Twelve local projects have received a share of $100,000 in funding today to connect with their local communities through the Community Garden Grants Program.
Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management, Rebecca Vassarotti, said people who grow their own food are happier, healthier, and more knowledgeable about issues like food waste and the climate impacts of food production.
"The ACT Government has supported 87 projects through the Community Garden Grants Program since 2015. This program has provided Canberrans the opportunity to learn, share and connect at their local community garden," Minister Vassarotti said.
"This year there are two streams of funding. A total of $40,000 was available through stream 1 to improve and enhance existing gardens or build non-food related gardens, and a total of $60,000 was available through stream 2 to establish large-scale food production community gardens or for significant infrastructure to increase food production in existing gardens.
"Community gardens are a great place for the community to come together, connect and take local climate action.
"They provide easy access to fresh produce for Canberrans and increases the resilience of local food production.
"Congratulations to this year's recipients. I look forward to seeing the valuable contribution these projects will bring to our city," said Minister Vassarotti.
The recipients of Round 10 of the Community Garden Grants are:
Stream 1:
- Canberra Environment Centre: Boost capacity to produce food in their community garden and increase resilience to climate change - $7,835.76
- Canberra Organic Growers Society Inc: Purchase zero emission power tools for the Charnwood Community Garden - $2,000.00
- Holy Spirit Parish, Gungahlin: Enhance the productivity and sustainability of their existing gardens - $2,641.79
- The Food Cooperative Shop: Install vertical garden infrastructure and hold composting workshops - $2,872.72
- Red Hill Primary School P&C: Plant a Bush Tucker garden and enhance existing food gardens - $4,068.65
- Church of Christ Ainslie ACT Inc: Improve seed raising capabilities, build more garden beds and create a frog bog along with native plantings - $3,922.60
- Canberra Student Housing Co-operative: Convert the Havelock Community Garden into a communal food production space - $2,239.00
- Miles Franklin Primary School P&C: Build the Gambara Garden complete with fruit trees and vegetable gardens - $8,000.00
- Scullin Community Group Inc: Plant an edible sensory hedge at the Scullin Shops - $2,832.84
Stream 2:
- Old Narrabundah Community Council: Install secure fencing around their newly renovated gardens - $18,947.00
- Canberra Muslim Community Inc: Construct the GM Multicultural Community Garden at Gungahlin Mosque - $22,000.00
- SEE Change Belconnen: Construct the demonstration verge garden network, which will construct verge gardens in 5 locations across Belconnen - $22,470.41
