Edible garden to fuel Kaitaia foodbank

Cheryl Toka hands over the reins of the community garden to Raewyn Malmo Flay from Kaitaia Family Budgeting Services.

An edible garden grown with volunteer labour and permaculture principles in Kaitaia has been passed on so the work can continue.

After three years of nurturing the Edible Garden at Kaitaia Community House, Cheryl Toka has handed over the reins to Raewyn Malmo Flay from Kaitaia Family Budgeting Services.

As one of the first initiatives of KaiBox Kaitaia, Toka ran a garden design workshop in 2015 and a follow-up working bee at Kaitaia Community House's small section on Puckey Ave.

The main aim was to create a garden which was a working model of what can be achieved growing edible crops in a small, well-designed space, Toka said.

A bare section has been transformed, with few funds, relying on cuttings, plant donations and voluntary labour.

First, a small raised vegetable garden was created. Last year the garden grew produce for the social enterprise KaiBox Kaitaia, with excesses donated to the public and local foodbanks.

Next, a herb garden with culinary herbs as well as kawakawa, lemongrass and lemon verbena was set up.

A lemonade tree was planted in remembrance of Bill Mollison, known as the founder of permaculture who died in 2016.

Toka was particularly pleased with a large stand of bananas she planted as pups only two years ago which are now "massive" and have produced several huge bunches.

"I am passionate about local, seasonal food and organic gardening, so I wanted to start little projects around Kaitaia that were examples of urban gardens, working 'with' nature along permaculture guidelines," she said.

Kaitaia Family Budgeting Service, which runs Kaitaia Community House, is hoping to grow food for its foodbank so the timing was right to hand over the well-established garden.
Anyone interested in knowing more about local gardening activities can go to the Facebook page KaiBox Kaitaia.