Manning River Times, New South Wales, Australia Community gardens win prize in Australia
State winners Wednesday, 5 January 2005 [Poster's note: Now here's a fair dinkum role model for North Americans. Note sustainable techniques and native plants). SPOTTED Gums Community Garden, Bushland Drive, Taree has been named the State winner in the Community Garden non-produce category of the 2004 NSW Department of Housing's Green Thumb gardening competition. The award was presented by the parliamentary secretary for housing, Tony Stewart, at an awards ceremony at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Those involved with the garden gathered with representatives of the Department of Housing to celebrate with a picnic lunch. This is the second time Spotted Gums has won a State award in the department's Green Thumb gardening competition. The theme of this year's competition was sustainable gardening practices and judges rewarded entrants for demonstrating good water saving techniques, including under-mulch hose systems, use of native plants, and recycling of rain and shower water for the garden. The Department of Housing's deputy director-general, Mike Allen, said that all State and divisional winners should be congratulated on their magnificent gardens, especially given the dry conditions experienced across the State. "The department is very impressed by the number of people who take pride in their outdoor environments, and the way communities have come together during the competition to work on their gardens," Mr Allen said. The Tenant Garden Group in Taree meets regularly to maintain the garden, and is proud of their State award. Spotted Gums was started a bit before 2002 - prior to that it was a cattle holding yard and later a place to dump cars. "This garden has provided a wonderful outdoor space for residents to learn gardening techniques, and grow plant life in their own environment," Mr Allen said. Judging panels comprised of Department of Housing staff, senior horticulturists from the Botanic Gardens Trust and independent judges with horticultural expertise. Judges were impressed by the quality of gardens they viewed, and the enthusiasm shown by entrants. The Green Thumb gardening competition has grown out of the success of the Community Greening program, a joint initiative between the NSW Department of Housing and the Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, helping to develop gardens in public housing areas and other communities across NSW. Since the program's launch, around 70 community gardens have been set up around NSW. The program aims to unite communities through the common goal of gardening and has helped to green and renew urban areas of previously under utilised land. It teaches young and old about environmentally friendly gardening practices, the value of the natural environment and also about different cultures through plants and food. Community gardens can also provide a good source of nutritious and fresh food and participants enjoy a great form of exercise. ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
