Community Grow Project Launches

Published on 01 October 2020

Community members can learn the secrets of wicking bed design and management and go in the draw to win soil and rock aggregate to help make their own home version when Snowy Valleys Council kicks off its Grow project as part of the Healthy Town Challenge.

Two specially developed wicking beds will be built in Tumut’s Richmond park and at the Tumbarumba Creek Scape this week and an instructional video documenting the process will be made available for people to learn how to make their version own at home.

Locals will also have the opportunity to win a trailer load of compostable soil or rock aggregate to help kickstart their home garden adventures.

Council’s Director Community and Corporate Paul Holton said the Grow project was an opportunity to promote the benefits of developing skills and capacity for families to grow vegetables at home.

“By providing practical DIY instructions and an opportunity to get a helping start by winning some free soil we hope that locals will take up the challenge to grow and enjoy their own vegies and herbs,” Mr Holton said.

With bushfires, floods and changing climate conditions creating new challenges for backyard gardeners, wicking beds use much less water and require less maintenance than conventional garden beds to grow thriving plants and are easy to maintain.

“Our original plan was to hold live wicking bed making workshops but COVID-19 restrictions have required a re-think and so with the online tutorial we hope to still inspire people to check out the video and have a go at a DIY,” said Mr Holton.

Council has also partnered with Elliott’s Landscape Supplies to give away 75 loads of compostable soil and 50 loads of rock aggregate as part of the Grow project to help kickstart a backyard wicking bed revolution.

Interested locals are invited to enter their details on-line to be part of the draw.  The prizes are pick-up only and winners must be able to pick up their prize at  Elliott’s Landscape Supplies in Tumut, or from the SVC Waste Transfer Station in Tumbarumba.

For more information and to enter the competition visit www.svc.nsw.gov.au/wickingbedcomp.  Terms and conditions apply.

-ENDS-