Volunteer Days - Thursday @ Saturday 10 am to 2 pm
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Volunteer Days - Thursday @ Saturday 10 am to 2 pm ***
Our mission is to support neighbourhood sustainability by building community and sharing skills across three key areas: crop production, skill development, and community wellbeing.
Core Work
Crop Production
Growing food crops using permaculture & organic gardening methods
We grow vegetable and orchard crops using permaculture and organic gardening methods with a focus on using naturally derived fertilisers like compost, aged manure, seaweed, and bone/blood meal. The liquid (leachate) produced from our warm farm is also used as a natural fertiliser by diluting this liquid worm tea with water and feeding it to plants. Liquid worm tea increases microbial activity in plant soil by increasing the number of good bacteria that help break down organic matter, thereby increasing the amount of nutrients in the soil that are available for plants. We aim to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides by using effective, natural biological sprays like neem oil for our vegetable crops to control aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and to control powdery mildew. To control bacterial and fungal diseases on our fruit trees we use organic copper fungicides that protect and prevent against black spot and downy/powdery mildew spores.
Neighbourhood Sustainability & Education
Helping locals build horticulture & community engagement skills
We work with a number of local schools and community organisations, teaching essential horticultural and crop production skills across a range of topics. Our Schools Programme focuses on teaching tamariki the basics of crop production, waste minimisation and composting through a fun and interactive programme developed with teachers. Signage around our site is designed to be engaging and informative with signs depicted near our composting system about the composting cycle and near our outdoor sink depicting water saving strategies. We aim to include more information signs across our site to provide visitors with insight into our crop production practices and act as an engagement point during our non-working days.
Community Development & Social Wellbeing
Working with the community to address local issues & improve wellbeing
We work with a number of social service providers and community groups to support community development and social wellbeing in our area. Volunteers and community supporters are given first access to plants and produce in exchange for labour and materials for our resource centre. We are currently in the process of redeveloping our ‘Tea for Ten’ programme that provides residents from nearby rest homes with afternoon tea and the opportunity to socialise and gather in an outdoor setting.
We also have worked with WINZ supporting individuals on ‘Job Connects’, helping them build confidence in a structured work environment while sharing valuable horticultural skills. Read our Social Services Policy here.
Waste Minimisation
Working with the community to address local issues & improve wellbeing
Since 2010 we have been working together with residents across several social housing complexes within the Spreydon area to help them create outdoor spaces that better serve their needs. In 2024 we renewed our contact with residents at MacGibbon Place and the Otautahi Community Housing Trust – the Property Manager for this set of CCC units to continue to deliver gardening support for residents. We provide gardening support in the form of tools, seeds, plants, compost, soil, hardscaping materials and horticulture advice. Numerous studies have shown the physical and mental wellbeing benefits gained from access to open green spaces and we continue to support neighbourhood sustainability and wellbeing through this mahi.
Beautification of the Environment
Working with the community to address local issues & improve wellbeing
Since 2010 we have been working together with residents across several social housing complexes within the Spreydon area to help them create outdoor spaces that better serve their needs. In 2024 we renewed our contact with residents at MacGibbon Place and the Otautahi Community Housing Trust – the Property Manager for this set of CCC units to continue to deliver gardening support for residents. We provide gardening support in the form of tools, seeds, plants, compost, soil, hardscaping materials and horticulture advice. Numerous studies have shown the physical and mental wellbeing benefits gained from access to open green spaces and we continue to support neighbourhood sustainability and wellbeing through this mahi.
