarralea Street in Alphington.

I have had lemons from up the street, limes from my other next door neighbours, tamarillos from my mum (also made into chutney by my friend Ali - and she gave us a jar).

The other day I collected a bag of crispy persimmons from the community box out the front of a house in Howitt Street in Northcote.

I even picked a fig from that tree behind the houses, near Mr Wednesday, when I was walking to work one day.

Good fruit things. Happy neighbourhood days.

Mandarins from John, persimmons from Howitt Street

This week we started to install our stories from isolation sculptures. Don’t they look gorgeous grouped together in front of our new ramp!

Haha … it looks like I’ve been doing all the work in this pic. Actually Lee has been doing most of it! Thanks for taking the photo Mish.

Cute huh? We can’t wait for these to be installed in our garden! We’re thinking our little community clusters might go in front of our new ramp.

Stories from isolation … we’re a doggy neighbourhood so we couldn’t leave the fur babies out!

I recently received a little note from local Brian, who also happens to one of my favourite ex-colleagues. We worked together in what used to be the Department of Natural Resources and Environment - along with half of the population of Alphington and Fairfield I think!

This is what he wrote …

This might be of interest to some of the good folk in the Alphington Community Centre community. It is an online Diploma of Sustainable Living that is offered by the University of Tasmania. As I understand it people can do the whole thing or just a one off unit, eg. there is one unit on backyard biodiversity which sounds really interesting I reckon.

Here’s the link to the backyard biodiversity subject, that then takes you to the broader course.

Thanks Brian!

Here’s a picture of him with his Highly Commended certificate from last year’s Alphington Show. He whittled those spoons - some from the trees in his garden - aren’t they ace!