It wasn't that long ago that sharing skills, knowledge, tools and food with your neighbours was commonplace. Back then, rather than sending grandparents packing to a retirement village in the Bay of Plenty, they would be helping babysit, baking scones, sharing war stories over a glass of sherry and
Sam Judd: Rebuilding communities in catastrophe
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Jade Temepara, founder of Hand Over a Hundy and Te hUb, passes on her knowledge to children and families.
I count myself lucky that our next-door neighbour (a tradesman) is happy to lend us tools. I in turn drop him over a Tupperware box of fresh trevally or kingfish when I have had a good day spearing and he returns the box another day. We are mates that help each other out, rather than strangers and something about this makes me happy to be in Auckland City, because unfortunately such a situation is rare.
I am certainly not the only one who has realised the need for communities to be redeveloped. Incubators like The Distiller and The Kitchen have woven together a community situation and when you look at a place like Whaingaroa (Raglan), the sharing of resources and knowledge has enabled their community to achieve great things. They even have a reciprocal 'timebank' about work system that is focussed on having vibrant, interconnected communities.
A key knowledge area many people have lost (that communities have passed on for over 10,000 years) is growing food. Hand Over A Hundy are starting to re-connect communities by filling that knowledge gap and I am excited that they are coming to Auckland soon, where this is especially needed.
It is clear that online communities like Facebook are replacing people's intrinsic need to feel part of something, but I just don't think they cut the mustard by themselves. While they might be useful for sharing some knowledge, I believe our children learn best with their hands and minds together, following the footsteps of older people.
So go out and invite your neighbours over for a cup of tea (or a barbecue or a beer) offer them your leftover topsoil and surplus harvest and realise that if you have a problem, it is much easier to solve by working in a team.