Louise Orr in her vegetable garden created by the Transition Kenmore permablitz (Photo: Westside News)

Transition Town Kenmore’s permablitz initiative has been profiled in the Westside news.

The concept of Permablitzs originated in Melbourne and involves transforming lawns and backyards into productive fruit and vegetable gardens built using the principles of permaculture.

The recipient of our first permablitz, TTKD member Louise Orr told Anna Hilton from the Westside News how it took a “team of 16 people just two hours to make-over my entire garden and we’ve been eating from it all summer”

Transition Kenmore operates not just in Kenmore but over the whole of the Pullenvale ward and has more permablitzs planned in the near future. Even if you are not a Transition Kenmore member you are welcome to get involved in this imitative and have your own place blitzed. For more information on our blitzes see our blog or email us at transitionkenmore ‘at’ gmail.com. More information about the blitz of Louise’s garden can be seen in these before, during and after posts.

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme is a self-funding, not-for-profit organisation that promotes the knowledge and pleasure of gardens and gardening to all Australians.

Each year more than 250,000 people visit around 600 private gardens which open for the Scheme. The entry fees charged fund the Scheme’s operation.

Funds surplus to operating costs are returned to the community in the form of grants for garden-related projects.

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme in association with ABC Radio is proud to offer these grants to community organisations for the creation or improvement of a garden for a public or community outdoor space.

ABC Radio has been a proud supporter of the Scheme since its inception in 1987. From local Saturday morning gardening talkback to ‘Gardening Australia’ on ABC Television, the ABC supports and recognises gardening as one of Australia’s most popular pastimes.

How the Community Benefits

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme is a self-funding, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the knowledge and pleasure of gardens and gardening.

By opening Australia’s finest private gardens to the public, the community benefits financially in two very distinct ways: by donations to charity by our garden owners, and by the Scheme’s own Community Grants program.

Donations by garden owners

Since 1987 the Scheme’s garden owners have donated more than $4.3 million to charity. Last season alone, our garden owners donated around $330,000 to charities and local causes. These funds were raised through garden entry fees, refreshment stalls, plants sales and various other activities on open days.

Community Garden Grants

The Scheme is committed to encouraging gardening and improving our environment. One of the ways we achieve this is by funding community-based garden projects. Each year, funds surplus to our operational costs are returned to the community in the form of grants.

Since 1987, community projects around Australia have benefited to the tune of $925,000. This is in addition to funding our own national expansion.

Recipients of funds include Botanic Gardens which play a vital role in encouraging plant diversity and education. We have funded the identification of important plant collections which enhance the community’s knowledge and appreciation of plant diversity.

The Scheme’s commitment to the gardeners of the future is aptly demonstrated by the substantial number of school gardens which have received funding, encouraging tomorrow’s gardeners.

The therapeutic qualities of gardens and plants have also ensured that hospitals and retirement villages have been the focus of a number of grants.

A growing interest in the gardening heritage of Australia is also reflected in grants given for tree surgery, restoration of hard landscaping, undergrounding of utilities and research into historic gardens.

Inspired by the enthusiasm of community groups, the Scheme has provided funds for projects which are enhancing towns and cities across the breadth of Australia. Included among these are a number of gardens celebrating specific plant collections.

In recognition of the challenges of gardening in our climate, the Scheme has also been involved in the construction of a Waterwise Garden, the installation of watering systems in historic gardens and a Fire Safe Garden in a bushfire-prone region.The 2009 Community Grants Program builds on the success of ten previous annual programs that have returned over $925,000 to the community. Since 1987 the Scheme has funded 385 community projects around Australia.

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme is a self-funding, not-for-profit organisation that promotes the knowledge and pleasure of gardens and gardening to all Australians.

Each year more than 250,000 people visit around 600 private gardens which open for the Scheme. The entry fees charged fund the Scheme’s operation.

Funds surplus to operating costs are returned to the community in the form of grants for garden-related projects.

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme in association with ABC Radio is proud to offer these grants to community organisations for the creation or improvement of a garden for a public or community outdoor space.

ABC Radio has been a proud supporter of the Scheme since its inception in 1987. From local Saturday morning gardening talkback to ‘Gardening Australia’ on ABC Television, the ABC supports and recognises gardening as one of Australia’s most popular pastimes.

How the Community Benefits

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme is a self-funding, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the knowledge and pleasure of gardens and gardening.

By opening Australia’s finest private gardens to the public, the community benefits financially in two very distinct ways: by donations to charity by our garden owners, and by the Scheme’s own Community Grants program.

Donations by garden owners

Since 1987 the Scheme’s garden owners have donated more than $4.3 million to charity. Last season alone, our garden owners donated around $330,000 to charities and local causes. These funds were raised through garden entry fees, refreshment stalls, plants sales and various other activities on open days.

Community Garden Grants

The Scheme is committed to encouraging gardening and improving our environment. One of the ways we achieve this is by funding community-based garden projects. Each year, funds surplus to our operational costs are returned to the community in the form of grants.

Since 1987, community projects around Australia have benefited to the tune of $925,000. This is in addition to funding our own national expansion.

Recipients of funds include Botanic Gardens which play a vital role in encouraging plant diversity and education. We have funded the identification of important plant collections which enhance the community’s knowledge and appreciation of plant diversity.

The Scheme’s commitment to the gardeners of the future is aptly demonstrated by the substantial number of school gardens which have received funding, encouraging tomorrow’s gardeners.

The therapeutic qualities of gardens and plants have also ensured that hospitals and retirement villages have been the focus of a number of grants.

A growing interest in the gardening heritage of Australia is also reflected in grants given for tree surgery, restoration of hard landscaping, undergrounding of utilities and research into historic gardens.

Inspired by the enthusiasm of community groups, the Scheme has provided funds for projects which are enhancing towns and cities across the breadth of Australia. Included among these are a number of gardens celebrating specific plant collections.

In recognition of the challenges of gardening in our climate, the Scheme has also been involved in the construction of a Waterwise Garden, the installation of watering systems in historic gardens and a Fire Safe Garden in a bushfire-prone region.