Case Studies
Canowindra Community Garden

Design Feature

Type of project
Landowner Strategy
State
New South Wales
Location
Regional
Canowindra is low density, small regional historic township with a population of 2,258, located in the central west of New South Wales. While Community Gardens tend to be established in densely populated areas to provide residents without access to open space with the opportunity to garden, in Canowindra the Community Garden is as much about community connection as it is about gardening. The garden working bees are called ‘Conversation Gardening’ instead of ‘Community Gardening’, because in Canowindra, the social interaction is as important as the opportunity to collectively grow organic herbs and seasonal vegetables.
Conversation Gardening
The Community Garden was established in October 2011, following a land allocation from the Canowindra Uniting Church. The land was previously one half of the Church’s parking lot and is just two blocks from the centre of town. This proximity allows visitors and residents to drop by on their way to or from other events that take them into town. 
The 600-square metre community garden is run by a committee of community members and the Canowindra Uniting Church congregation, who oversee the employment of a Community Garden Coordinator and manage the funds for resources that can’t be obtained through donations. The communal garden does not have official membership and is open to all.
The garden is designed with large pathways, to encourage people to walk through the space, making it an attractive and inviting space for people of all ages and abilities, including school groups from the local preschool, primary and high schools, who regularly visit the garden. The entrance features a colourful gate, designed and built by a local high school teacher using recycled bicycles.
While some people hesitate to take produce from the garden, as they are concerned people will think they are stealing, others harvest large quantities, taking more than they need. The Community Garden exists so that everyone can participate and take a share – which means enough for a meal or two for their family. Community Gardens are a relatively new addition to the modern urban landscape and culturally, we still have a lot to learn about how to interact with these spaces.  
Project team
  • Community Garden Coordinator
  • Canowindra Uniting Church congregation
  • Canowindra Community Garden Committee

Project cost
$6,000 per annum
Health value
  • Provides the whole community with fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs which are highly nutritional and organically grown without pesticides.
  • Provides residents and visitors with the opportunity to engage in physical activity whilst gardening.
  • The Garden is also used by the local preschool as an outdoor education space to teach young children about healthy eating and where food comes from.
  • Proximity to the town centre enables residents to walk to the garden from other frequently visited amenities.

Economic value
  • Provides residents and families with access to fresh produce at no cost.
  • Provides customers from the Food Basket (a Uniting Church program offering people with a Health Care Card or on a Pension the opportunity to buy discounted groceries) with access to supplementary fresh food.
  • Serves as an attraction to visiting volunteers and groups participating in training courses, which boosts the local economy.

Environmental value
  • The Community Garden is based on organic principles, no pesticides are used in the garden.
  • Permaculture Principals are used in the design and layout of the garden, which has helped create a resilient garden that is productive throughout every season.
  • Features such as the bird bath, worm farm and insect hotels improve the biodiversity of the garden.
  • Large trees provide a shaded canopy for Garden visitors.
  • Community gardening saves on food miles as consuming the locally grown produce reduces reliance on fossil fuels used for cold storage and transportation.

Social value
  • The Garden hosts ‘Conversation Gardening’ working bees each Friday morning, providing opportunities to foster relationships and build social capital as well as informal sharing of gardening knowledge and experience.
  • The Garden provides a safe environment for people from different age groups and cultural backgrounds, including high school students participating in Duke of Edinburgh Awards, church members, people working for the dole and avid gardeners from the community, to develop relationships and build a strong sense of community.
  • Provides volunteers from urban areas with the opportunity to experience activities in regional areas. In previous years ‘The Big Lift’ and ‘The Little Lift’ student volunteering program, run by the University of Technology Sydney, visited Canowindra to assist with garden maintenance and development.
  • Outdoor seating, located underneath the shaded canopy of existing trees, provides residents with a relaxing quiet space.

Use value
  • Residents shopping at the Food Basket supermarket run by the Uniting Church are encouraged to visit the garden and take home fresh produce to supplement their groceries.
  • Provides people who are unable to commit to the responsibility of maintaining a private garden, with the opportunity to contribute to a collective gardening project.
  • There is an activity to suit everyone, from harvesting to planting and daily watering.
  • The Garden hosts a variety of workshops and talks on various gardening topics, such as the permaculture course run by the Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute.

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