Community garden flourishes under students care

A successful community garden is helping Compass Catholic Community students sprout green thumbs, thanks to support provided through SA Water’s 2022-23 Community Partnerships Program.

The annual program is part of the utility’s ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots organisations deliver projects that involve water sustainability, community wellbeing and environmental outcomes across South Australia.

The garden provides students with hands-on learning experiences that cultivate a deeper understanding of the natural world and the benefits of sustainable gardening.

Compass Catholic Community Partnerships Lead Scott Hockenhull said he’s thrilled with the journey the school community has embarked on to design and construct its very own vibrant garden.

“All of the students were invited to participate and contribute their ideas to the project and a trip was organised to Urrbrae House and the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, allowing everyone to capture photos to inspire their contributions to the garden,” Scott said.

“We created the Community Garden Wall of Inspiration to showcase the result of students’ ideas, fostering a sense of community involvement.

“Through the student’s research, the use of wicking beds was identified as the best sustainable approach and we arranged for Adelaide Hills Veggie Gardens to deliver a workshop on how to construct the beds.

“Despite weather challenges, students worked together to construct the wicking beds over two weeks and planted a variety of seedlings.

“Due to the success of the garden, we are now planning for upcoming individual and group projects including installing bird boxes, bee hotels and seating.

“Compass Catholic Community are immensely grateful for SA Water's support which has helped us to create a flourishing community garden that fosters learning, collaboration and environmental stewardship.”

Students at Compass Catholic are involved with projects and workshops they design around their interests, passions and goals, with a focus on providing them with the tools, resources and support to get there.

Compass Catholic Community student Erin said the Community Garden has been a transformative experience.

“It's not just about gardening, it's about making this space ours, learning from it, and being proud of what we've achieved,” Erin said.

SA Water's Manager of Brand and Community Marketing Kellie McDonald said it's inspiring to see the students’ level of engagement throughout this project.

“The project incorporates a broad range of learning and draws on skills required for research, planning, creativity, construction, horticulture and water wise practices,” Kellie said.

"The community garden serves as a living classroom, where students learn valuable lessons about conservation, teamwork and sustainable gardening, and we’re excited to contribute to the growth and success of this inspiring initiative.

Applications for are now open for SA Water’s 2024-25 Community Partnerships Program. For more information and to apply, visit sawater.com.au.

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