Open day at community garden a change for fun and upskilling

Forrest Hill’s community gardeners are getting together this weekend to mark Eco Fest month – showcasing their activities and providing tips and advice for residents. The Grow Forrest Hill group, which has transformed the rear of Seine Reserve, is running an open day this Sunday 16 April, from 2pm to 4pm. A major focus is providing information on composting to emphasise Eco Fest’s wider sustainability theme.

“It’s a great opportunity for locals who have heard about the garden and been meaning to check it out to come down and see what we’re up to,” says Grow Forrest Hill founder Phoebe Atkinson.

As well as advice being available from the Carbon Cycle Company – whose compost bins are sited at the garden and available as a community composting hub – gardeners will be able to mix and mingle with other green-fingered folk.

Falling in the school holidays, the event is child-friendly, at a time when people may be looking for activities close to home, such as trying seed sowing. Atkinson says giant bubbles will be blown, and a sausage sizzle and free icecreams will be available – with compostable wrappers.

Community-grown seedlings will also be available for koha.

Recent developments at the garden include the installation of a new glass house and winter-vegetable crop planting. Over winter gardeners will plant out its borders with native plants and fruit trees following a plan designed by Milford landscape architects Sola.

Up to 20 volunteers turn out on Sundays for weekly working bees from 2pm to 4pm. New volunteers of all ages, with or without experience, are always welcome. Sessions end with afternoon tea.

“It’s so great in this present cultural moment, with so much angst and uncertainty, to have a place to show up each week where everybody knows your name and you can make a tangible and positive difference for the community,” says Atkinson.

The garden’s next project is to fundraise for a teaching space to run workshops around sustainable gardening.

The Grow Forrest Hill garden has recently been nominated for the community garden of the year category of Organic New Zealand’s annual awards. The winner, decided by public vote, will be announced in May.

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