1. Community gardens and building strong communities Miriam Pepper www.unitingearthweb.org.au

2. Outline Introductions Stories from church community gardens: – What are community gardens? – Why and how are churches involved? – How are they building strong communities? – What challenges have they faced? Resources Discussion in pairs/groups www.unitingearthweb.org.au

3. Introductions 10 seconds What is your name? Are you involved in a community garden – which one? What do you hope to learn from this session? www.unitingearthweb.org.au

4. What are community gardens? www.unitingearthweb.org.au Places where people come together to garden Food growing and associated facilities Indigenous and native plants Community art Animals Socialisation, celebration, solitude, reflection

5. Turtle Lane www.unitingearthweb.org.au

6. Living Garden www.unitingearthweb.org.au

7. Cottage in the Graveyard www.unitingearthweb.org.au

8. Kingston Organic Garden www.unitingearthweb.org.au

9. Why are churches involved? Build relationships Social inclusion Stewardship of church land Creation care Respond to a request from the community Invigorate their mission Integrate worship, witness and service www.unitingearthweb.org.au

10. Hughes Street www.unitingearthweb.org.au

11. Cooma www.unitingearthweb.org.au

12. Garden of Eden www.unitingearthweb.org.au

13. Feed My People Photo: Thea Buchan www.unitingearthweb.org.au

14. South Sydney Photo: Ali Blogg www.unitingearthweb.org.au

15. How are churches involved? Four models: “Church land, church run” “Church land, others run” “Church in partnership” “Existing garden” www.unitingearthweb.org.au

16. Miranda Photo: UnitingCreative www.unitingearthweb.org.au

17. O’Connor Photo: Noel Haberecht www.unitingearthweb.org.au

18. Adamstown www.unitingearthweb.org.au Graphic: Tom Toogood

19. How are churches building strong communities? Enhanced relationships and networks Social inclusion Environmental benefits Physical and mental health benefits Reduced costs for managing open space Reduced crime and vandalism www.unitingearthweb.org.au

20. How are churches building strong communities? “The main theme appears to be the connection of the people involved... friendships and connections through the earth, the soil, the plants, and its fruits. There is an energy coming from it that is difficult to put into words.” Church community garden tour participant, 28/5/11 Partnerships Build community ownership Participatory learning Celebration The church itself can be transformed! www.unitingearthweb.org.au

21. Garden of Eden Photo: Judith Dalton www.unitingearthweb.org.au

22. Garden of Eden www.unitingearthweb.org.au

23. Garden of Eden www.unitingearthweb.org.au

24. Garden of Eden www.unitingearthweb.org.au

25. What challenges have churches faced? Getting the whole congregation on board Issues of who controls the space Managing conflicts among gardeners and garden groups Founder’s syndrome Longer term sustainability? www.unitingearthweb.org.au

26. Hughes Street www.unitingearthweb.org.au

27. Other gardens (Uniting Church) St Luke’s Belmont Permapatch (Chatswood South) St John’s Neutral Bay UAICC Garden (Broken Hill) New Lambton Quakers Hill Canowindra Fairy Meadow Young Mudgee Grace Community (Goulburn) Hope (Maroubra Junction) and no doubt more……. www.unitingearthweb.org.au

28. Resources Uniting Earthweb community food resources: “Growing Mission with Community Food” http://www.unitingearthweb.org.au/communi ty-food http://www.unitingearthweb.org.au/communi ty-food Church stories:http://www.unitingearthweb.org.au/st orieshttp://www.unitingearthweb.org.au/st ories Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network: http://communitygarden.org.auhttp://communitygarden.org.au www.unitingearthweb.org.au

29. Questions? www.unitingearthweb.org.au

30. Discussion www.unitingearthweb.org.au In pairs or small groups: What struck you from today’s presentation? What have you learned? What will you take away with you?

31. Thank you! Miriam Pepper www.unitingearthweb.org.au