Maribyrnong Edible Garden

Membership
Guide.

A handbook for members covering rules, plot care, tools, and the people who keep our community garden growing.

Edition

October 2025

Membership year

1 July — 30 June

Contact

megcommittee@gmail.com

Address

98 Hortense St, Maribyrnong VIC 3032

Maribyrnong Edible Garden Membership Guide · Oct 2025

01

Membership

1.1

Membership priority is given to residents of the City of Maribyrnong. Non-residents living in the immediate vicinity of the garden may be granted membership subject to availability and providing that non-residents do not exceed ten percent of members.

1.2

Membership is for the financial year beginning on 1 July and ending on 30 June.

1.3

Members must pay all required fees — membership fees, plot fees, and any other applicable fees.

1.4

Membership may be terminated:

If a member does not pay requested fees within one month.
If a member does not act in accordance with the rules or constitution of MEG.

02

General rules

2.1

Members shall:

Pay all fees within one month of being requested.
Abide by the constitution and rules of Maribyrnong Edible Garden.
Treat other members with courtesy, respect, and kindness.
Follow all safety procedures and safety directions provided by the committee.
Notify the Committee in writing of any change to residential address, phone, or email address, within 14 days of the change occurring. See Appendix C for the Committee contact information.
Contribute to the operation of MEG through participation at the required number of working bees or through alternative tasks assigned by the Committee.
Ensure that dogs are on leash while in the garden.
Refrain from smoking in the garden.
Leave all motorised vehicles, mobility aids excepted, outside the garden, unless being used for unloading.
Close and lock the gates and sheds before leaving the garden.
Consider other members when using shared areas and taking produce. Take only your fair share from the orchard, herb garden, etc.
Leave the sheds, kitchen, oven, and toilet areas clean and tidy after use.
Not borrow or take away MEG property, including soil, plants, tools, machinery or equipment, without the permission of the Committee.
Not sell any produce derived from MEG.
Help set up and clean up after communal morning tea and BBQs.

2.2 — Cobb oven

The cobb oven is for use only on working bee days or at other events organised by the Committee. Members are asked to be careful around the cobb oven and to keep the space free of rubbish and flammable material.

Maribyrnong Edible Garden Membership Guide · Oct 2025

03

Plot rules

3.1

Each member is allowed a maximum of one plot.

3.2

Members without a plot may request a plot. Requests must be made in writing to the Committee. If no vacant plots are available, the member will be put on a plot waitlist. Members on the waitlist will be granted a plot based on availability, with priority given to the member who has participated at the most working bees. If more than one member has participated at the same number of working bees, the member who has been on the waitlist the longest will be first to receive a plot.

3.3

Members shall:

Keep their plot in a safe condition. If repairs are needed, contact the Committee.
Keep walkways clear. A minimum of one wheelbarrow's width is required between plots. Storage space is available in the tool shed for personal equipment.
Keep the area around their plot free of weeds and rubbish.
Make sure that any trellis, netting etc. is safe, does not interfere with other members' enjoyment of the garden, and does not damage the wicking bed system.
Remove all noxious and invasive weeds (e.g. chick weed, thistles, dandelions, dock) and invasive, weedy, or diseased plants from their plot and put them into the MEG green bins.
Garden sustainably and follow organic gardening principles.
Use only organic pesticides or weedicides (do not use rat baits, toxic snail baits, Round Up / Zero).
Conserve water by using the wicking bed system and water-wise gardening practices, and comply with any water restrictions. See Appendix A for more information on wicking beds.
Notify the Committee in writing if their plot will be untended for more than two consecutive months.
Notify the Committee in writing if they wish to relinquish their plot, and return their plot to its original condition (weed free, healthy soil, all structures removed) prior to relinquishing it. Relinquished plots are given to members in accordance with section 3.2; the relinquishing member cannot assign their plot to someone else.

04

Tool rules

4.1

The tools, machinery, and equipment in the shed and container are for all MEG members. Members shall:

Not remove any tools, machinery, or equipment from the vicinity of the garden.
Return all tools, machinery, and equipment to its assigned storage spot in the shed or container after use.
Clean all tools, machinery, and equipment after use.
Report any damaged, worn, or unsafe tools, machinery, and equipment to the Committee in writing.
Coil and store hoses safely after use.

Maribyrnong Edible Garden Membership Guide · Oct 2025

A

Wicking beds

Wicking beds are a water-saving garden system with a built-in reservoir beneath the soil surface. They work on the principle of capillary action, where water wicks up from the reservoir to the soil, providing consistent moisture to plants.

To use a wicking bed effectively:

Plant your seeds or seedlings, then water the bed from the top until the plants are established.
Once established, fill the reservoir through the fill pipe until water exits the overflow pipe.
Regularly check the water level in the reservoir, especially during warmer months, to ensure your plants have adequate moisture.
Top up the water as needed, usually a few times a month in summer, by filling the reservoir through the fill pipe.
Avoid surface watering to encourage the plants to draw water from below, which promotes deeper root growth and more resilient plants.

Wicking beds save water and time, making them ideal for reducing our water bill and increasing the productivity of the garden.

For more information on wicking beds, see this video from My Smart Garden.

Maribyrnong Edible Garden Membership Guide · Oct 2025

B

Composting

Composting is a natural process that transforms organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. By combining green waste, like vegetable peelings and lawn clippings, with brown waste such as shredded paper and woody stems, we can create a balanced compost mix. This process not only reduces landfill waste but also enriches the soil, improving its structure and fertility.

At MEG, we have a holding area plus four-bin compost system which allows for continuous composting and easier management of organic waste.

The holding area is for adding fresh organic waste so it can be mulched.
The first bin is for the waste from the holding area once it's been mulched.
The second bin is for allowing the waste from the first bin to mature.
The third bin is for allowing the waste from the second bin to mature.
The fourth bin is for the finished compost.
The process takes about six weeks.

To use the compost system:

Green waste (like vegetable scraps) and brown waste (like shredded paper) are added to the holding area.
When the holding area is almost full, mulch the waste and put it in the first bin.
When the first bin is full, transfer its contents to the second bin and start adding new mulched waste to the first bin again.
Each time the first bin is full, continue the process of transferring the contents from each bin into the next bin.
The finished compost in the fourth bin can be used in the garden.
Ensure proper moisture levels by keeping the compost as damp as a wrung-out sponge, and balance the green and brown waste to avoid odours and pests.

For more information on composting, see this video from My Smart Garden.

Maribyrnong Edible Garden Membership Guide · Oct 2025

C

Committee & contact

Committee members for the 2024–2025 year:

David Toms

Kerry Taylor

Megan Donne

Julie McQueen

Nick Cowling

Trish Sibly

Email

megcommittee@gmail.com (preferred)

Mail

98 Hortense Street, Maribyrnong VIC 3032

MembershipGuide.

Membership

General rules

Plot rules

Tool rules

Wicking beds

Composting

Committee & contact

Membership
Guide.