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An energetic working bee got Coast’s latest community garden off the ground, with a team of around 20 people working in the rain on Saturday, October 1.
The site is alongside Ōrewa Community House in Western Reserve – community garden organising committee member Lena Kovac describes the garden as an example of what can be done, using permaculture principles, on an imperfect site.
First, the area was covered in cardboard followed by barrow loads of mulch – eight cubic metres was donated by Daltons. This will suppress weeds, retain moisture and break down over time to build up the soil.
Lena says the garden will demonstrate what is possible in an average suburban backyard.
“We hope to inspire people to give it a go in their own gardens and would love to provide working groups to help people get their new gardens going around Ōrewa and eventually have a food-growing community,” Lena says.
The food grown at the community garden will go to the garden volunteers and any that is left over will go to the Hibiscus Coast Community House foodbank.
The garden is now officially open. Volunteer gardeners meet Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-11am every week, and volunteers are invited to join to learn and share knowledge on growing food and gardening.
Info: look for Ōrewa Community Garden Volunteer group on Facebook or email lynseymellis@gmail.com
Gulf Harbour gets garden bed
A raised garden bed with vegetable seedlings appeared recently outside the Ward’s home at 1236 Whangaparāoa Road, Gulf Harbour.
Once the vegetables are ready to harvest, it will be a way of sharing fresh produce with the community.
Janine and her husband Jody stepped in when the local food shelf at Gulf Harbour School was vandalised, and reinstated it at their place. Janine says it’s been going well and demand for the free food has been overwhelming. There are generous donations to the food shelf and Janine’s family also pitches in, keeping it topped up.
With the cost of fresh produce rising, the family decided to start a garden, including the raised bed by their front fence. “Fresh produce is the most expensive item when we do our grocery shop, so I started a garden, which is likely to produce more than we can consume. Some locals helped us plant and establish it. “We hope to put another one in– if we can get funds for wood.”
“I’m open for anyone to help, because I’m no gardener but I’m learning a lot. We don’t use sprays and when the vegies are ready to harvest, people can help themselves – there will be more than enough for everyone. We just ask that people be respectful and only take what they need.”
