Letters: How lucky we are

A raised garden bed can be readily stocked with abundant tomatoes and herbs to readily supply a family kitchen. Photo/File

We folk of the Real Far North are fortunate to be living here. There may not be much money circulating, but we are rich in having a temperate climate, fertile soils and miles of coastline, all of which can produce much of our food.

As we know, the name Kaitaia means 'Food in Abundance,' and we should be taking notice of that by using the soil for producing much of our food, as Maori did many years ago.

Of course it is much easier to shop at the local supermarkets, but the produce there has been mostly sprayed with chemicals before, while and after it was planted in the soil. This is how commercialism has crept into our way of living.

How much better for a healthy life to plant and grow your own food? There is little need for spraying chemicals on to plants, as there are organic sprays and fertilisers to keep most bugs at bay. There is also the daily digital picking of these pests off the plants, quite time-consuming but very satisfying.

A large garden is not necessary for a variety of vegetable growing, such as tomatoes, silver beet, lettuce or beetroot, which can be grown in pots, tubs and the popular raised beds. This also gives easy access for the elderly and physically challenged gardeners.

Large crops such as potatoes, kumara, corn, pumpkin etc. can be grown on land which is either given, leased or loaned by keen gardeners, who can then form themselves into a co-operative. This way of life is becoming more realistic around the world.

Many people far more disadvantaged than we in the Real Far North have got together and started producing food, growing in amazing spaces, and have completely changed their communities for the better.

The advantages of co-operatives are the bringing of people together in a common cause, providing healthy food and cutting down the transport costs from out of the area. This also makes life more sustainable. Also they can lead to self-employment. For example, an older retired person can pass on years of knowledge to a younger unemployed person who can put it into practice.

There are other forms of co-operatives that could thrive here, such as furniture-making from all the timber grown, compost-making from seaweed and animal manures, clothes made from recycled materials, endless articles made from bamboo, which grows like a weed here, and so the list goes on.

We have to start helping ourselves if we want the best life possible in our far-flung top of the country. It's all here waiting to happen.

So, if you are keen to become part of the positive future, call in to chat with the volunteers at the Ecocentre (lighthouse building) in the children's park opposite Te Ahu in Kaitaia.

We will welcome your ideas, and hope to have your support for a better future.

PAT DAVIS
Kaitaia