Garden tours, eco-renovation presentations and much more at the ‘award-winning’ Yandina Community Gardens on Sunday 12th September - come along and join the celebration!
Yandina Community Gardens recently won the 2010 Glossies Award for Edible Landscapes by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. This is an annual award for outstanding achievement and contributions in the field of environmental protection and awareness. The award took into account the improvements made to The Blue House, situated in the gardens, which included the installation of solar power; solar hot water; two water tanks; a computerised weather station and adding a pergola on the western side of the building to reduce heat and glare from the severe afternoon sun.
The solar power helps off set the cost of running our 3 demonstration aquaponics systems. Aquaponics is an organic food and fish growing system where fish are raised in tanks, their waste is piped into plant grow beds and used to fertilise vegetables; the roots of the plants help to filter out the nutrients from the water and clean water is piped back to the fish. Aquaponics systems are very water-wise and power-wise. Small aquaponics systems allow people who live in units or who have limited access to land on which to grow their own veggies, to have a steady supply of freshly grown produce and fish – and it is all totally chemically free.
Our gardens showcase how to grow tropical and subtropical edible plants which grow easily in our climate all year round. The 2 newly installed water tanks provide water for the gardens.
The Blue House also sports a ClimateSmart Home Service wireless energy monitor to track energy use.
The 'Blue House Goes Green' eco renovation project, was a collaborative initiative in 2008/09 following the first Transition Town course held at the Yandina Community Gardens on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The aim was to show how a traditional Queensland building could be renovated to be more energy-efficient and remains an on-going project between the Sunshine Coast Council, local industry and the community.
The house, gardens and food systems at the Yandina Community Gardens show many examples of low-cost self-sufficiency and how a house is just one part of a 'sustainable home' environment.
Stage 1 of the 'makeover' is now complete, and will be presented via two Blue House tours with each followed by a ‘Design for our Climate’ presentation - one at 10am and then again at 1pm
SOME ECO FEATURES ON DISPLAY ON THE 12TH ARE:-
- 1kwh solar system & solar hot water (the permaculture group is receiving credits on their power bills to offset the power used by the aquaponics systems!)
- weather station that monitors rainfall, and other climate data
- timber awning over the Western garden entry that acts as a heat deflector (afternoon summer sun), hot air extraction (fly roof design), protection from rainy weather, and a vertical growing surface for the adjoining food garden ...and it allows the kitchen door to be left open during the hot, rainy weather when ventilation is so important.
- roof ventilation to extract heat build up from roof cavity (ceiling already had bulk insulation) Stage 2 possible trial of solar heating and cooling system
- rain water tanks placed on south side of building to act as weather buffer in winter (separate project but the placement will have a subtle effect on indoor comfort)
- budget kitchen 'eco-makeover' with 90% pre-loved materials and fixtures, natural paints and sealers (and a smaller second-hand fridge to replace both the old larger one and the bar fridge, that were under-utilised and adding to the power bill).
and in the gardens ......
the aquaponics systems - (fish + plants = masses of organic food!) - there will be an Introduction to Aquaponics presentation at 12 noon, where all your questions can be answered. There will also be people on hand to talk about aquaponics during the course of the day.
strawbale garden shelter – relax in the shade of the strawbale shelter with a pizza freshly cooked in the cob oven from 12.30pm (gold coin donation).
take a wander around the gardens and check out the extensive permaculture systems that highlight how you ‘can have your landscape and eat it too’!!!!
Come see what we've done on Sunday 12th September!
There will be two tours of the house followed by a 'Design for our Climate' presentation at 10am and 1pm on Sunday 12th, September, with lots of simple low-tech ideas to make your home work naturally, including the all-important Northern aspect of your house when the existing eaves, windows and doors don't make the best use of the sun’s path to heat and cool the living spaces.
There will also be an aquaponics presentation at 12noon, giving you ideas on how this water and energy efficient system can be utilised in your own backyard or balcony.
Download the program for the day at the SHD website, or simply turn up to the Yandina Community Gardens at 41 Farrell St, Yandina (corner of North Street), on Sunday 12th September, from 10am - 4pm. It's free, its fun and will be sure to inspire!
(September 2009) (
