Annual Report No:9 November 28th 2012

OUR VISION . Vibrant and sustainable communities and a healthy biodiverse planet.

OUR MISSION Inspiring, empowering and connecting individuals, communities and organisations to garden sustainably.

• To protect and nurture the natural environment. • Encourage local healthy food production. • Inspire community connectedness.

SGA enables behaviour change through

• Information • Training • Environmental Certification based on science and experience for home

gardeners, industry and government

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Welcome everyone to our celebration of “the year that was” and AGM. First I would like to talk a little about the magical and empowering rhythms of nature’s gardens - such as the one that surrounds us today. As soon as you walk into a place such as this you can feel its magic; and when you see it evolve over time you experience its seasonal rhythms. The motives of the people who have worked in this space over the last 15 years have not been to create a magic for human consumption - it has been to give back to the world of nature, to give the ecosystems, which evolved in the environs of the Yarra over the millennia, a chance to reassert themselves. But in the process they have enabled nature to create the most beautiful of places for us to enjoy. For me, wild places such as this are the most inspiring of gardens. By contrast many of our private and public open gardens in the urban environment are developed with an objective of maximising human benefit and enjoyment. However, many of these gardens still respect, celebrate and benefit nature. Creating habitat at home and in our neighbourhoods ensures that our patch supports the wider urban environment, and lets us become part of nature’s seasonal rhythms. Producing food at home or locally reduces food miles and the drain of industrial agriculture. It can also create a rhythm in our lives which is easy to swing into time with. There are always important things to do, share and talk about. The rewards and rhythms of local food production and creating habitat provide a great foundation to enable communities to become more accessible and connected. Over the last year I have been very fortunate to be invited by Toolangi & Castella, Yinnar, Beechworth and Jindivick communities for celebrations of their recently created community gardens. Each of the gardens tells a different story, but from the moment you walk into them you feel the sharing, caring and creativity. Each of these gardens is demonstrating the power of gardening to make meaningful connections within communities. It has been a great privilege for SGA to work within these communities. My wife Meredith and I have also been fortunate to share our own sustainable gardening and food production experiences with our South Eltham POD. This operates on a lot looser model than the community gardens and does not have a base, but still provides the opportunities to build connections and share. Both of these approaches and many, many more from around the world are growing opportunities for people to come together, share, and live healthier more sustainable lives. Sustainable Gardening Australia operates at the fulcrum of the world of community and gardening and has a pivotal role to play. Now on to the people who are earning a crust at the sustainable gardening and living coal face. Many gardening professionals and people in the industry have developed a deep understanding of, and a passion for, sustainable gardening and living. They work as maintenance gardeners, garden designers, landscapers, retailers, educators, in the

horticultural media for SGA, etc. They are the heart and soul of the sustainable gardening movement and are the key contributors to the garden industries shift to sustainability. You guys have always been the key component in SGA’s ability to deliver on our sustainable gardening and living mission. A key to society wide behavior change has to be in the harnessing of all of our key drivers;

� our drive to provide for ourselves and our families, � our drive to contribute to environmental sustainability and � our drive to be part of and contribute to our own communities.

When we feel we are doing all of this through our work it provides a powerful impetus for change. At SGA, we work at the interface of the world of work and the world of community. We have a rare opportunity to bring them together with great outcomes for environmental sustainability. Our work brings home the bacon but frequently separates us from our families and communities and things that matter to us. With societal shifts back to appreciating healthy lifestyles, community and our natural environment, opportunities are emerging for people to create viable careers which cater for these trends. SGA intends to work with gardening professionals to carve out relevant offers and working lives in this context. We intend to work with you guys to satisfy the underlying needs that can manifest themselves in sustainable gardening; good food, good company and personal well being. At SGA we are committed to;

� progressing our industry programs and contributing to continual improvements in industry environmental standards.

� Working with gardening professionals and their communities to create meaningful green jobs

� Sharing experiences and disseminating well researched information Our recently completed strategic plan is starting to filter through to our actions on the ground. Our strategic plan has helped us clarify who we are and what we do. We are a not for profit, non government organisation with an Australia wide network of passionate sustainable gardeners. We partner home gardeners, gardening professionals, community gardeners, philanthropic organisations and local government to realize our vision. We believe that sustainable gardening at home and in our community spaces, particularly when it relates to local food production and love of the natural world, is a key ingredient for vibrant sustainable communities and a healthy bio diverse planet. Grab our annual reports and if your want a copy of our strategic plan pop an email through or check it out on the web. We implore you to hold us accountable if you feel we are going off track. One of the key directives of our community during the strategic plan development - a widely inclusive process, was to foster Productive and Diverse Partnerships;

� To increase the level of stakeholder involvement and ownership in the organisation. � To develop and implement a Partnership Plan to build and maintain productive and

diverse partnerships. � To enable the sharing of information, experiences and resources. � To develop and activate a Volunteer Involvement Plan (VIP) to optimise volunteer

participation and outcomes.

We have made progress in 2012

• We have an engaged group of volunteers • Our supporter base is growing.

I see these objectives as the key to SGA being a sustainable, effective organisation with the heart for the environmental battle over the long haul. We formed a Futures Committee a couple of years ago which has driven the planning process and the engagement processes we utilized to gauge stakeholder views and knowledge. This committee is now exploring ways that would enable SGA to tap into our key resource - the 17,000 people on our database, all of whom are interested in what we do, many passionately. Our Futures Committee Chair, Sharron Phueller has a quick few words on our plans for 2013 We need more people who really care about sustainable gardening and living to join with us. The Futures Committee is a great opportunity for you to have your say. Progress in 2011/12 - It has been another full on year where we made great progress. Mary will be giving details of a very busy year in her report. SGA Team and Community; Great effort. Thanks for your contribution in 2011/12. A really big thankyou to:

• Our paid and unpaid staff - Elaine, Tracey, Ryan, Jane, Lisa and Julian. Liz Cooper, Nicky Kuna, Garry Fong, Natalie Manahan, Gavan O’Neil, Sharron Phueller, Gianni Montalto, Pia Sappl, Jo Bate, Frances Loury, Jo Swansborough, Denise Grantham, Judy and Graham Minnence, Mei Yin Chong, Helen Bordeaux, Paul McMorhan, Kim Edwards and Linette Harriott.

• Our community garden facilitators Donna Page, Megan Asling, Liz Duell, Tabitha Barclay and Catheryn Thompson

• The Beechworth, Toolangi & Castella, Yinnar and Jindivick communities for inviting us into their worlds to work with them and their community gardens.

• Presenters Ryan Young, Helen Tuton, Michael Tanner, Diana Cotter, Maria Ciavarella, Mariette Touhey and Angelo Eliades

• Our CEO Mary Trigger, Mary and her staff have driven some great progress over 2011/12

• The SGA Futures Committee consisting of Sharron, Kim, Paul, Tracey, Alan, Linette, Donna and Glen. Chaired by Sharron Pfeuller. Thanks Sharron and Kim in particular for your wise counsel and hours of work.

• SGA Board members who have volunteered their time and expertise to guide the organisation. Thanks particularly to our retiring board members Alan, Glen and Morris. Morris has been with SGA from incorporation, Alan has been very active on our Futures Committee and Glen’s advice on the operation of not for profits has been invaluable.

• Our financial supporters. • Peter Howey’s fastidious attention to financial detail and wise counsel on business

management matters have kept us on track. • Our ECLIPs members and professional gardener supporters. • Our project partners, City West Water and Sustainability Victoria and the many

councils that support us throughout the year, particularly our member councils:

Nillumbik, Manningham, Yarra Ranges, Banyule, Port Phillip, Boroondara, Bayside, Kingston, Melbourne and Monash and Stonnington.

Again, we thank the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust for the opportunity to work with bushfire affected communities and explore the community building opportunities through communal gardens. We feel greatly privileged for this opportunity. And lastly thank you and a big hug to each and every one of you in the SGA community, the 17,000 people on our database. Your support enlivens us. In way of a conclusion I am going to state the obvious to the people who attend events such as these…If the world’s scientists are correct, we are frying the planet for our children and grandchildren, and for the millions of other species that we share this planet with. If there is a 10% chance that the most respected people in the world of climate science are correct we would be crazy not to give an alternative a go. With sustainable gardening and living we have a very palatable and low cost alternative. At SGA we are here to serve your quest to build sustainable gardening and living into your and your communities healthy fulfilling lives. Further, we invite you to join SGA in promoting this journey to the wider community;

• Talk to Sharron about our Futures Committee • Check with Tracey if there are any volunteering opportunities and put your name

down. • Becoming an annual subscriber for $75 pa. Sign up today, get your friends to sign

up • Pop an email to Bruce about anything that comes to mind.

If you choose to become more involved in 2012/13, I guarantee you will feel the love! Bruce Plain President

ACTIVITY REPORT

ORGANISATIONAL PLANNING SGA STRATEGIC PLAN 2012-17 Our five year Strategic Plan was launched early 2012. The plan was developed following extensive consultation with more than 2,000 SGA stakeholders. Our four key aspirations over the next five years were identified as:

1. SGA is an independent, national brand 2. SGA fosters productive and diverse partnerships 3. SGA is a driver of behaviour change 4. SGA operates from a sound business and organisational base.

SGA ACTION PLAN 2012 Based on the Strategic Plan the Action Plan identified how SGA will achieve it’s aspirations through the implementation of a number of key projects engaging community, government and industry. SGA VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK Our Volunteer Handbook was finalised enabling SGA to recruit, maintain and develop a strong volunteer program that is essential to enable a small organisation to deliver on our aspirations. SGA STAFF POLICY & PROCEDURES MANUAL Staff commenced the process of compiling policies and recording procedures for the breadth of work undertaken by the organisation.

COMMUNAL GARDENS IN BUSHFIRE AFFECTED AREAS

In September 2010 SGA commenced work on developing and delivering the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust funded project Communal Gardens in Bushfire Affected Areas. This project is designed to contribute to the community recovery process and to provide a lasting contribution by helping to rebuild and regenerate through sustainable gardening activities. Four communities were selected, local facilitators employed and community consultation undertaken to determine the style of community garden to be developed. Jindivick, Yinnar, Beechworth and Toolangi & Castella gardens are very individual varying from a converted tennis court to the rear of a heritage listed neighbourhood house. By the end of the financial year all were progressing well on track for completion by December 2012. In addition training was provided to the four communities on a wide range of topics related to sustainable gardening and relevant to local conditions. Two of the six POD gardening groups were established in Callignee and Strathewan/St Andrews ahead of schedule. Under the communal gardens in bushfire affected areas project an additional four communities will be offered POD training and support in establishment in the next financial year.

Beechworth Communal Garden Toolangi & Castella Communal Garden

Yinnar Communal Garden Jindivick Communal Garden

SGA COMMUNITY TRAINING SGA specialises in providing practical, up to date information and training on sustainable gardening practices to home gardeners Sustainable Gardening Australia has developed a range of popular home gardener training workshops and courses that are typically delivered on behalf of local government or water authorities. Topics range from composting to growing organic vegetables to habitat gardening. During the last financial year SGA delivered more than 60 community workshops. SGA POD PROJECT SGA has continued to develop the PODs (Productive Organic Diverse & Sustainable) project. The concept behind this project is to encourage any enthusiastic person to put their hand up to become a neighbourhood convener. SGA then contacts fellow gardeners in their area, inviting them to get together, supplies them with a startup kit that contains information and resources, examples of how to run a group, resources available and support services. Each POD decides for themselves how their group will operate. They may focus on growing produce, creating habitat for local wildlife, or making their gardens more sustainable in general. SGA is investigating various modes of engagement with community from web based groups to neighbourhood gardening groups.

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT Sustainable Garden Centre Certification SGA undertook a review of the project to gauge industry support for environmental certification. The review concluded that garden centres were interested in SGA offering various levels of engagement for businesses to consider whether it be training, product advice, networking or environmental certification.

Environmentally Certified Landscape Industry Professionals (ECLIPs) ECLIPs certification provides environmental certification for private landscapers, commercial operators and public gardens. The certification has a focus on on-going environmental training with an accompanying environmental code of practice and customer education process. At the end of financial year 40 private landscapes and 10 public gardeners were ECLIPs certified and one large commercial operator was in the process of completing certification.

SGA has developed the six hour industry training course to provide the latest cutting edge information to retail garden centre staff and landscape professionals. In addition SGA delivers Pub Forums to ECLIPs members. At these events landscapers have an opportunity to listen to a number of speakers talking in depth on issues to do with sustainability and landscaping and to network with their colleges. In the last financial year SGA industry training was delivered on five occasions.

PROMOTION During the last financial year SGA has promoted a professional image and raised the profile of the organisation. Events SGA partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society at the 2012 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show held in the Exhibition Gardens. The theme of this year’s site was to showcase SGA projects and publications. Website To enable greater interaction from the wider community the SGA website was converted to a blog which resulted in a slump in independent visitors that we are working hard to reclaim. The number of Cuttings subscribers at end of financial year was 14,500. Publications

SGA partnered with Nillumbik, Manningham and Whittlesea Councils to produce the Home Harvest booklet that was subsequently customised for Moreland City Council. SGA successfully customised the Sustainable Gardening booklet for Mitchell & Strathbogie Shire Councils, Darebin City Council, City of Melbourne and Moreland City Council. SGA continued to promote and sell the self-published the SGA Yummy Yards, Pests and the Rest and the Companion Planting Chart.

SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS SGA would like to acknowledge the support of:

� Bulleen Art & Garden � Edwards Family Foundation � The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust

SGA STAFF Mary Trigger – Chief Executive Officer Elaine Shallue –Communal Bushfire Gardens Coordinator Helen Tuton – Garden Centre and Communications Coordinator Tracey Martin – Community Training, Volunteer and Administration Ryan Young – ECLIPs Coordinator Jane McKee – Garden Centre Review Lisa Walton – POD Review Officer Julian Agius – Website Manager Megan Asling – Jindivick Facilitator Catheryn Thompson – Yinnar Facilitator Donna Paige – Beechworth Facilitator Tabitha Barclay – Toolangi & Castella Facilitator Peter Howey - Accountant SGA PRESENTERS SGA would like to thanks our wonderful team of professionals who present our community and industry workshops: Ryan Young, Helen Tuton, Michael Tanner, Diana Cotter, Maria Ciavarella, Mariette Touhey and Angelo Eliades. SGA VOLUNTEERS SGA would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for volunteering their time and expertiseon a regular basis: Liz Cooper, Judy Minnence, Nicole Kuna, Denise Grantham, Pia Sappl, Jo Bate, Frances Loury, Mei Yin Cheong, Natalie Manahan, Helen Bordeaux and Jo Swansborough. We are also idebted to the following volunteers who have contributed over the last year on an occasional basis: Graham Minnience, Chamali Edoagamage, Gianni Montalto, Garry Fong, Sharron Pfueller, Glen Lawless and Simon Branson. SGA BOARD The direction and governance of SGA during the last financial year was provided by the following board members: Bruce Plain (President) Greg Moore (Vice President) Donna Stoddart (Secretary) Morris Nutbean (Treasurer) Alan Noy Sharron Pfueller Glen Lawless Mary Trigger