Te Puna Kindergarten cooks up healthy fundraising idea with book

Te Puna Kindergarten families have been cooking up a storm in fundraising efforts towards their new building.

The rural kindergarten has successfully undertaken the task of creating and publishing a 200 page professional cookbook and raising more than $13,000, so far.

Proceeds from Grounded in Goodness goes towards the new kindergarten's outdoor environment at the new build (which began last month) at the end of Minden Rd.

Head teacher Paula Osborn floated the recipe book idea which was taken on by Emma Ward and a fundraising committee of seven. Graphic designer and kindergarten mum Amanda Wells has taken photos (with help from photographer Angela Hay) and put together the final product.

Most families of the kindergarten contributed to the project by submitting their favourite healthy recipes — some passed down through generations — and more than 150 recipes were considered.

The committee whittled the number down to 90, recipes which reflected what Te Puna Kindergarten is all about, Emma says.

Their website states ... "we are passionate about family, community and a healthy lifestyle with a bit of naughtiness thrown in for good measure. Thus, our cookbook is full of delicious recipes from our homes to yours."

Families also helped with the mammoth task of cooking all recipes for the photography.

Chapters contain recipes with wholesome ingredients that are grown — which is in line with their ethos of encouraging children to grow and eat healthy food.

Chapters include savoury, quick dinners, winter recipes, salads, snacks, allergy-aware meals, baking and deserts.

Recipes include special family favourites such as Usha's authentic butter chicken, roast tomato couscous and crispy chickpea salad, salted caramel fudge and chocolate torte with salted caramel nuts.

Many recipes have a sentence from the contributors of its origins.

About 500 copies have already been pre-ordered with another 250 for sale ($35). More may be printed if there is demand.

Emma says she was "blown away" by support for the book.

"The support of the families has been amazing. It's something we are all really proud to be involved in."

The book also pays tribute to their neighbour Gordon Burr who allows the children to harvest fruit from his orchard and vegetables from his garden.

Visit www.grounded-in-goodness.myshopify.com for more information and stockists.

The book is available at city libraries as well.

A NEW KINDY FOR TE PUNA KIDDIES
Te Puna Kindergarten is part of Inspired Kindergartens. The rural-based kindergarten originated in 1984.

A new facility is being built at the end of Minden Rd with views out to Matakana and Kaimai ranges.

The new kindergarten is aiming to be completed by mid-2019.

"We are extremely excited to have a brand new purpose built kindergarten. This is a large ongoing project with a lot of dedicated passionate people behind it. The efforts and dedication of our kindergarten families, fundraising committee, the community and local businesses has been extraordinary," says head teacher Paula Osborn.

Designer Andrew Ward of Mod Architecture says the main activity area was designed to reference a traditional barn.

"The building has been specifically designed to incorporate a high level of sustainability and energy efficiency for cost effectiveness," he says.