PCG Sustainability Team
The Sustainability Team at Padbury Community Garden Inc. plays a key role in ensuring our garden operates in environmentally responsible and regenerative ways. Through initiatives such as worm farming, composting, and the use of water-efficient wicking beds, the team works to reduce waste, improve soil health, and conserve resources. Food scraps and garden materials are transformed into valuable nutrients through our worm farms and compost systems, helping to close the loop between waste and food production. The team is also progressively converting traditional raised beds into wicking beds to improve water efficiency and support resilient growing in Western Australia’s climate. These sustainable practices align with our partnership with Mentally Healthy WA and the Act Belong Commit message, as the garden provides opportunities for people to be active, connect with others, and engage in meaningful environmental stewardship that supports both community wellbeing and the health of our planet.
Worm Farming at
the community garden
At Padbury Community Garden Inc., we turn food scraps into garden gold through worm farming. Our worm farms are home to hardworking compost worms that transform fruit and vegetable scraps into rich worm castings and liquid fertiliser.
This natural process helps reduce waste going to landfill while creating nutrient-dense food for our garden beds. The worm castings improve soil structure, boost plant health and support the beneficial microorganisms that keep our garden thriving.
Worm farming is simple, sustainable and fascinating to watch. Visitors to the garden can learn how easy it is to start a worm farm at home and see firsthand how these tiny recyclers play a big role in building healthy soil and productive gardens.
By caring for our worm farms, our volunteers help close the loop between food waste and food production — turning scraps into resources and helping our community grow more sustainably 🌿
Watch Costa in the YouTube clip below, from an episode of Gardening Australia, to learn how you can build and run a worm farm at your house....
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Composting at
the community garden
At Padbury Community Garden Inc., composting is an important part of how we care for the environment and keep our garden productive. By turning garden waste and suitable food scraps into nutrient-rich compost, we reduce the amount of organic material going to landfill while creating a valuable resource that feeds our soil and plants.
Our composting systems include aerobins and compost tumblers, which allow us to break down organic materials in a clean and efficient way. These systems help manage airflow, moisture and temperature to produce quality compost that can be returned to our garden beds.
As a community garden, we have been trialling different composting systems to find what works best in a shared space. Managing the balance between “wet” materials (such as fruit and vegetable scraps) and “dry” materials (such as leaves and cardboard) can be challenging when many people are contributing to the compost. Because of this, our Sustainability Team continues to experiment with different approaches. So far, the Aerobin system has proven to be one of the most effective options for our garden, helping us manage compost more consistently while keeping the process simple for volunteers.
The finished compost is returned to the soil throughout the garden, improving soil structure, boosting nutrients and supporting healthy plant growth. Through composting, our volunteers help close the loop between waste and food production while learning practical skills they can take home and use in their own gardens.
Curious how the aerobin works?
The Aerobin is an insulated composting system designed to efficiently break down organic waste. It uses a patented central aeration “lung” that allows air to circulate through the compost, meaning the contents do not need to be regularly turned. This controlled airflow, combined with insulation, helps maintain the warmth and conditions needed for microorganisms to rapidly decompose organic materials.
The Aerobin can process a wide range of kitchen scraps and garden materials, producing nutrient-rich compost in as little as three to six months. It also collects excess moisture from the composting process in a base chamber, creating a liquid fertiliser that can be diluted and used to feed plants in the garden.
This efficient system helps reduce organic waste while creating valuable compost and fertiliser to support healthy soil and plant growth.
To read the full Aerobin brochure, click on the button below
Wicking beds at the community garden
To respond to Perth’s increasingly hot and drying climate, Padbury Community Garden Inc. has installed WaterUps wicking beds and progressively converted traditional raised beds into wicking systems. Wicking beds feature a built-in water reservoir beneath the soil, allowing plants to draw up moisture from below as needed. This creates consistent soil moisture, reduces evaporation, and uses significantly less water than conventional top watering.
These systems are particularly important in Western Australia, where long dry periods and water restrictions make efficient irrigation essential.
Having wicking beds at the community garden has not only decreased the water requirements of the space, and decreased our adverse environmental impact, they have reduced the time requirements of the Watering Team. This has made being part of the team a less daunting commitment, even making it more accessible for volunteers who are less physically able to get involved as the watering isn't as strenuous a task.
The results so far have been very encouraging — with stronger plant growth, improved water efficiency, and healthier soil conditions across our converted beds.
Are you curious how wicking beds work, and how much better they really are?
1. Water reservoir at the base
At the bottom of the bed is a sealed reservoir that stores water. This space is usually created with gravel, drainage cells, or a commercial system such as WaterUps modules.
2. Soil layer above the reservoir
A geotextile or barrier layer separates the reservoir from the soil above it. The soil sits on top and is able to absorb water slowly from the reservoir underneath.
3. Capillary action (wicking)
Water moves upward through the soil via the process of Capillary Action. Plant roots draw moisture as they need it, keeping the soil evenly moist rather than wet on the surface and dry underneath.
4. Overflow outlet
Most wicking beds include an overflow pipe so excess water can drain away once the reservoir is full, preventing waterlogging.
Wicking beds are a self-watering garden bed system that waters plants from below the soil rather than from above. They use the natural process of capillary action—the same process that allows a sponge to draw water upward.
Why and how do they work so well?
Less watering time required
Beds can hold several days’ worth of water. Wicking beds are watered via the inlet pipe, then plants access the water they require via the wicks in the water reservoir under the soil. Water usage, therefore, is more efficient and there is far less evaporation.
Better for hot climates
Ideal for places like Perth with long dry summers, with a drying climate.
Consistent moisture
Plants get steady access to water, through pulling water from the wicking cells at the base of the system.
More water efficent
There is far less evaporation than surface watering, these beds use approximately 20% of the water of surface irrigated gardens (using spray or drip irrigation).
Improved yields
Wicking beds increase plant yields and extend flowering and fruiting seasons. Crops grown in wicking beds have been proven to be healthier plants at the cellular level, as water and nutrients are readily absorbed by plants where they need it most – through their roots.