IT might have started 10 years ago, and seen plenty of changes since, but the Portland Community Garden has big plans for the future.

The garden recently took possession of a new front end loader, bought with help from the donation the organisation received following the winding up of Portland WorkSkills late last year.

Garden president Wayne Barrett said the organisation previously bought a similar machine in 2016 and the Handymax replacement would build on that.

“Since we got the original loader the whole program down here now is based on what we can do with it,” he said.

“We’d hate to be without a piece of machinery like that.”

The old loader will remain for the time being, probably being sold eventually, and the new one was being fitted out with the help of Keppel Prince Engineering.

Mr Barrett said the Community Garden was extending itself – going from the original concept of such ventures to becoming an “urban farm” with 60 plots for the community to use.

It has developed relationships with the educational sector, including with South West TAFE, whose horticultural students are now volunteering at the Henty St site.

As part of the urban farm, a 4000 square metre area was being developed where volunteers grow produce to sell to help with the costs of running the garden – produce not sold would be shared with volunteers and Portland Community Mealshare.

“The Portland Community Garden will be constructing up to 100 large timber pallet box garden beds for food production with some of them in poly tunnels (for which funding is being sought) to extend the growing program,” Mr Barrett said.

That work would be done by volunteers and students from the Portland Bay School next door and Portland Secondary College Re-engagement Program.

“We believe this is a unique experience for community members to share an active hands on learning experience,” Mr Barrett said.

The Bay School and Portland Primary School nearby also contribute to the garden’s function – rain water from the schools is collected from there and the garden’s own building, returned to the ground and taken up again through the underground aquifer, saving the need to use water from the town supply.

“This whole of community approach we believe teaches people to respect each other and also the environment,” Mr Barrett said.

Other projects underway included developing a coffee grind pickup from local businesses – run in collaboration with the Bay School, the grinds would be composted on site.

The projects all went to the heart of the garden’s reason for being.

“The (garden) is being constructed to create an opportunity for the whole community to participate as volunteers and to promote access to healthy, safe and affordable food and at the same time promoting an active lifestyle while protecting the environment in a connected and resilient community,” Mr Barrett said.

“Sponsorships are very important and (the garden) has many companies and contractors and individuals who sponsor the community project financially and-or in kind.

“We live in an amazing community.”