Gold Coast Permaculture Connects With the Community

by Vanessa Fernandes

The Beginnings of an Urban Agriculture Project

In conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council sponsored Active and Healthy Programme, Gold Coast Permaculture is initiating a series of workshops designed to encourage city residents to involve themselves in growing food for their own use as well as improve the awareness of permaculture and its potential in the urban environment.

Gold Coast Permaculture (GCP) has been involved in three city-wide activities to date this year with its National Permaculture Day series of workshops, a display stall supporting the Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council Green Day Out and the Gold Coast City Council Get Active Day. One of the most important activities we are involved in is the connection we have made with a number of schools across the Gold Coast. Of particular importance to us is Tweed Heads South Primary School where GCP has been making monthly visits to show the students how they might establish a garden and dispose of its waste via a worm farm. The students here have been very receptive to the visits and it is understood from the teachers that when GCP members visit, it is the highlight of the students’ week. Reaching out to the local community is integral to Gold Coast Permaculture’s philosophy.

Recently, Gold Coast Permaculture headquarters was able to get access to a 0.4ha site at 270 Ferry Road, Southport, and with the tireless efforts of a crew of fantastic volunteers and supporters have produced a wonderfully productive demonstration garden with what is generally considered to be waste outputs from various sources. This garden is a wonderful educational example of how these materials can be integrated into the food production process. The group has also renovated many other sections of the block including the house. This method also illustrates best practice recycling opportunities that are available to each and every home and unit dweller on the Gold Coast. Vital to the project are those who have been donating their time and expertise for various tasks in the garden and working with the community. These include Lyn, Rebecca, Sylvia, Marcello, Judy, Scott, Cam, Cynthia, Vanessa, Leah, Danni and Sergiy.

Numerous projects are being planned at the site that are both permaculture-based and profitable for those participating as well as providing the community with a place to garden and learn how easy it can be to grow your own food.

Rebecca, Vanessa, Dani and Winsome doing a great job

A permablitz has also taken place recently to establish the 270 “home garden” for people who live on-site. It saw a great turnout of 27 people, happily contributing to both the garden and to the meal that took place at lunchtime. Some great tucker there!

Judy at work

The first Gold Coast Permaculture workshop “Introduction to Organic Gardening” will take place at 270 Ferry Road at 10:00 on 23 July, 2011. An almost weekly programme of permaculture and cooking related workshops will then be held including workshops on:

• an introduction to permaculture
• seed raising and saving
• sub-tropical gardening
• small space gardening and balcony boxes
• composting and worms
• raising and caring for chickens
• mushroom growing; and
• cooking and food preparation workshops and much, much more.

This is a massive undertaking by a small group of dedicated and motivated people, many of whom are already also involved in the establishment of various community gardens on the Gold Coast. Success of programs like these will help develop sustainable strategies across the city.

You can never start too young

Bookings for the workshops are essential and the cost is minimal. At $10 per head for the workshops and a maximum of 15 people per workshop, they are designed to enable all in the community to participate. For bookings, please email permaculture (at) gmail.com or call us on (07) 55393973.

We look forward to seeing you at the workshops and know you will love permaculture as much as we do!