Seymour Community Garden volunteer Beryl Martin, centre, worked alongside Robert Hansen, Michael Ryan, back, Gary Straughen and Brian Weaire to prepare the garden for the opening on Saturday. ​

A DAY of live music, food and children’s entertainment is not to be missed as the Seymour Community Garden officially opens on Saturday.

The event will begin at 9.30am, at 8-10 Victoria Street, with a jam-packed schedule of events for everyone.

There will be demonstrations on chicken care, Bonsai, kiln-blown glass and mosaics, worm farming and composting, fruit fly management, a silent auction, plant sale,
thrift shop bargains and door prizes.

For the children, there will be face painting, jumping castles and pony rides.
Seymour Community Garden volunteer Beryl Martin said the garden opening would recognise the hard work and long process involved in its creation.

“The property was over-grown. Underneath all the grass and weeds were rusted bed frames and iron structures, broken glass and decayed garden beds. It was about a year before we could invite the public in to see the progress,” she said.

“The majority of the structures are from repurposed materials and we are very lucky to have guys on board who love building and renovating.

“We are all a part of this adventure, we bounce off each other with ideas and suggestions and best of all, thoroughly enjoy the company and fun we have together.”

Ms Martin said the garden would contribute to the community in many ways.

“From my own recent personal experience having just moved into Seymour, this has given me a sense of belonging to the community,” she said.

“I think it’s a really good place for people to come. Regardless of your religion or race, you’re welcome, everybody can come here and share.

“We’re self-sufficient as far as water goes. We have four huge tanks of water and each tank holds 22,000 litres each.

“Even with the hot summer last year, we didn’t need to use any mains water.”

Ms Martin said the garden was an initiative of the Salvation Army.

“The public can come in and say ‘I don’t have a huge garden,’ and plant the veggies they want to grow in their garden here,” she said.

“We are growing vegetables to support the Salvation Army kitchen. They do a community meal every Friday, a two-course meal for $4.”

Ms Martin said she hoped the community would attend to support the concept.

The event will finish at 4pm, with tea, coffee, scones, cakes, popcorn, fairy floss, hot foods and cold drinks available for purchase throughout the day.

For more information, visit the Seymour Community Garden Facebook page.