Case Studies
Manly Vale Community Garden

Design Feature

Type of Project
Landowner Strategy
State
New South Wales
Location
Urban
The Manly Vale Community Garden, located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, was opened in September 2010. The community garden features a co-located children’s playground, bringing together children, families and neighbours to enjoy fresh, locally grown food, public open space and to learn how to live more sustainably. The unique combination of a playground and community garden encourages social interaction between residents and visitors of all ages, bringing an abundance of youthful energy and curiosity to generate a strong sense of place in the gardening community.
Vitalising the local community
The Manly Vale Community Garden is an organic garden situated on land that was previously three housing blocks. The space features a combination of communal gardening areas and private rental plots, as well as Corbett Playground - a co-located children’s playground.
In addition to the provision of a space to conduct gardening activities and workshops, the facility provides members with the opportunity to host community and fundraising events, to welcome new members and encourage interaction with residents. 
The playground and garden are open to the public at any time, however a membership is required to utilise the communal garden plots. Garden membership is available to local residents for a small annual fee. Members must attend an Occupational Health and Safety information session, to ensure safe gardening practices. Users are also asked to attend a minimum of three ‘working bees’ during the year, which provides an opportunity for members to work together in the garden and build relationships.
Governance of this community facility is divided between the Northern Beaches Council, who manage the playground and Manly Vale Community Garden Inc (MVCGI), who are responsible for the administration and maintenance of the community garden. MVCGI is run under the guidance of a member’s volunteer management committee.

Features of the Community Garden include:
  • Large raised communal garden beds, constructed of galvanised iron, providing space for garden members to grow a wide variety of seasonal produce and herbs such as tomatoes, parsley, spring onions, artichokes, pumpkin and more.
  • The ‘Secret Garden’, which is populated by young fruit trees and shrubs.
  • Forty-five, 2-metre square individual raised garden plots, which members can rent on a yearly basis after a period of working in the communal areas.
  • Community compost bins incorporating ‘Drop & Swap’ compost buckets, which the public are encouraged to use, as well as specialised compost bins.
  • A garden shed which houses communal tools and garden equipment.
  • A greenhouse.
  • A shaded rotunda, with benches for seating, bicycle racks and a water bubbler. 

Project team
  • Manly Vale Community Garden Inc
  • Northern Beaches Council (Formerly Warringah Council)
  • Outhouse Design

Project Cost
Ongoing
Health Value
  • Provides community members with access to a diverse range of fresh and organic produce.
  • Provides adults with the opportunity to engage in recreational activity through gardening, including planting, weeding, composting and pruning.
  • Opportunities for children to be physically active while participating in gardening activities with their family or while playing on the climbing frame and slides.
  • Provides educational opportunities to better understand sustainability, food sources and the importance of fresh produce.

Economic value
  • The garden is sponsored by a variety of local business, creating community ties between businesses and residents.
  • For a small membership fee, residents have access to bountiful fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables, providing an economical alternative to purchasing produce. Many of the plants can be regrown from left over veggies in the fridge or pantry, which saves on costs.
  • The community amenity boosts the liveability and desirability of the area.

Environmental Value
  • The co-location of Corbett Park provides educational opportunities to visitors and children who may not normally engage with community gardening groups to better understand sustainable food practices.
  • Provides families and children with the opportunity to develop positive food habits through fun, hands-on learning.
  • Provides the broader community with composting facilities through the ‘Drop & Swap’ program.
  • Hosts a range of workshops and activities focused on sustainability and environmental responsibility, such as ‘Second Hand Saturdays’, for swapping excess personal belongings, and bee keeping demonstrations to aid in the recovery of the diminishing native bee populations.
  • By growing the whole plant, gardeners also have the option to eat the entire plant, for example the leaves of the pumpkin, sweet potato and grape plants are edible, nutritious and delicious.
  • Community gardening saves on food miles, consuming locally grown produce reduces reliance on fossil fuels used for cold storage and transportation.

Social value
  • Fosters a sense of belonging and place, enhancing social ties and relationships, and thereby vitalising and enriching the local community.
  • Gardening, and specifically working together to achieve a common goal, assists in developing relationships and friendships between community members who may never have previously interacted.
  • Provides more experienced gardeners with the opportunity to mentor and share their knowledge with beginners.
  • Provides residents with the opportunity to work collaboratively with the community, government, and businesses, creating a network of people and organisations that provide on-going support for the project.
  • MVCGI hosts garden tours open to the public to raise awareness about the Community Garden and educate the broader community about gardening, fresh food access and composting.
  • Provides educational opportunities to children and adults of all ages.

Use value
  • Provides a meeting place for the local community, where shared ideas of organic food growing, preparation and eating become the norm.
  • Used a site to host community events, educational workshops and school field trips.
  • Fosters social inclusion and sponsorship of marginalised groups, e.g. Tibetan refugees were given a small plot of land to grow their own food.
  • Provides residents who live in apartments with the opportunity to participate in gardening activities, thereby improving access to fresh food and increasing physical activity levels.
  • Provision of gardening facilities allows ageing residents to engage in low impact, non-vigorous activity which reduces social isolation and improves overall wellbeing.

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