MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Community garden provides social and community benefitsThe Mangawhai Community Gardens were established around 11 years ago by Joan Farrell and Ted Tuffey. Their vision was to find a piece of available land with the aim of getting like-minded people together to grow produce for the elderly and needy in the community while at the same time sharing gardening knowledge and socialising, and so the gardens began on a vacant plot near the entrance to the Domain. Every Friday, rain or shine, volunteers rock up from around 8am. Attendance every week is not compulsory. There is a ‘come if you feel like it’ policy. Digging, weeding, planting begins in earnest and the harvest is then collected and distributed to the Mangawhai area. Any surplus is placed in the Community Stand outside BeforeSix Childcare. With funding from The Mangawhai Club a water tank has been installed which was urgently needed and is a Godsend in dry periods like this. Over the past few years rabbits have become a major problem. With all the hard work going into growing the crops and then arriving on Fridays to see the decimation was very disheartening. In 2018, with a successful funding application from Mangawhai Opportunity Factory, three raised beds were purchased and proved successful in keeping the rabbits at bay. This gave the gardeners hope again and led to a decision to fully fence the existing gardens. In July last year the massive project of fencing began with volunteers doing all the digging of holes, then bracing and cementing posts – very strenuous work for women – we now have bragging rights (the blokes were impressed). Rails started to go up, the blokes jumped in, and with the help of Russell Jonas we had netting on and gates hung. The results speak for themselves with a huge increase in production within the fenced gardens Thanks goes to Mangawhai Opportunity Factory, donations from Mangawhai Memo, along with help and advice from ITM, Carters and all the enthusiastic volunteers without whom such progress would not have been achieved. The group are seeking further funding to complete fencing, adding more raised beds, mulching, fertilisers, seedlings. The list goes on but the results are self-evident and benefit many. “Our objective is to increase production and to liaise with other community groups that provide produce for our community,” says Joan. “Come and join us on Friday mornings anytime between 8 and 10ish if you would like to join in the fun of growing, learning and socialising with our friendly group of volunteers.” n Mangawhai Community Gardens, Mangawhai Domain. For more info phone Joan 021 266 8492. |
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