Community gardens are incredibly beneficial for strata properties and their residents. Not only do they improve the overall health and morale of residents, but they can also help increase the value of your strata property in the long term.
Community gardens are quickly becoming popular amongst urban strata properties as they improve the air quality, reduce waste, encourage biodiversity and preserve the environment. Additionally, they are a hub of activity and community within the strata property - a community garden brings residents together to create a beautiful garden that they can all enjoy and be proud of, together.
Designing your community strata garden
The best and most practical approach to creating a community garden for the residents at your strata property is to create a plot garden. A plot garden design creates designated sections for each household, allowing them the freedom to grow whatever they’d like. It adds a personal touch. Additionally, consider including a ‘therapeutic’ garden alongside your community vegetable and herb garden. Fill it with plants designed to attract native fauna, encouraging individuals to visit the gardens frequently and ensuring it remains a hub of community activity.
How to build and maintain your community garden
The first step when preparing to create your community garden is to gain approval from the committee. Under new sustainability infrastructure amendments to the Act, if the purpose of an edible food garden is to encourage lot owners to reduce the amount of food waste they send to landfills, increase the recovery or recycling of materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase the efficiency of water, then the garden may be considered as ‘sustainability infrastructure.’ This means that a by-law regarding the installation, maintenance or use of the garden may be approved by a sustainability infrastructure resolution. The approval requires a simple majority of persons eligible and present at a general meeting to vote in favour. Once you have approval, it’s on to the exciting part!
Planning and implementation
First, you must determine where the garden is going to be located. Factors such as sunlight, access to clean water and the location’s ease of access to residents all need to come into consideration. Next, the finer details need to come into consideration. Organising a community garden in a strata property is a big task, so ensuring you have considered all factors and planned everything to a tee is important.
Outline factors such as the financial undertaking this project will entail and budget accordingly. You must also list any possible issues that may arise, or limitations resulting in terminating the initiative. For example, if there is a lack of participation amongst the residents, if the gardens aren’t being maintained or prioritised or if vandalism occurs.
After such factors have been considered, you can begin spreading the word and promoting this exciting new venture! Raise awareness of the incentive amongst your residents, and create excitement around the project before it is completed to ensure it is a valuable investment in the long term.
Finally, construct the garden! You may also want to consider rules or community guidelines for plot owners and the appointment of garden managers to maintain the upkeep of the garden itself.
If you are looking for a strata manager that is as passionate about community projects as you are, consider contacting us today for a chat.