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'Gardens for Life' Community Award Program
Studies into human behaviour reveal that by gaining public recognition for their actions, an individual feels more committed to continuing those activities. In addition once a behaviour becomes socially acceptable, others will also adopt that behaviour as being the norm.
Home gardening is often an isolating task with little social recognition and it can be difficult for home gardeners to feel confident about their own sustainable gardening efforts. It is particularily important that these gardeners are recognised and encouraged for their endeavours, and their activities promoted to the wider community.
SGA has developed the 'Gardens for Life' award program for home gardeners who are making positive contributions to sustainability in their gardens. To qualify for a 'Gardens for Life' award, home owners must complete a self assessment tool kit that can be downloaded free from the SGA website. This audit covers all elements of sustainable gardening and particularly requires the home owner to:
Practice good soil management techniques - organic soil improvement; minimising artificial fertiliser and chemical use; composting and recycling organic waste, mulching
Apply water efficiently utilising rainwater capture, recycling and appropriate irrigation
Make appropriate plant selection for Australian gardens and climate
Eliminate or responsibly manage potentially invasive plants
Incorporate sustainable garden design elements eg porous surfaces, raingardens, produce gardens, habitat gardens, wildlife corridors etc
Choose garden imputs that are renewable or recycled and sourced locally where possible
Once the criteria of the sustainable garden audit have been met, home owners can contact SGA to have an independent garden assessor attend their property to confirm their eligibility for the award. The assessor will notify SGA if the garden qualifies to be awarded a 'Gardens for Life' plaque acknowledging their contribution to sustainability.
'Gardens for Life' plaques are 210mm x 150mm x 1mm aluminium with an adhesive digital print & logos.
This award plaque is open to all home gardeners who practice sustainability in their gardens. And for those home gardeners in the conversion phase and particularly those who have attended the 'Ground-up Gardening' workshop series, the award can be held up as a goal for aspiring sustainable gardeners.
SGA offers local governments the opportunity to be active participants in this award program and to have their logo on 'Gardens for Life' plaques in support of this venture.
For a copy of SGA's Local Government Resource Kit to find out what training opportunities and community resources are available in 2008 contact:
Elaine Shallue
National Project Co-ordinator
Tel: (03) 9850 8165
Fax: (03) 9852 1097
Email: elaine@sgaonline.org.au
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