In their successful application to the 2023 Permafund grant round, Anam Cara House in the Australian town of Colac, Victoria, described its main purpose as “To provide the South West Victorian community with excellence in respite and end of life care within a home-like environment; embracing respect and compassion for all people.”
They explained “We operate a day hospice program, 4 days a week. There are many participants who have a life-long love of the outdoors and gardening so we often do outdoor garden activities with them.
Day respite at the hospice provides a vital break for carers and gives the participants opportunities to enjoy different activities and socialise.”
Anam Cara House described their project as “Permaculture gardening – a community and social experience for people with a chronic life limiting illness. Our aim is to develop an existing site on the hospice grounds with raised wicking garden beds for food production. The food grown will supply our kitchen for homemade meals for our guests.”
The Permafund management team has been receiving regular progress reports from the Community Liaison Nurse, Naomi Lettieri.
“Our permaculture garden project is going along well. We have planned out the space and identified the size of the raised garden beds and the required space around the beds so someone in a wheelchair can move around the space. Initially we had planned to use a different site, but after meeting and considering our best options, we are positioning the garden beds in a location closer to the hospice building.
Our respite guests and maintenance team have been consulted on the plans. We have identified what items we already have that can be recycled or repurposed for the activity to start. We have ordered our garden beds to be made by a local tradesperson, using recycled, untreated cypress timber with a food grade wicking lining.
Everyone is excited about this project and we are talking to local businesses about how they can support us with some of the components as donations, such as gravel for fill, sand and soil.
“The excavation will be done as a working bee with volunteer support. We have the site preparation well underway, the garden beds with the lining are on site. We are hopeful to be ready for spring planting.” Our Thursday day respite participants have been involved in the decision making and planning. Our maintenance team and volunteers have been assisting with the groundwork. We are excited to see the project develop to get the garden beds in place and growing food for the hospice kitchen. “
Once the new garden beds were set up Naomi reported “We are delighted to let you know that we planted out the wonderful wicking garden beds with some of our day respite participants 2 weeks ago.
The participants really enjoyed the experience, and the plants are already growing well.
It will be a great activity as time goes by as the gardens become well established.” Anam Cara House, Colac, Victoria will continue to share reports about the impact of this project.
Thanks to the build up of donations from individuals, businesses and groups throughout each year the Permafund management committee is able to regularly launch a grant round.
Applications to Permafund for funding for environmental and permaculture education projects are received from a wide variety of community organisations both in Australia and regions around the world -from the Pacific to Asia, Africa to the Americas.
Donations and tithes from individuals and businesses to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund are warmly welcomed with amounts over $2.00 tax deductible in Australia.
Funds raised by community events such as Open Garden days, social gatherings, workshops and festivals provide wonderful support for Permafund’s grant program.
Contributions to the Permafund can be made here via PayPal or direct deposit. Thanks to everyone for your support.
For more information and to share fundraising ideas for Permaculture Australia’s Permafund please contact permafund@permacultureaustralia.org.au
Story by the Permafund committee