Waitaki Community Gardens Trust

Judging by the interest shown already in the proposed Waitaki Community Gardens it is no surprise that these gardens, which have sprouted up all around the country and the world, are thriving.

'The interest in the gardens has been phenomenal', said Marian Shore. She leads the Community Gardens steering group, who are in the final stages of forming the Waitaki Community Gardens Trust, 'especially with regard to the proposed allotment blocks'. 'Strong interest has come from schools, youth groups, churches and more senior people who have 'downsized' their properties and no longer have room for a vegetable garden'.

The land for the gardens has been donated by the Waitaki District Council and a strong partnership is being forged between Council staff and the Waitaki Community Gardens Trust.

The Trust will be working closely with Alison Banks, the Waitaki Safer Community Officer, who sees the gardens as having great potential to help at risk and disadvantaged youth gain their maximum potential. It will also be an extension of the Community Clean Up Program.

The aims of the garden are to create opportunities to educate and mentor the people of the Waitaki, especially the youth, to gain skills which would enable them to grow their own food.

The social benefit which develops at these gardens is significant and encourages the transfer of skills, the sharing of resources and a place where all people can feel comfortable to drop in at any time.

The current economic environment has created much interest in growing our own food and as history has shown, during hard times, when we 'go back to the basics', the general health of the Community improves.

Because of the strong history within the North Otago of vegetable growing, Marian believes there are still a lot of people who have saved seeds, sometimes for generations. These plants will be particularly healthy and adapted to local conditions. She is keen to establish a register of these seeds which will help to ensure that they are not lost. One of the potential allotment holders wants to use the land to enable him to continue to save his local heritage bean variety which he has saved for many years.

The design for the gardens has been developed by Jason Ross on permaculture principles. It includes heirloom orchards, bees, coppice blocks, education facilities and a demonstration 'back yard lawn' which will show how to transform the average backyard into a food basket.

Funding is currently being sought for a co-ordinator and other educational resources.
The gardens are located at the west end of the Botanical Gardens opposite the Waitaki Resource Recovery Park and are part of the Skyline Walkway. Access can also be gained from Fenwick Park.

On Sunday 30th November from 10.00am – 12.00pm an Open Day will be held at the Gardens where the paths and first allotments will be formed ready for planting. Everybody is welcome. Bring a spade and/or a wheelbarrow if you have one.
'Flower gardens grow flowers, vegetable gardens grow vegetables and Community gardens grow Communities'