Yandina Community Gardens
Yandina locals and regular visitors to our town will be familiar with ‘The Blue House’ as the home of the Yandina Community Gardens which also serves as a colourful landmark near the Yandina Saturday Markets.
But the brightly painted old Queenslander, and the gardens surrounding it, are much more than that. They are the result of a vision and community spirit that has made Yandina a leader in permaculture and sustainability on the Sunshine Coast.
Today Yandina Community Gardens are a key part of the Food Waste Loop project which diverts food waste from local businesses, like cafes, into dedicated composting systems. Volunteers are monitoring how much local food waste they are able to process at the Gardens, with the possible aim of replicating the Food Waste Loop program across Australia.
The Gardens story began in 2001 when a group of interested residents requested a plot of land from Maroochy Shire Council to set up a community garden. The following year Council donated a disused bitumen-covered basketball court and tennis courts, and the Maroochy Community Permaculture Group was established (re-named Yandina Community Gardens in 2011.
Over the years volunteers have worked to transform and expand the site. Today the Yandina Community Gardens is a leading permaculture education centre where people can gain practical skills in growing their own food. Visitors can buy seedlings propagated by volunteers in the on-site nursery; and take part in sustainable living workshops.
Yandina Community Gardens is open Monday and Tuesday from 8.30am – 2pm and Saturday from 8.30am – 12pm. Visit https://yandinacommunitygardens.com.au and their Facebook page for information .