The Best Community Gardens in Perth

Gardening is a great way to get outdoors and become more aware of the environment. Why not stop by one of these local gardens to flex your green thumb, connect with nature and meet some friendly community members.

Joondanna Community Garden

Joondanna Community Garden was the first of its kind located within The City of Stirling. The garden focuses on sustainable living practices including local food production, waste minimisation and management and water conservation. Local residents often visit the garden to share their food gardening experience and make new friends. The garden also utilises organic principals and prides itself on being family friendly.

McDougall Farm Community Garden, Como

McDougall Farm Community Garden is a flourishing organic fruit and vegetable farm located in Como. Nestled within a local park, the garden received an upgrade in 2017 by the City of South Perth. New fences, relocation of planting beds and the introduction of a footpath were among the upgrades. The garden is managed by a group of friendly and passionate volunteers who seek to provide a safe, healthy and enjoyable community enterprise.

City Farm, East Perth

City Farm is ideal for those living in inner-city apartments who may not have access to a garden at home. Surrounded by multi story buildings, it’s hard to imagine a green oasis could be found at this location. The garden seeks to educate the public about environmental issues, organic growing and healthy eating and have heaps of volunteering opportunities for people wanting to get their hands dirty and learn more about permaculture.

Fremantle Environmental Resource Network (FERN) Community Garden, Fremantle

Located on the corner of High and Montreal Streets in Fremantle, FERN is a volunteer driven community space. The community garden is constantly bustling with activity, with a vegan buffet dinner by donation held every Monday and Wednesday nights, as well as gardening busy bees hosted every Tuesday morning. FERN also features a bicycle recycling workshop and a meditation tent to encourage locals to live sustainably and be more environmentally conscious.

North Perth Community Garden, North Perth

Set on a large 820m² lot, North Perth Community Garden prides itself on being a social and educational hub for locals. The zero-waste garden began in 2013 and has since established itself to be a dominant activity area, with its immediate neighbours being Vincent Men’s Shed, North Perth Tennis Club and North Perth Bowling Club. Herbs, vegetables and flowers make up majority of the garden, with a greenhouse, small orchard and native garden present too. Education workshops are also available to the wider community.

Earthwise Community Centre, Subiaco

Earthwise Community Centre is more than your standard community farm. Earthwise features a permaculture garden located on the shady grounds of an old pink church building on Bagot Road in Subiaco, and also promotes sustainable living. It has a strong focus on reducing consumption, re-using and recycling – be sure to look out for the recycled bath tub turned planting vessel! Visitors can also make a DIY worm farm, stroll the tranquil gardens or shop a bargain at the on-site op shop.

Apace, North Fremantle

Apace is an environmental community organisation located in North Fremantle, who manage the oldest community gardens in Western Australia. Launching in 1985, the gardens are run by an allotment system to provide people with a section of land to grow food. Apace gardens are perfect for those who don’t have space for a garden in their backyard, as well as those new to Australia who enjoy farming.

About the author: 
Caitlyn Watts is currently based in Perth and writes on a freelance basis while completing her studies in Journalism and Professional Writing and Publishing. Her favourite topics to explore include local news, culture and food. 

Header Image: Perth City Farm