About the project

Transforming home gardening with free events and resources

The My Smart Garden program helps residents turn their outdoor spaces into productive, functional gardens. Whether it’s a backyard, balcony, courtyard or a couple of pots, there’s a workshop that will make a positive difference to the way you garden.

Established in 2011, the program is run across Moonee Valley, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay City Councils, and takes a holistic approach to ‘smarter’ home gardening by focusing on five areas:

• Growing delicious food on our doorsteps
• Using trees and vines to shelter homes from sun and wind
• Recycling wastes into valuable organic fertilisers
• Capturing and using water wisely
• Planting diversely to encourage beneficial insects, native birds and animals.

Practical and fun workshops include Italian preserving and heritage fruit trees, junior garden chef, plant swaps and ‘permablitz’ working bees. These are events where people donate time and plants to help create an environmentally friendly space growing fruit, herbs and vegetables. (‘Permablitz’ is a combination of the words permaculture – a design system for sustainable living and land use, and Backyard Blitz – a TV program in which backyards receive a makeover.)

The program has also helped recently arrived refugees from the Karen community to start growing food in their rental properties. 50% of households in the west are already growing food at home and the program has already proven to be a huge success.

Visit My Smart Garden or call 9932 1142 to find out about upcoming events.

Benefits

• Enhances habitat
• Encourages active lifestyle
• Sustainable food source
• Fosters community connections