Charred garden beds and contaminated soil were all that remained after a “hellfire” devastated a Victorian community garden on April 8.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and all the Oakland Community Association can do during the prime growing season is lament the loss of thousands of hours of volunteer work and years of dedication, said Sandy Robertson, co-executive director of the association.
“One crazy night probably destroyed the whole thing. Now we can’t even get in there to assess the damage,” Robertson said.
The fire destroyed a shed and thousands of dollars worth of equipment inside, as well as supplies on hand to build a pair of benches that the association plans to build in common areas so people can sit and enjoy the garden space.
The adjacent loft bed was beyond repair and even the fence was charred.
In addition to fire damage, environmental concerns have been linked to three plastic compost containers that melted in the blaze and extinguishing materials used by firefighters.
“We don’t even know how much damage it has done to the flower beds themselves … we’re going to have to do soil remediation,” Robertson said.
The Oswald Park Community Garden officially opened last April, but its construction took eight years – through thousands of hours of hauling dirt and compost to create the optimal growing soil.
To make matters worse it’s planting season. The association is even preparing to plant three fruit trees this week to kick-start an orchard on site as part of its goal to help food security in nearby areas. Robertson said the loss of 26 plots of growing space was disappointing for all, but for some the food provided was essential.
“It’s a huge hit … food in Victoria is crazy right now, prices are crazy, it’s not just a hobby, it’s food safety,” he said. “It’s frustrating to have the option of growing your own food taken away.”
While the gardens are an important part of the association’s programming, the organization also offers a variety of childcare, community dinners, a gourmet networking space and community initiatives on site.
“We don’t know how this will affect our full impact,” Robertson said.
Insurance will eventually cover at least some of the losses, but those who want to help have access to auckland life.
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