Thirteen community garden projects will receive funds through the latest round of the State Government's Community Gardens Grants Program.
Grants distributed through the program support the establishment of sustainable and edible community gardens in Western Australia to enable people to participate more actively in community life.
The Community Gardens Grants Program, facilitated by the Department of Communities, provides grants of up to $10,000 per project for everything from planning and design to training, plants, seedlings and fertiliser.
The funding can also be used to upgrade or improve existing community gardens.
The program has an emphasis on inclusiveness, accessibility and community participation by individuals and organisations.
Grant applications are open to incorporated not-for-profit community organisations, local government authorities and community groups across Western Australia.
The 2020-21 successful recipients include:
- Good Sammy Enterprises for the development of a community and sensory garden;
- Fremantle Women's Health Centre to hold 10 garden-related workshops that combine horticultural pursuits with mental wellbeing activities;
- Warburton Local Drug Action Group for planning and design work and to develop a community-led garden project;
- Mandurah Community Gardens to resurface and level pathways throughout their existing garden to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and people with balance issues;
- Darlington Sports and Recreation Association to complete Stage 1 of a new garden including fruit trees, native plants, reticulation and seating; and
- Baysie Community Garden to expand their existing garden with paving, seating and new garden beds.
As stated by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"Community gardening is more than just planting and maintaining a garden - it brings community members together to engage collaboratively for a common purpose.
"In creating opportunities for people to come together and develop a greater understanding among community members, these gardens typically see many more things grow than what was planted in them.
"By getting involved in local community garden projects, people can build their community connections, develop new skills and share the benefits of growing edible produce.
"A number of the projects receiving funding this year use community gardens as an avenue to boost people's mental health, help with prevention of drug use and improve disability access and training."
