Safe and Sustainable Gardening

The Blue Mountains Safe and Sustainable Gardening Project evolved from a recognition that gardens are good for us but can be hazardous to our health and our natural environment. It can also place considerable demands on individual and community resources (how much will it cost for your lawn to be mowed for the next 20 years?).

The project set out to develop an assessment tool for Blue Mountains gardens. Trials were carried out on several gardens across the mountains. The outcome of the trials revealed that the safest and most sustainable garden had:

• the highest proportion of undisturbed vegetation (requiring limited and infrequent maintenance and access);
• little or no lawn - the most unsustainable garden had removed riparian vegetation and planted lawns; and
• a 'level' area close to the house for the activities requiring frequent access and maintenance - allowing for safe movement and giving opportunities for potential environmental impacts to be easily controlled.

The booklet and checklist are the result of extensive research, investigation and experimentation. Hardcopies of the booklet and checklist are available from Blue Mountains City Council libraries or can be downloaded below.

• Safe and Sustainable Gardening Blue Mountains - Booklet
• Safe and Sustainable Gardening Blue Mountains - Checklist

Ruth Ley

Project Coordinator

Blue Mountains Home Modification and Maintenance Service 

This is a project of the Blue Mountains Home Modification and Maintenance Service which is funded by Home and Community Care (HACC) and auspiced by the Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre Inc. The project was originally funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

This item was posted in April 2009.