The 3-year-old community gardens have fulfilled a wide range of roles in the community, from education to providing produce for sale.
The gardens won the supreme award at this year's Waitaki community awards - the first time they have encompassed the whole of the district instead of just Oamaru and Waihemo.
The Waitaki Gardens Community Trust received a framed certificate, a trophy and $1500.
The trust will represent the district at the 2012 TrustPower national community awards in the Far North district in March next year.
In total, various community groups received $6250 from last night's awards.
TrustPower community relations representative Jess Somerville said the community gardens were an asset making a real difference in the community.
"From seed to table, everything you want to know about growing and preparing your own food is available. The community garden trust is all about providing opportunities to grow healthy food for families at next to no cost," she said.
The trust, with 30 to 35 volunteers, worked with youth, local families and community groups who used the gardens as a "classroom without walls".
Successful programmes included "seeds to table" and "lunchbox for life".
The competition for this year's TrustPower Waitaki District Community Awards was tough, with 97 groups entered.
Two youth community awards were presented last night: Paige Aitcheson (East Otago High School) won the Waihemo section; Hannah Mihaere (St Kevin's College) took the Oamaru award. The $500 ($250 personally and $250 to a community group) awards recognised secondary student service.
Other winners were.-Heritage and environment: Te Runanga o Moeraki; runner-up, Five Forks School centenary committee; commendation, Duntroon and District Development Association.
Health and wellbeing: Catholic Women's League, Oamaru Branch; runner-up, Oamaru Mental Health Support Charitable Trust; commendation, Omarama Mental Health Support Charitable Trust.
Arts and culture: Oamaru Performing Arts Society; runner-up, Friends of the Forrester; commendations, Harbourside Community Development Trust and Central Coast Country Music Association.
Sport and leisure: Winner, Otematata Residents' Association; runner-up, Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club Tour; commendation, Meadowbank United Football Club.
Educational and child/youth development: Winner, Oamaru St John youth division; joint runner-up, Maheno Home and School and Te Ara.
Waihemo award, East Otago District Lions Club.
