🌱 Growing Community Since 2012
Joy of the Earth Community Garden (JOTE) is a welcoming community garden in Frankston, established in 2012 to bring people together through gardening, sustainability and community connection.
What began as a shared space for growing food has become a place where people can grow, learn, connect and belong.
JOTE provides opportunities to garden, share knowledge, learn new skills, meet new people and enjoy the many health and wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors and connecting with nature.
We are committed to organic and sustainable gardening, caring for our environment and creating an inclusive community space where people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and levels of gardening experience are welcome.
💚 WHAT MATTERS TO US
🌱 Growing — food, knowledge, skills and confidence
🤝 Connecting — bringing people together and strengthening community
🌻 Belonging — creating a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone
🐝 Caring — for our garden, environment, wildlife and one another
♻️ Sustainability — gardening responsibly and reducing our environmental impact
💚 Wellbeing — supporting physical activity, social connection and time in nature
🎯 OUR OBJECTIVES
The objectives of Joy of the Earth Community Garden are to:
- 🌿Design and maintain a community garden that makes best use of the site and its natural features
- 🌼Provide a mix of individual garden beds and shared spaces, including a community orchard and communal planting areas
- 🌻Manage the garden in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, using sustainable and organic gardening practices
- 🌱Encourage participation, learning and inclusion for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities
- 👩🌾Support health, wellbeing and social connection through active involvement in the garden
- ☀️Operate as a not-for-profit incorporated association, governed by an elected Committee of Management
👨👩👧Membership at JOTE is open to members of the local community, subject to garden guidelines and capacity.
🖤💛❤️ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Joy of the Earth Community Garden was established in 2012 as a not-for-profit community initiative, developed in partnership with Frankston City Council and the Rotary Club of Frankston.
Joy of the Earth Community Garden meets on the lands of the Bunurong People of the South- Eastern Kulin Nation. JOTE wishes to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners of these lands. JOTE pays respects to their Elders, past and present.
The garden was created to provide a shared community space focused on food growing, sustainability and social connection. Since its establishment, JOTE has grown steadily into a well-used and valued community asset supported by a dedicated group of volunteers and members.
Over the years, the garden has continued to develop through:
- Ongoing volunteer involvement and community working bees
- Support from Frankston City Council through infrastructure and grant funding
- Partnerships with local organisations, businesses and community groups
- The introduction of sustainable systems such as water-wise infrastructure, composting and worm farms
- Regular community activities, open days and skill-sharing opportunities
Today, Joy of the Earth Community Garden continues to thrive as a place where people come together to grow food, care for the environment and strengthen community connections.
🌱 THEN & NOW
The garden may have changed over the years, but the heart of JOTE remains the same — bringing people together through gardening, friendship and community. 💚
🤝 OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS
JOTE was established with the support and partnership of Frankston City Council and the Rotary Club of Frankston. Their contribution helped turn the vision for a community garden into the thriving community space JOTE is today.
📸 OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS IN THE GARDEN
Our founding partnerships continue to be part of JOTE’s story — connecting people, supporting our garden and helping our community continue to grow. 🌻
🤝 OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
JOTE thrives through the support, generosity and involvement of our wider community.
We are proud to work alongside local organisations, community groups, businesses and volunteers who share our commitment to community connection, inclusion, sustainability and wellbeing.
These relationships help us deliver projects, improve our garden, share resources, support community participation and create opportunities for people to connect.
🌱 Participation & Inclusion
Working alongside organisations such as Department of Justice Services, Wellways and Focus to create opportunities for participation, connection and contribution.
🌻 Learning & Growing
Connecting with Natured Kids and other community groups to share gardening, nature and learning experiences.
💚 Giving Back
Through relationships with organisations such as Bayside Community Collective, surplus JOTE produce and donated pantry items can help support people in our wider community.
We are also incredibly grateful to the local businesses, nurseries, community organisations and volunteers whose generosity helps JOTE continue to grow.
🌻 COME GROW WITH US
Whether you’re looking for a garden bed, interested in meeting new people, keen to learn more about sustainable gardening or simply want to become part of a welcoming local community, there’s a place for you at JOTE.
Grow with us. Connect with us. Belong with us. 💚
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