Blue Haven Illawarra | Gardening through the ages

Kiama Community Garden this week hosted an intergenerational event where Blue Haven Community Services clients got their hands dirty gardening alongside children from Kiama Family OOSH and members of the community garden group.

Blue Haven’s Seaside Group partnered with kids from Kiama Family OOSH for morning’s work and fun in the popular community garden located at Havilah Place, Kiama.

There was a rock painting activity, followed by guided foraging for salad leaves and veggies in the Garden.

The produce made the perfect pairing for a sausage sizzle lunch, with snags kindly donated by The Butcher’s Nook, Kiama.

Local bakery Flour Water Salt also donated cookies, which the happy gardeners enjoyed after lunch.

“Our Seaside Group is very active and love to get in the garden,” said Blue Haven Manager of Community Services Marianna Parish. “It was lovely to see them interacting with the younger generation and everyone working and laughing together.”

Members of the Kiama Community Garden (KCG) were also on hand to provide help and guidance.

“We were delighted and proud to host and be part of this first (of many, hopefully) intergenerational gatherings at the KCG,” said Joe Carter from the Kiama Community Garden.

“Our garden is a wonderful green space of growth and sharing. It is open to people from our community with all sorts of interests, skills and challenges. Hosting this event fits in so well with our ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share.”

Garden members who attended the event said:

“Today was a delightful experience. It was wonderful being with the elderly attendees and their youthful counterparts as they got to know each other, worked at a craft activity together and then explored the garden together. By lunchtime, the genuine engagement between all participants was visible and there was abundant positive energy around. It was a really valuable exercise in community building.” – Kathy

“It was a great success despite the weather and fun was had by all.” – Gabriella

“It was a joy to see the way that the children and the older Blue Haven Care guests related so spontaneously and joyfully.” – Peter

“It was a really lovely morning, the positive vibe was obvious. Such a great chance to meet and get to know our elderly citizens who have so much to share. I really enjoyed seeing one particular young girl click with the lady she was paired with, it was sweet.” Ali

New partnerships have been forged and the groups are already planning their next time together in the community garden.