Benefits of Community Gardening “Community Gardens are places where people come together to grow fresh food, to learn, relax and make new friends” Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network Grow own clean fresh food
Nutrition benefits of organic food
Exercise-gardening can be physical
Mental health- gardening can be meditative and relaxing Make new friends
Create sense of community and belonging
Inclusivity- age, ability, culture
Talk/ share stories and knowledge/ bond
Stimulation
Common purpose and interests
Gathering
Creative problem solving Learning and skill sharing
Organic gardening solutions
Permaculture principles
Environmental, water wise techniques and recycling demonstrations
Art workshops
BHPS curriculum involvement Revegetating cleared land
Biodiversity
Creating green space
Using “under-utilised” land
Encouraging passive and active recreation
Increasing value of space by encouraging use
Improving organisational practice with local and state government organisations
Encouraging co-operation and communication between government and citizens
Community Gardens can demonstrate local government policy, such as Agenda 21 and community development
What is Permaculture? The word Permaculture is derived from the words permanent agriculture. It is a design system for creating sustainable environments and therefore sustainable lifestyles. It means creating your own resources and dealing with your own waste. Providing food, shelter, material and non-material needs as well as the social and economic infrastructures that support them. The ethics of Permaculture are;
Care of the Earth- includes all living and non-living things such as animals, plants, land, water and air.
Care of People- to promote self reliance and community responsibility.
Give away the surplus-to pass on anything surplus to our needs (labour, money, information) for the above aims. Implicit to the above is the Life Ethic- all living organisms are not only the means but the ends. In addition to their instrumental value to humans and other living organisms, they have an intrinsic worth. Permaculture is an ethical system, stressing positivism and cooperation. A nice way to sum this up is to think about “making the problem, the solution” and “working with nature, not against it”. Basic Principles of Permaculture Plan for your sustainability
Create biodiversity Synergy Multiple Functions Zones and sectors Relative location Maximise edge Patterns Biological resourcing Energy cycling Natural succession Intensive systems Reafforest the earth and restore fertility to the soil Use indigenous species where possible Bring food growing back into cities and town Work where it counts SEE SOLUTIONS, NOT PROBLEMS!
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