Local families in Te Kauwhata are benefitting from the hard work of a bunch of green fingered volunteers who built and care for the community garden in the village.
The idea was kicked around for a number of years, with the council agreeing to its establishment in part of the Domain, but languished until it was picked up by a team of volunteers encouraged by a green-fingered community stalwart and under the governance of the Community House.
The garden is a showpiece not only for the wide variety of herbs and vegetables (and seasonal flower borders) but also as a gathering spot for an increasing band of hard-working volunteers.
But it’s not all ‘heads down, weeds up” for the Tuesday morning group. There’s plenty of camaraderie and new friendships amongst the gentle planting, pruning, staking – and of course, stopping for a chat or catchup on the week’s news.
New volunteers are always welcome, and no gardening experience is necessary. According to the group, “There’s always watering and harvesting to be done, and everyone is welcome to pop in when they can; we are there on Tuesdays from 9am-11am summer and 10am – noon in the winter. And, we often go for a coffee afterwards. It’s a great way to meet new people and do something for the whole community.”
Additionally, students from the neighbouring Te Kauwhata Primary School turn up most Tuesdays to help with mulching, weeding and planting a native garden with guidance from volunteer, Spencer Drinkwater. The project aims to grow a new generation of young gardeners whilst helping the community with the garden harvest and the ever-expanding – but still yet too young – fruit forest in the domain.
The Community House governs the garden, supports the volunteers, sources funding, liaises with stakeholders and distributes the produce. LLauren Hughes, Community House manager explains; “We distribute it via the pataka kai in batches throughout the day for fairest distribution. If we are also making up food bank parcels while the harvest is in some fresh items may also be added to them. It all goes back to the community.”
Locals are discouraged from impromptu ‘harvesting’ in the community garden, thus giving young crops time to grow. For fairness to all, produce is readily available through the pataka kai or the Community House.
Lauren says the Community Garden is a treasure for Te Kauwhata. “ It is a beautiful, sensory pleasure in the heart of the village for all to enjoy; it produces quality food for local families, it is a place of learning where local students and volunteers can develop their knowledge of plants and gardening and it is a place where volunteers can build social connections and give meaningfully to their community.
“We are very proud of what our local gardeners have achieved and grateful for the many hours of love and toil they invest so we can all enjoy this wondrous garden in Te Kauwhata.”
And the last word from the gardeners themselves: “we are always looking for seeds, so if anyone has unwanted seeds hiding in their cupboards or garage, please drop them into the Community House for us to use for the community.”
By Claire Simpson
