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The Theosophical Centre in Orewa is to expand its community garden and become a centre of gardening study, with the arrival of Northtec gardening courses next month.
The Orewa Theosophy Centre started the garden at the end of last year (HM November 4, 2015) and it has already been made available for free workshops run by the Compost Collective.
Betsy Kettle, a long time local organic gardener, will tutor the Sustainable Rural Development course, which is free of charge and starts on August 9.
The level two programme is designed to help people develop the skills and knowledge to establish a garden using sustainable and organic principles. Students may then go on to study at a higher level or move into a career in horticulture.
Betsy says that the first crop of students will be tasked with expanding the existing garden beds and adding new ones using recycled materials. Betsy says it may take several terms to complete this work, which she says will be funded by Northtec.
The back section of its site, on the corner of Forest Glen and Annalise Place, will be set up to start organic seedlings, demonstrate winter gardening, and intensively-grown, small space, urban vegetable production.
Betsy hopes that experienced gardeners, as well as new ones, will join this free, 19-week course to share their knowledge and help establish this new community facility.
She says locals with building experience are also sought to help establish the project. Those interested in the Sustainable Rural Development, Orewa Gardening Course can find out more information from Betsy Kettle, phone 09 426 4909 or 021 0826 8196.
To enrol, contact Northtec on 0800 162 100.
