Green Thumbs has quickly become one of our most popular tenant initiatives, offering small grants to help people grow vegetables, plant flowers and natives, or bring greenery into their homes. The program is designed to make gardening accessible, encourage healthier outdoor spaces and support tenants to take pride in their homes and neighbourhoods.
Home in Place tenants have once again shown how much a small garden project can lift a home. After the first Green Thumb round delivered veggie patches, colourful natives, indoor plants and even small community gardens, the spring round invited tenants to take on quicker projects that bring instant colour and life.
This round focused on simple ideas that make an immediate difference. Tenants were able to apply for support to grow spring vegetables, plant flowers or natives, or add greenery indoors. The response was enthusiastic, with 381 expressions of interest received across all branches.
Successful tenants were notified in November, and since then the Community Participation team has been working directly with tenants and local teams to deliver the grants and help get gardens underway.
In total, 242 personal garden grants were approved. East Maitland tenants submitted the highest number of EOIs (97) and received 56 grants. Strong participation also came from Brisbane, Lake Macquarie, Taree and the Upper Hunter.
To help with planning and budgeting, grants were grouped into garden types: 126 for spring flowers and natives, 74 for vegetables and 42 for indoor plants.
Thank you to our Community Participation Officers who continue to coordinate, adjudicate and support tenants through the process. The photos coming in as gardens take shape have been lovely to see.
The next Green Thumbs round will launch early in the new year to help tenants prepare their gardens for Autumn.
