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Community Gardens

Community Gardens in New Zealand

Community gardens are typically owned by a trust, organisation or local government and run as not for profit ventures. They are managed and maintained by the gardeners themselves and provide fresh produce and plants as well as satisfying labour and a sense of community and connection to the environment.

The ‘Goodies’ at Good Magazine have created a collaborative Google Map of community gardens in NZ.

We’re still compiling these listings but if you know of a community garden in your area we’ve missed drop us a line with details and we’ll add it here and pass it on.

Victory Community Gardens, Nelson

The grow it logo

Part of the Victory Community Centre, the community garden is in the back corner of the Victory Primary School campus, near the Victory Village Learning Centre buildings.

There is a waharoa (Maori word for gateway) at the entrance carved by Mark Davis and a team of volunteers. The central garden is a mandala - a large circle with segments for different plantings. There is a shade house, sheltered and warm for seedlings, cooler and ventilated for plants before being planted out.

A small octagonal pergola is for sitting and eating. There are a range of composting systems on display - 3 bin system, worm farm (in a bath), rotating barrel, and various examples of mulching - cardboard, sawdust, and barrels for soaking comfrey, weeds, fish stock and other garden foods for building soil fertility.

For more information visit the website

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Nelson Seed Savers

Sow grow and save for a sustainable future

"Seeds are a part of our heritage, and a connection with the food that we eat.

Seeds were an original form of exchange and barter between peoples over the past centuries. This exchange allowed for communication between local populations and for a spread of biodiversity, now threatened by multinational companies.

Many people have lost any connection to their food since the advent of supermarkets and a loss of land to grow food, it is vital that these connections be continued."

Meet at the Waimarama Organic Community Gardens see site for dates.

seeds.org.nz

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University of Canterbury Community Gardens

UC Community Gardens Banner

The Community Gardens here on campus aim to be creative and relaxing places on the University campus - a time and space out from work or study.

Anyone is free to wander through the gardens and for those wanting to get more involved, come along to one of the regular gardening times at either garden to meet others, take part in some hands-on gardening and learn new things.

No previous gardening experience is necessary, and volunteers get to take home their share of the fresh produce collected that day!

There are now two community gardens here on campus: Okeover Community Garden and Dovedale Community Garden.

Maps, meeting times and info on the gardening group can be found on the UC website:

sustain.canterbury.ac.nz/comm_garden

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Freedom Fruit Gardens

Freedom Fruit Gardens is the work of artist A.D.Schierning, it is a project that aims to plant edible gardens throughout New Zealand. Creating increased accessibility to the simple pleasure of harvesting and eating fruit straight from the tree.

When given an apple you can eat an apple, when given an apple tree you can enjoy many apples. Fruit freed from consumer society and a reminder that food is something that does not initially come from a supermarket. ‘Freedom Fruit Gardens’ hails from a movement within society to promote a dying art within urban space.

Read more...

If you would like to know more about the project or offer your support please contact A.D.Schierning
E-Mail: foxstudio@slingshot.co.nz

freedomfruitgardens.com

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Otautahi Urban Foraging

Free food is plentiful throughout Christchurch and Otautahi Urban Foraging group wants to help people find it.

From the Google Food Map:
"All over the city there is food that is being grown by nature, which falls on the ground and rots without being utilised. This group will function as a treasure map for the city, displaying information about foraging throughout the Christchurch area which are publicly accessible.

This map is also open for persons who have food growing on their own property, yet are unable to consume everything that is produced, and are happy to share their natural resources with others. If you know of some under-utilised resource, feel free to add it to this map, including information on what time of year the food is best accessed, what it is, and any other required information.

(The official website wasn't operational at the time this listing was created)

Otautahi Urban Foraging Google Map
Otautahi Urban Foraging on Facebook

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Ooooby – For food growers and local foodies

Oooby Logo

Oooby is about local food. It is a social network & food delivery service. Learn about food growing and recipes in the Ooooby-versity group.

Ooooby (Out of our own back yards) is all about connecting communities through local food.

Ooooby is for you if you either like to grow food (on a farm, in your backyard, in a community garden or where ever) or if you just like to eat locally grown food.

» See the full listing for more details...

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Waitati Edible Gardeners, Otago

Waitati Edible Gardeners group - Cooperative Garden

The Waitati Edible Gardeners group (nicknamed "the WEGgies") are a group dedicated to addressing the challenges of post peak oil and climate change, by strengthening our community in the immediate future through food production, with emphasis on domestic scale growing.

See their website on transitiontowns.org.nz

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Otepoti Urban Organics – Seed Exchange, Dunedin

Otepoti Urban Organics non-profit Network
Otepoti Urban Organics is a non-profit network of gardeners, community groups and businesses who have an interest in fostering and engaging in organic food growing activities, and other sustainable practices, in the Dunedin area.

The primary purpose of the network's existence is to increase the quantity and quality of food grown by people in their own back yards or other locations, and to make these activities more enjoyable, productive and efficient for all involved.

We encourage people to view vegetable gardening not only as a hobby but as a way of life... an opportunity to engage in a living relationship between you, the food you eat, and the community you live within.

Symbiosis Seed Exchange
Otepoti Urban Organics is now coordinating a seed savers network for Otago residents, known as the 'Symbiosis Seed Exchange'. We have sourced a range of heirloom and open pollinated vegetable varieties from various sources around New Zealand, having selected those suited to Southern climates.

urbanorganics.org.nz

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North East Valley Community Gardens, Dunedin

NEV Community Gardens
A new community garden starting up in North East Valley in 2011. It is up the former top back field of North East Valley primary school.
Email garden@northeastvalley.org for more info.

Connect with Dunedin organic community at urbanorganics.org.nz

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Dunedin Community Gardens

Dunedin Community Gardens
Shetland Street Reserve,
Kaikorai Valley,
Dunedin

For information on organics in the Dunedin area:
The Otepoti Urban Organics is a not-for-profit network of gardeners, community groups and businesses who have an interest in fostering and engaging in organic food growing activities, and other sustainable practices, in the Dunedin area.

urbanorganics.org.nz

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Westland Community Garden, Hokitika

Westland Community Garden
Lazar Park, corner of Park and Hall Street,
Hokitika.
Phone Glenys at the Westland District Council, 03 756-9082

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Marlborough Community Garden, Blenheim

Ralph Ballinger Drive off Budge Street,
Riversdale, Blenheim.
admin@marlboroughcommunitygardens.org.nz
Phone Tina Fortune (03) 579-3599

marlboroughcommunitygardens.org.nz

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