Wheelbarrows of soil, straw and horse manure darted among builders making fences and garden boxes as the sun shone on the community garden Quick-Build on Saturday.
The atmosphere was electric as the 60 raised vege gardens took shape, each destined to be leased and tended by a local household. The gardens
were taking shape on the Otumoetai Railway Reserve, near the Matua roundabout on Ngatai Rd, leased from Tauranga City Council by community group, Let's Get Growing.
Among those preparing to start tending their plots was Otumoetai resident Michele Dunlop who said the community garden offered knowledge and skills as well as a relaxed social environment to meet new friends.
Ms Dunlop planned to share the lease of her garden with two friends and said while they were yet to decide what to plant, the garden would be seasonal.
Ms Dunlop can walk to the community garden from her home, where she said her own garden was not raised and gets very little sun.
"I like the idea of teaching people something but also it's somewhere to go to talk to people in a more natural fashion. Just somewhere to belong."
The Let's Get Growing community garden will also offer workshops including cooking, preserving and creating natural garden sprays.
"It's going to serve quite a purpose I think," Ms Dunlop said.
