It is, however, still advisable to keep an eye out for any sign of a late frost, always a possibility in Armidale, even in November!

For those new to this climate, who are still a little unsure about what to plant when, the very useful Armidale Vegetable Sowing Guide is available on the Sustainable Living Armidale website – slarmidale.org.

However, for all sorts of reasons, not everyone who wants a vegie patch is able to have one. Some people may have no space, or simply no time, others spend considerable time away from Armidale and feel their efforts would be liable to go to ruin in their absence.

For those who cannot have a garden but want to be more in touch with the earth and to be able to eat home-grown food, the answer may lie in joining up with the cheerful little band of volunteers who are working at creating the Armidale Community Garden.

Built up from nothing over the past seven years on a set of disused tennis courts, the garden has begun to take on a character of its own, a little unruly, but rather beautiful, with masses of self-sown flowers scattered at random among the vegetables, herbs and fruit trees.

Many of the “weeds” are in fact edibles such as parsnips, lettuces, rocket and strawberries. And sunflowers, lots of sunflowers.

Not everyone who visits the garden does so to work; some drop in just to wander around for a while and relax, meet up with friends, take a few photos, let the kids play in the sandpit, or visit the chooks.

The garden is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, from 1pm through until almost dark, and is located across the creek behind the New England Regional Art Museum in Kentucky St. It can be accessed on foot from NERAM, or by car from Taylor St, via the entrance for Moran playing fields. 

Read more Climate Matters:

Falling into natural art project

Raise your fork against climate change

Compost the key to boosting your garden

Planning measure not whole answer to energy efficiency