The Apace Community Garden is the oldest community garden in Western Australia, established in the early 80s.

In the late 90s, it was resurrected as the Apace Community Gardeners. It has as its objective establishing, maintaining and developing a community garden at Apace in order to provide opportunities for members of the community to participate in and enjoy organic gardening. This aligns within Apace’s framework of providing a range of socially beneficial activities to the community, particularly those disadvantaged through disability, poverty, sickness and unemployment. This year, gardening 34 plots, this collective spirit is currently enjoyed by some 70 locals (and their dogs) and in particular has provided support for several gardeners facing serious health challenges.

During the year, 13 enquiries for plots have been in line with previous years, with 60% allocated or on the waiting list. This is the highest acceptance level for many years reflecting the increased demand for growing cheap fresh organic vegetables. There has been increased focus and growing attendance at community orientated events such a Monday evening social gatherings and Busy Bees. On the gardening side, watering is within budget and the garden is generally regarded as looking as good as it ever has with continuing improving gardening techniques, effective weed control and tidy paths and communal service areas.

Covid resulted in Castlereagh School, Atwell College and Leeming Senior High School no longer retaining any plots for their special needs kids – in the case of Leeming Senior High School ending over 20 years of having had a plot at the community garden. We hope this extraordinarily beneficial arrangement will soon be revived.

The challenge presented by Apace’s management change has been overcome by the excellent working relationship that has developed at all levels between Apace and Community Gardeners illustrated by the current cooperation in upgrading the existing waste disposal system.