1. Good Practice in Community Gardens
Hello
Like to thank the MAV for the opportunity to talk to you today.
My name is Richard Rowe and today I am going to be talking about Community Gardens and what are some of the secrets to make them sustaining
A little about myself.
A long backstory in corporate life in commercial and accounting roles
Now I have multiple strings to my bow.
I teach environmental sustainability (food, energy, water, waste, biodiversity) to school kids (prep to year 9) at Edendale in Eltham
I am a founding committee member of Local Food Connect – Not for Profit community orgs focusing on connecting people and local food in NE Melbourne
I consult to Local Councils on environmental sustainability (food) and run community engagement workshops
I am the Learning and Training Co-ordinator for SGA where I organise training for public and council and I also deliver some of SGA’s training packages
Richard Rowe
Learning and Training Coordinator

2. Sustainable Gardening Australia
Vision
A healthy biodiverse planet and vibrant sustainable community
Mission
To inspire, empower and connect individuals, communities and organisations to garden sustainably, seeking to:
Protect and enhance the natural environment
Encourage local healthy food production
Inspire community connectedness
Sustainable Gardening Australia
SGA is a not–for–profit organisation the promotes sustainability through gardening
SGA’s audience:
15,000+ contacts interested in gardening sustainably
Home gardeners
Community and neighbourhood gardening groups
Councils and gardening professionals
Started about 15 years ago
A couple of us from SGA will be outside during the breaks if you would like to talk to us.

3. What does SGA do? Sustainable Gardening workshops direct to gardeners
Sustainable Gardening workshops for local councils / residents
“CUTTINGS” - a monthly sustainable gardening newsletter
Website -
Facebook page - SustainableGardeningAustralia
Green Gardening Professionals (GGP) Industry program
SGA Garden Product Guide – Safe for You ‘n’ Nature

4. Community Lets look at what a community garden is.
At it simplest form and its most complex form - it is community
Get this part right – You have more chance of having a successful / resilient / sustaining Community Garden
Get this part wrong – Struggle street

5. Garden
And it needs a space to develop a garden

6. Purpose

7. Community + Garden + Purpose =
We bring these two things together and something magical occurs.
Eggs - use this as a metaphor
Lets look at this egg as if it is a community garden.
The shell is the visual representation of the egg (garden for Community Garden)
It expresses the brand or the achievements of the chicken
It is a contradiction, It can be strong and resilient (arch – strong) but it can be a fragile thing (a force from the wrong direction, a crack)
Beneath the shell is the real beauty, magic and and purpose of the egg. Life.
The garden, while a very important element (and is the obvious / visual indicator of a community garden and how successful it is), it is actually just a vehicle in a community garden. To be a successful, resilient, sustainable the Community needs to be the driver.
In reality the success of a Community Garden hinges on the strength of the Community.
From a planning / project perspective, it would be nice if all community gardens were the same. That there is one recipe for success. A simple how-to manual. But that is not possible.
Community Gardens come in all shapes, sizes, colors. Refer to eggs again
There is no one model for a community garden
They are all unique

8. Good Practice People Elements Community People
Shared culture & purpose
Garden Elements
Operating model
Location
Design & infrastructure
Admin Elements
Funding
Governance
Day to day operations
Engagement / communication
Good Practice
While there is no one recipe for a successful community garden, we are able to identify elements and processes that will help in the development of a successful community garden.
First things first. Its all about the community.

9. Where does local government fit?
Supporters / Partners
Members / Gardeners
Champions / Committee
Where does local government fit?
If a community garden has to be for and from the community, what is the role of local government?
Champions / Committee
Spearhead the development
Core group – 6 to 20 people
Committee
Members / Gardeners
Contribute and use the garden
Share the physical work and harvest
Supporters / partners
Local council
Landlord
Admin
Grants
Resources
Project management
Community Groups
Local Businesses – Hardware shops / Nurseries / Community Bank

10. Good Practice Local Government
Be a proactive / supportive partner
Alignment with council strategies and deliver on objectives
Access to land and resources
Funding - community grants
Involved in consultation process
Clear communication point / liaison officer
Clear roles & responsibilities
Promotion
Build committee capacity
Provide admin. support
Don’t over burden
Good Practice
Local Government
Delivering on Council Objectives
Sustainability
Community resilience / cohesian
Food Security
Active Aging
Use of council assets
Neighbourhood Security

11. Thank You

12. Backup