GREEN app
Growing Resilient Environmentally Enduring Neighbourhoods
Growing resilient,
environmentally aware and socially inclusive
communities in Canberra through community gardens
Establishing and connecting community gardens
We have leveraged demographic, transport, ecological and geospatial data to produce an analytical tool for selecting sites in Canberra where a community garden might have the greatest benefit for the community
Site suitability
We considered minimum land size and optimal shape; excluding areas endemic to environmentally threatened species.
Social
We used household income, demographic composition and crime statistics to determine social need and ranked site eligibility on this basis.
Accessibility
Sites were selected based on proximity to public transport. We also avoided locations too close to existing community gardens to ensure even distribution of sites across the ACT.
Population density
The model was weighted towards higher population density. More dense living means smaller block sizes and households with less space to have their own gardens.
ACT land-use zoning
Only PRZ1 Open Space council-owned land was considered.
GREEN app
Growing Resilient Environmentally Enduring Neighbourhoods
Model Parameters
Grow food. Grow lives.
Community gardens have been shown to have innumerable benefits for the local community in cities around the world, especially as population density increases yet our sense of social connectedness is decreasing. Community gardens are not only a means of enhancing food security and promoting sustainable lifestyle choices but a mechanism for creating social inclusion and educating future generations.
The ACT government provides the opportunity for individuals and groups to establish community gardens throughout the ACT. There are currently 13 established community gardens in the ACT; but as Canberra is rapidly developing, we can do more to incorporate community gardens into our current and future urban planning as a way of improving our connection with nature and with each other.
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We have analysed a broad range of data to identify the optimal sites in Canberra to establish community gardens for maximum potential benefit to the surrounding community.
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Kingston Organic Community Garden, Canberra
Project Objectives
Summary
By exploiting a range of geospatial, ecological, transport and population data, we have created an analytical tool to determine suitable sites for future community gardens.
As Canberra is rapidly expanding, we believe that incorporating community gardens into urban planning is a step towards improving the livability and sustainability of our city.
The GREEN app displays established community gardens and potential sites for building new gardens. In the future, the GREEN app could become an online platform for communication and coordination of community gardens and associated events across the ACT. We foresee potential for an online marketplace to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, materials and resources between garden communities.
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Encourage consumption of affordable, local and organically grown produce. Connect with nature. Promote an active lifestyle across all ages.
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Healthy
Communities
Increase availability of local organically grown produce in households
Productive
Communities
Less waste to landfill. Promote an understanding of where food comes from and effort, knowledge and skills needed to grow and harvest food. Educate the future generations.
Sustainable
Communities
Create a sense of belonging and social connectivity.
Inclusive
Communities
Community gardens
support
Project Timeline
GovHack2017
GREEN app
Growing Resilient Environmentally Enduring Neighbourhoods
Meet the team
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GREEN app
Growing Resilient Environmentally Enduring Neighbourhoods
GEONINJAS GovHack CANBERRA 2017
Brad Winton (Team lead, App development)
Jielian Beh (User research, Web design)
Nick Streeton (Geospatial analysis)
Callum Lynch (App development)
Daniel Dumycz (App development)
Rach Winton (Project management)
