Chess Market Gardens

If you've never experienced the joy

of accomplishing more than you can imagine,

plant a garden. 

quote by Robert Brault

WHERE: Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens
WHEN: Every Thursday 9am to 1pm
WHO CAN ATTEND: Only Clients of CHESS unless by arrangement

About the gardens

At the CHESS Market Gardens (previously known as the CHESS Community Gardens) participants have the opportunity to gain social, personal and horticultural skills while undertaking all aspects of maintaining a community garden including composting, propagation, weed and pest management, bonsais and light landscaping. Participants will also be involved in other horticultural activities within the Botanic Gardens to assist the Friends of the Botanic Garden as needed.

This is in every sense a ‘holistic’ activity and participants will gain skills that will assist them in all facets of their life not just in job seeking. They will be trained in the entire community garden /horticultural process and will have at their disposal a support worker that can assist them at every stage.

There is no assumption of skill level – all participants will be trained and supported to the same level. Geographically the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden is centrally located and easily accessible from the city centre or by public transport. Participants will be encouraged to extend the principals of healthy living to an active lifestyle and will be encouraged to walk or bike ride simply by the central location of the site.

Participants will gain an understanding of the value of fresh food in the diet, how to prepare it and how to establish their own home garden (in pots or on a larger scale) and pass on the benefits to their families and friends. Potentially participants will, through the development of their own vegetable garden save on food and living costs and reduce their dependency on ‘junk’ food.