WHAT IS GREAT GARDENS?

The Great Gardens team is a group of Australia’s leading sustainability experts, who have a passion for the environment and an equal passion for inspiring and empowering Australia to become more sustainable. How do we do that? We offer free workshops, training sessions and events that give our communities the tools to become more sustainable. The areas we currently provide training in are:

• Waterwise gardening
• Design and management of your outdoor space
• Fertliser and river-friendly gardening
• Great plants
• How to grow delicious, nutritious food with less resources
• Energy efficiency
• Renewable energy
• Solar-passive design
• Planting for shading and cooling
• Grey water and water efficiency
• Recycling – what goes where and why
• Mulching, pruning and garden waste
• Soil improvement – turn sand into soil!
• Turning your garden into the biggest room in your house
• Turning your garden into a natural air-conditioner
• Nature play and getting outdoors with the kids
• And lots more!

GREAT GARDENS AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Issues related to the sustainability of the environment have become central to most people’s lives. There is an increasing need to understand issues that affect us every day, such as climate change, resource shortage and environmental degradation in the Perth region. The key lifestyle change in Australia over the past decade has been the movement towards sustainability and this movement is now paramount to mainstream society. With this shift, West Australians are demanding information on how to be more sustainable at home and in their community.

As the community looks for guidance, Great Gardens addresses this need by providing free information, advice and education to Australians, in particular focusing on the critical importance of resource management in the home and garden. Great Gardens has a proven track record in this field and has now delivered workshops advocating waterwise behaviour to more than 63,000 people in Australia.

Our work is backed by State and Local Government and their contribution enables us to provide our expertise to the community for free.

HISTORY

Great Gardens was founded in 2003 by pioneering sustainability experts Chris Ferreira and Garry Heady. 8 years on, the program is operated by Chris’s business, Landcare Solutions (www.landcaresolutions.net.au) and is the State’s leading program of community education. Great Gardens has now delivered sustainability training to more than 63,000 Australians and we are continuing to expand our program to reach more people in more areas around Australia than ever before.

Great Gardens is sponsored by The Water Corporation, Synergy, the Swan River Trust and Woodside. Great Gardens is supported by local Councils.

THE TEAM

Chris Ferreira: Media personality Chris Ferreira is the Program Director and leading Great Gardens presenter. Chris has an established background in environmental science and has emerged as a leading authority on sustainable living in the public eye with regular roles on 720 ABC Radio and Channel Nine. He currently works in an advisory capacity on a range of high profile and award-winning projects:

• Great Gardens: Chris is co-founder of the multi award-winning Great Gardens program, which is the largest free community education scheme in Australia. Great Gardens has been delivering workshops since 2003 and has now reached more than 63,000 people across Australia
• Heavenly Hectares: Chris provides workshops to the rural community on sustainable land management and the project now features a book of the same name which is awaiting publication in 2011
• University Education: Chris provides regular lectures at Curtin, UWA and Murdoch universities in WA
• Media: Chris has a loyal following of viewers and listeners from his media roles, which now include the following:

1. Host of GGTV sustainability education TV
2. Regular features on the West online au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/habitat/9732932
3. Regular appearances the ABC720 Saturday Morning Breakfast with James Lush and Sabrina Hahn
4. Regular contributions to the press including The West Australian, Hoofbeats and The Countryman on aspects of sustainability
5. Features on ABC Stateline program
6. Is a member of the Horticultural Media Association.

Amy House: Amy is the Program Manager for Great Gardens and other projects run by Landcare Solutions. Amy oversees the Great Gardens team and is responsible for the successful delivery of the program.

Info: www.landcaresolutions.net.au and www.greatgardens.info

Astrid Higgins: Astrid has a background in sustainable land management was a long-standing member of the City Farm team until she joined Landcare Solutions in 2011. Astrid is the team’s Project Assistant and provides support and assistance to Great Gardens and other projects run by Landcare Solutions.

Info: www.landcaresolutions.net.au and www.greatgardens.info

Siobhan Gallagher: Siobhan has an office management background in the sustainability sector and is the Administrative Assistant for the Great Gardens program.

Info: www.landcaresolutions.net.au and www.greatgardens.info

GREAT PRESENTERS:

The team also includes the following consultants, who in their own right are experts in various fields. You might like to visit their websites for more information about their areas of expertise:

Sabrina Hahn: Sabrina needs little introduction these days. From TV and Radio, to volunteer, swimming marathon contender, to garden educator, she has done it all! Sabrina is a long-standing member of the Great Gardens team and continues to represent all that the program stands for in her approach to sustainable gardening.

Peter Coppin: Peter is one of WA’s leading horticulturalists with a strong background in fruit and nut species, food plants and native plants. Peter is a senior consultant for Great Gardens and has more than 15 years’ experience of teaching sustainable gardening principles in WA, as well as an established consultancy business.

Info: www.petercoppin.com

Simon Pawley: Simon is a talented landscaper, whose business Sustainable Outdoors provides specialist services including drip irrigation, verge gardens, re-vegetation, soil amendment, maintenance and weed control. Simon is a Great Gardens presenter at larger events and is primarily responsible for setting up our demonstration gardens.

Info: www.sustainableoutdoors.com.au

Sean Gray: Sean is an experienced horticulturalist with a background in native, waterwise plant species, landscape design, soil and plant management and waterwise gardening.

Steve Wood: Steve is a horticulturalist with extensive experience in nursery management. Steve has also worked with ABC local and regional radio for over 15 years as a Garden talkback host. He is passionate about educating people on how to successfully grow their own organic produce at home.

Nicholas Bell: Nick is a leading turf specialist who recognises the need for effective and sustainable management of turf. Nick provides specialist advice on the appropriate use of turf species, soil preparation, irrigation and management.

Quintin George: Quintin has an established reputation as a children’s educator and has a huge fan-base in WA schools through his education persona “Captain Cleanup”. Captain Cleanup delivers education program to kids as part of the Great Gardens team on a range of aspects of sustainability including waste reduction, anti-littering, recycling, waterwise gardening and energy efficiency.

Info: www.captaincleanup.com

Faerie Cara Walker: Cara promotes sustainability education through children's entertainment and multimedia networks. Using stage show performances, television, social networks and workshops to teach all aspects of sustainability, Faerie Cara engages with children and their families to deliver Great Gardens and wider sustainability messages.

Info: www.ecofaeries.com

IT’S NOT JUST A GARDENING PROGRAM!

The Great Gardens program addresses a range of sustainability issues that extend beyond the picket fence. Also in our program are the following workshops and educational events:

“Heavenly Hectares”: this program is aimed at hobby farmers and those on rural property around Perth and WA who want to get the best out of their pasture. Whether you own 1 hectare or 1000 hectares, a horse property or bushland retreat, Heavenly Hectares will teach you the techniques that will help you create your own piece of Western Australian paradise. Contact us for more information about our next Heavenly Hectares series

“Property Planning Courses”: Great Gardens offers a range of property planning courses for those considering a build, re-build or retrofit. Contact us for more information about these services and to book your next event.

“Synergy Great Homes and Gardens”: these workshops and presentations give fantastic information about how to save energy and money in the home and garden, using a range of simple techniques. Each workshop has information about renewable energy, energy-saving solutions and ‘how to turn your garden into a natural air-conditioner’.

“Switched on Recycling”: these presentations discuss the importance of recycling and re-using materials around the home and garden, focussing on what can and can’t be recycled and safe procedures for doing so. These workshops can also be tailored to look at composting, worm farming and other uses of household waste.

“The Secrets of Waterwise, River-Friendly Gardening”: these presentations focus on the positive things that can be done to produce beautiful, eye-catching and productive gardens that help to protect our waterways and the biodiversity of the Swan-Canning River Park, whilst saving precious water.

“Great Food Gardens”: learn the secrets of growing delicious, nutritious food at home and encourage the whole family to spend time in the garden.

“Great Urban Spaces”: learn the secrets of creating an urban paradise with less energy, water and money. Learn how to make your garden the biggest and best room in your home.