A new garden is taking shape in Fergusson Domain, where food will be grown by the community, for the community.
The garden, Ngā Hua o Oranga, is the new, bigger homes for the community garden that has been in Oranga Ave,, and has funding from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board and Auckland Council, and is managed by Tāmaki WRAP (Waste Reduction Action Project).
Cardboard and mulch are already laid, planting beds are being prepared, the compost hub is up and running and the community can drop off their food scraps.
Community activator from Tāmaki WRAP, Sarah Lightbody, is currently growing the first plants from seed, including silverbeet, cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot, spinach and lettuce.
She said the garden has multiple purposes beyond simply providing food, including increasing food resilience within the community, and being a space for sharing knowledge and “volunteer sessions will be learning opportunities”.
The garden will grow a wide variety of fresh produce, including leafy greens, herbs, kūmara, taro, chillies, pumpkins, bananas and citrus and a dedicated rongoā garden will feature plants traditionally used for Māori healing and wellbeing. Border plantings include species with cultural significance such as ti plants, harakeke and wildflowers.
There will be ‘help yourself’ areas, with the idea that people can pop in and pick what they need for dinner, and special harvest days are also planned for other parts of the garden, when crops are ready.
“We want the garden to strengthen community connections, be inclusive and build a sense of belonging,” says Lindsay Kemp, community activator from Tāmaki WRAP.
“There will be many ways to get involved, even fro those who do not consider themselves gardeners. Volunteers can help with planting, weeding, pest control, composting, building planter boxes or sharing skills in areas such as marketing and volunteer recruitment.”
The garden is close to the Namata Road entrance to Fergusson Domain.
-This story first appeared in the Onehunga Community News