Pehiaweri Marae Community Garden Project
Pehiaweri Marae Community Organic Gardening Project
Kaupapa
To establish a vegetable/herb garden, rongoa (Maori medicine garden), orchard, putiputi, worm farm, composting and recycling on Pehiaweri Marae whenua.
Benefits;
The whole community will have opportunity to contribute, participate and pass on their valued gardening knowledge .
Location;
The garden location must be as close as practicle to the whare kai. This will create a natural flow from garden to kitchen to the dining table.
Produce;
Vegetables, fruits and rongoa will produce vegetables, pickles, preserves, frozens and medicines and colourful flowers.
A designated hangi pit and smoke house will be constructed to enhance our selection of kai .
Cooking classes;
Cooking classes will be conducted in the whare kai.
Produce for the classes will be grown in the marae garden.
Watering systems;
Garden watering will be achieved using tanked rain water off the Whare Nui, naturally purified grey water and where necessary creek/spring water.
DOC gardening programme;
Community conservation programme will run in partnership with the Department of Conservation.
Wet lands and waterways are of special areas of interest and protection.
Visitors;
We expect visits from schools, local community groups, booked in Manuhiri, other marae and 2011 RWC tourists.
Manse;
The Manse building could be relocated to the rear of the whare kai. Where possible the kaupapa of eco system will be used to service the whare.
Examples are wind power, solar system, composting toilet.
Priority use would be education workshops.
Workshops;
Workshop subjects could be community conservation, community gardening, maori medicine, raranga, whakairo, mahi toi, te reo and waiata.
Interpretation boards displaying traditional plant/tree uses that we have at Pehiaweri.
Individual and community groups are encouraged to come and learn subjects that interest them.
Home garden;
Pehiaweri Marae community garden group will support any whanau who wish to set up a garden at their whare.
Funding;
Funds to support garden growth initiatives will come from sales of produce, organic compost, tiger worms, recycled metal and community grant applications.
kaitiaki;
The appointment of kaitiaki o Mahinga kai will be anounced at the 12 June opening.
Les Wakefield
Chairperson
Pehiaweri Marae Community Organic Gardening Project
Kingi Kake Project Manager
As the Project Manager for the Pehiaweri Marae Community Garden Project I feel it’s time for an up date.
Cousin’s Peter, Les and myself have made much progress preparing stage one of the project.
Stage one was the preperation of the ground and surounding area where the garden is located. The main focus was areas for composting, worm farm, recycling , grey water reticulation, orchard, education centre, health and fitness centre.
Yes people, after eating healthy organic vegetables you will be bursting with energy, you will not recognise your self, we thought a community health and fitness centre would be the appropiate means to accommodate all your urges.
We are beside ourselves with excitement and can’t wait for stage two.
Stage Two Nau mai Haere mai whanau whanui, the bell is ringing and it is now time for many hands of friendship.
From Monday 3rd April, we will start stage two and would love all peoples to feel the freedom to come along to participate in the Pehiaweri Marae community garden project for the common reason of aroha in the thought that healthy kai breeds healthy communities.
The collection of manuka/Punga poles to planting flax are some of stage 2 activities.
Stage Three raised planter box fill & composting, Waha roa whakairo, Shade cloth erection and the construction of a garden shed.
To date we have had unpresedented community support. We are humbled with the level of commitment displayed by our local organisations and individuals.
Matariki this year begins day break Monday 14 June. It is a powerfull moment in time to have Kawa Whakapuare (unfold ceremony).
Timings;
All people from the community are welcome.
Just bring your self and friends and we will sort things out from there.
Feel free to pop in at any time between 9.00 – 4.00. Mon-Thu. We would love to meet you.
Kingi Kake Project Manager 021739106
Peter Kake contact person 0277128885
Les Wakefield contact person 0212163306
Page last updated 13 Jun 2010
