About the Smart Gardener Program

 

Smart Gardeners are dedicated home gardeners who live and garden locally. They have a passion for gardening and for sharing their experience and practical knowledge with others. On completion of a comprehensive training program Smart Gardeners are actively involved in events, activities and displays where members of the public and community groups can learn gardening tips and techniques that they can use in their own gardens.

The Program has grown out of a need for local residents, community groups and schools to have access to multiple sources of information on home gardening. The Smart Gardener Program also aims to give its volunteers a sense of community and opportunities to share and continue in the development of their horticultural skills and knowledge.

The Smart Gardener Program was initiated in Queensland in 2008 by the Australian Centre for Lifestyle Horticulture (ACLH). The initial pilot project saw three SMART Gardener programs established in the Redlands, Springfield and on the Gold Coast.

SMART Gardeners have been actively engaged in a range of projects including:

• School garden refurbishments
• Establishing sensory gardens in a special school
• Designing shade planting for school carpark
• Planting workshops in local parks
• Children's seed planting workshops
• Arbour Day activities
• Design of butterfly gardens for local school.

If you are interested and would like to know more contact the Smart Gardener Coordinator: Deb Olive mg@lifestylehort.org or phone: 07 3824 9570.