About community gardens

An evaluation by Russ Grayson + Fiona Campbell - April 2000

< introduction < relevance < impact < efficiency < effectiveness < progress
< sustainability < recommendations < conclusions < full document for printing

CONCLUSION

Community food gardens in Sydney are:

• on the whole, relevant to participant needs
• have had a modest but increasing impact on the urban landscape and local/ state government thinking
• utilise resources efficiently
• with a few exceptions, could improve their food productivity
• have variable effectiveness as food production systems but are effective as social venues
• are making progress in becoming an established landuse
• successful as community environmental educational sites, particularly in waste reduction programs
• are, on the whole, sustainable because of their low demand on funding and resources.

Challenges

The biggest challenges community gardens face include:

• security of tenure
• obtaining start-up funding and funding for public liability insurance (insurance may be covered in some cases)
• obtaining, training attracting new gardeners
• maintaining cordial relations with landholders and neighbours.

Community gardening, less than 20 years young in Sydney, has shown itself to have potential as an effective tool for civil society... as places where people come together, grow fresh food, improve local environments and contribute to humane, liveable cities.

PAGE UPDATED... Monday, 14 January 2002