This photograph shows one of the many buckets of tomatoes harvested at the Te Kauwhata Community Garden this summer, on its way to the Pātaka Kai at the Community House.
Our tomatoes begin their cultivation with their stems tied to upright stakes. However, as the season progresses they tend to grow wild. This is partly due to the nature of summer. Christmas is a time when our volunteer workers take some leave, and attention given to the garden can be intermittent.
Because our tomatoes grow a bit on the wild and bushy side, there are often lots left in the soil at the end of the season. These regrow themselves all over the garden. You will see quite large areas of tomato vines growing densely across the ground. Harvesting is a long and patient process, but a very rewarding one. We are proud to provide so much free food for the community.
Fresh, outdoor-grown tomatoes are a seasonal delicacy and are best eaten raw in a salad or on bread. If you find yourself with more tomatoes than you can eat, they can easily be cooked into a sauce. To make a simple tomato sauce, cut the tomatoes into small pieces and put them in a large pot with sliced onion and a little oil or butter. Cook this down into a pulp and season with salt, pepper and a little sugar. This sauce can be served with freshly cooked pasta, used for pizza, or added to gravy for extra flavour. If you end up with too much sauce, you can put it into small containers and freeze it.
Tomatoes like to grow in a spot with plenty of sun. Look around your place and, if you find a suitable spot, remember to have a go at growing your own next summer.
