A community garden in Seventeen Mile Rocks Garden has won a major award for its commitment to sustainability and zero-waste practices.
The City Council recently awarded the Rocks Community Garden (RCG) the WasteSMART Outstanding Award for its impressive efforts in reducing waste and promoting environmentally friendly gardening. The garden, located within Rocks Riverside Park, is run by 70 volunteers and is dedicated to organic gardening and composting all their green waste.
A Model of Sustainability
Before implementing their zero-waste policy, the garden’s green waste filled an entire skip bin every week. Now, the members maintain five worm farms, ten compost bins, and five large composting bays to recycle all their organic materials. Some members even collect food scraps and coffee grounds from a nearby cafe to prevent them from ending up in landfill.
More Than Just Gardening
The RCG is more than just a place to grow vegetables. It’s a community hub where people come together to share their love of gardening, build friendships, and support each other. Members rescue plastic buckets from a local industrial estate to use for plant cuttings, which they then give away to visitors along with free seeds to encourage others to grow their gardens.
The garden also collects many recyclable materials, including glass, paper, and plastic, and removes unwanted household items like furniture, toys, and gardening supplies.
Core Values
The RCG is committed to a set of core values that guide their work. These values include sustainability, collaboration, inclusivity, education, health and well-being, friendship, and creativity.
They believe in working together and sharing knowledge to create a thriving garden space that benefits people and the environment. The garden is a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds and abilities, and they strive to create a sense of community and belonging for all members.
Visit the Garden
The Rocks Community Garden welcomes visitors interested in learning more about sustainable gardening practices or simply wanting to enjoy their labour’s fruits. Members regularly meet at the garden on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Published Date 31-December-2024