The group held a combined members’ swap meet and family day at Anzac Park recently and president Hether MiLane said people came and went all day, with about 30 people attending overall.

“It was a little Christmas get-together,” Ms MiLane said.

Numbers could have been better, but “it’s a hard time of year to get everyone together at once”, she said.

But, a year after the group’s formation, Ms MiLane said she was very pleased with how the group’s numbers were faring.

“I think we’re up to 83 or 84 now – it’s very encouraging,” she said.

The group was hoping to establish its own land for a base for the group  “soon”.

“It should be in Victoria Park but no boundaries or lease has been signed yet,” Ms MiLane said.

She said members of their group had done a recent “study tour” to look at how other organic gardening groups had organised their facilities.

They had gone to two sites at Bellingen – one at Northbank and one at the high school – and also a site each at Coffs Harbour and Armidale.

“They all had different ways of running – some are fenced, some not,” Ms MiLane said.

She said Tamworth Community Organic Group was hoping to utilise approximately 4047 square metres and possibly up to 2.02 hectares, probably by the new year.

She said their site would probably be fenced to keep out wallabies and the like.

“Russell Webb’s (Tamworth Regional Council deputy mayor) keen for it to happen and he’s been helping us,” Ms MiLane said.