About Us

Yandina Community Gardens Inc. (YCG) is a membership-based community group dedicated to providing education and practical experiences in Permaculture Design Principles. YCG and “The Blue House” is a volunteer-run learning environment for Permaculture gardening. It was established for the community to gain practical skills in growing their own food and also features an old Queensland weatherboard house which has been retrofitted to demonstrate practical solutions to changing your home to be more sustainable.

Who We Are

Organic gardening students erecting bamboo tripod

We Believe we are all guardians of a more sustainable earth

Our Vision is to be a knowledge & demonstration hub for sustainable living

Our Purpose is to promote & demonstrate a framework of sustainable living

We Value: Biodiversity, Equality, Inclusion, Mutual respect for each other & all living things, Living lightly on the earth

Want to know more about our organisation click here

The Community Gardens demonstrate organic food production using Permaculture design principles

Water-wise tropical vegetables are propagated in the nursery from stock grown in the gardens and are available for sale to the public.
‘Sustainable living’ projects demonstrate energy-efficiency and the use of renewable resources, for example, the solar hot water and photovoltaic systems on The Blue House roof and the’ straw bale shelter’ for the garden volunteers.
The Gardens are an exceptional venue for Permaculture education and they are a meeting place not only for residents of Yandina but the greater Sunshine Coast community.

Our History

In 2002 Maroochy Community Permaculture Group Inc. (MCPG) established Yandina Community Gardens on two disused tennis courts and a basketball court in Farrell Street Yandina.
The dream. Wasteland to permaculture productivity!!
Always start with a plan! You can identify the gardens even now from the first plan. Such inspiring pioneers of YCG
Clearing the way
Clearing the way
The first occupants of the new gardens
Mystery person. Who can identify this charming creature seen lurking in the gardens
Layers of techniques involved in the building of the cob oven
A heritage Queenslander, now known as ‘The Blue House’, was re-located on the corner of North and Farrell Streets and was leased to MCPG, who were authorised to coordinate its renovation and landscaping.
Beginning the blue house garden. note the first nursery tunnel in the background
Staking the new blue house & gardens out after initial renovations
From humble beginnings
Work for the dole participants support our renovation efforts of the 'Blue House'
Thanks to the hard work of willing hands the job is done
First worm composting garden bed
The simple skillion roof was built over the western wall of the house protecting the kitchen entrance from wind,rain and the western sun.
Tanks installed to capture rain off the roof
Straw bale shelter for the garden volunteers
The 'Blue House' gets its green credentials
Yandina Community Gardens – recipients of the Sunshine Coast Council’s 2010 Glossies award for Edible Landscapes
Sails put up to create better shelter for volunteers and members visiting the garden
Key hole garden inspiration for the Yandina logo
Organic gardening students erecting bamboo tripod
Due to increasing identity problems and the need to satisfy statutory requirements, Maroochy Community Permaculture Group Inc. officially changed it’s name to Yandina Community Gardens Inc. And our journey continues...