Buckets of hope

Contributed by Patricia Bradford

AT the March meeting, members  of the Peachester Garden Club decided to make a monetry donation to help flood victims, particularly gardeners. President Suella Lanceley has friends in Lismore and after seeing the complete devastation, offered her friend to bring down, among other things, a 20lt wicking bucket planted with a tomato or rose – she was delighted. The idea of making wicking buckets for other gardeners was discussed and it was posted on their local Facebook page that the Peachester Garden Club on the Sunshine Coast would like to donate in a useful way. One idea was to construct wicking buckets planted with in season vegetables, herbs or flowers. Something to bring pleasure to hard hit gardeners. There was a very positive reaction to the idea, so a discussion with our committee members agreed and planning went ahead.

So far, there has been about three working bees with over 100 wicking buckets, using 20lt, 15lt and 30cm black plastic pots constructed. We wish to thank the businesses who donated generously to our project.

Many thanks to the Coochin Creek Co-op for their generous donation of a pallet load of potting mix; Bunnings Caloundra for their cash donation; Jamie Pulman, Duratec Australia, weather proof restorations, for their donation of 20lt buckets; Rumbalara Nursery for seedlings; Ricky Makrell 20lt GOOP buckets.

We Were able to get 15lt buckets and other materials at discounted prices.

Also, thanks to members who donated materials for the construction of the buckets. Thanks to the husbands of members who helped.

A special thanks to Suella and John Lanceley for the idea and the organising the whole project.