Whangaparaoa residents who are keen to get their hands a little dirty are invited to attend the launch of a community garden in the grounds of the Whangaparaoa Hall on Saturday, August 13.
The garden is being developed on land that was until recently used by Northtec horticultural students. When the education body lost funding and had to move, the decision was made to expand their garden plots into a full-blown community garden.
The garden is modelled on the long-standing Melbourne community garden called Veg Out. As well as about 30 to 40 raised garden beds, there will be art installations, up-cycled furniture, a chicken coup and eventually, beehives.
Councillor Wayne Walker, a trustee of the Community Hall, is supporting the initiative and says the gardens will be a place that produces food, educates people on the principles of permaculture and organic gardening, teaches seed saving, worm farming and home composting, and encourages creativity.
“We hope the plots will be taken up and cared for by individual groups,” he says.
“We are sourcing a range of fruit trees, vegetables and other plants ready for the first planting day on August 13.”
The launch will start at 10am and there will be a free barbecue lunch, as well as pizza from the new pizza oven.
