Growing Gardens Project Perth City Farm 

Objective

Growing gardens is designed to educate and motivate individuals and small businesses to produce their own food, locally.

Major success Building a first of its kind vertical garden system which can run using an aeroponics or aquaponics system in Perth.

Major challenge The materials used to construct the wicking and intensive grow beds were all recycled timber. Sourcing the timber and the work required to make it fit-for-purpose was more time intensive than originally anticipated.

Environment Grant Case Study Perth City Farm received a $10,000 grant from the City of Perth in 2012/13 to build a series of garden beds and a vertical garden as a demonstration of what can be grown in small spaces and balconies.

 

 

 

Why the project is important

Vertical edible gardens have a number of positive benefits which include producing a local food source, reducing the fuel necessary for transportation and reducing waste as produce is only harvested when necessary. Vertical gardens also provide a habitat for insects, they can reduce the heat island effect and have the potential to reduce the thermal load of buildings.

The Environment Grants and Sponsorship Program coordinates and help fund environment proposals of individuals, groups, businesses or organisations that are aligned with the City’s environment priorities.

For more information on the Program please visit the City of Perth website www.perth.wa.gov.au/environment

What was done

A series of gardens have been built at the entrance to Perth City Farm which showcase how gardens can be viable in small spaces and balconies.

The space includes:

High yield raised garden beds designed to provide necessary vegetables for one person/year;

Potted wicking beds;

Vertical green wall;

Aquaponics and aeroponics systems;

A below ground fish pond and a worm farm that provides nutrients to the vertical garden;

Small residential sized chicken coop; and

A paved and covered area that will host a learning centre.

Partnerships

In addition to the City of Perth funding a number of other partnerships were involved with building these gardens. Vertiwest donated materials for the vertical gardens and completed the design work. Steve Wood donated all the seedlings. Suburban Farmer donated the chicken coop. Students from the University of Western Australia have been documenting the inputs and plant vitality. The Construction Training Group students used the paved areas to learn paving and concreting skills.

Lessons Learnt

Given that the project was about growing food in small spaces, it would have been beneficial to have a reference group. The project could have been more targeted to the needs of the community and the range of growing environments in the city, such as townhouses, apartments and other small spaces.

Key Achievements

14 gardens were built utilising 150 volunteer hours;

1,000 seedlings from 20 species were planted;

4kg/week of harvestable produce from the gardens; and

20% mortality rate of the plants. This is better than expected for a un-trialled system in Perth.

For further information on the project contact admin@perthcityfarm.org.au or 9325 7229.