Fun day building community garden

A community garden is being built in the Bethlehem Community Church grounds on Moffat Rd. Al Gourley with some drainage pipe that will be used in the gardens. Photo / John Borren

Making gardening achievable, sociable and promoting healthy eating is all part of a day's work for Anne Gourley and the team at Good Neighbour.

Mrs Gourley is the community garden co-ordinator and is calling for members of the community to take part in a "quickbuild" garden.

The Bethlehem community garden is one of many that are popping up across Tauranga and Mrs Gourley wants people to get behind it, aiming to build 40 garden beds tomorrow.

"Quickbuilds are exciting and lots of fun," she said.

"It will be a fun family day, with plenty for kids and the less active to do, or bring your wheelbarrow or shovel if you can."

Mrs Gourley said community gardens were only built in areas where people wanted them, and would continue to look after them.

"Our job is to facilitate them and pretty much just get them up and running. We provide the help and support so that they can then keep it going."

She said there was a lot of interest from people in learning how to grow vegetables.

"There has been a huge increase in the number of people growing their own vegetables," she said.

"Our reason for doing it in the first place was to make achievable gardening for everyday people and we see that all the time.

"People come down and they go home inspired.

"People are always telling us how they're doing with their own gardens and what they're doing. That's one of the things I love most."

Mrs Gourley said the rise in popularity was partly due to the high cost of shop-bought food.

"People are trying to make ends meet more efficiently. But there's also a whole move towards sourcing produce locally, organic foods and knowing what's in your food."

Mrs Gourley said spring was also the perfect time of year to start growing a garden.

"It's just the perfect time of year," she said.

"For some people gardening and growing their own vegetables can lead to a radical change of their life. It's just great to be a part of."

She said being part of a community garden gave people a sense of belonging and a sense of achievement.

"People can just get together with like minded people and share their knowledge and learn new things.

"It's great."

How you can help

*Community garden quick build day is being held tomorrow from 8am.
*There will be activities for the whole family.
*Bring a spade and wheelbarrow if you can to the Bethlehem Community Church grounds, 183 Moffat Rd.

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