Programmes & Projects Moving Towards Sustainability

Facilities & Site Activities

Allotments for personal or small scale organic production rented out annually.
Earth buildings: Kiosk made from locally fired earth bricks. Earth building made using rammed earth method – kiosk rented for local small business opportunity. Larger earth building available for workshops, meetings and group activities.
Commercial kitchen offered for cafe opportunity & locals making organic foodstuffs.
Outdoor covered Cobb Pizza oven and rocket stove facility for community use.
Green space for social gatherings like birthday parties and festivals.
Makers space (covered shed) for creative activities and gatherings.
Propagation space for small business growing organic seedlings for sale.
Shade house out back currently used for two months (October – November) by ‘Hanging Baskets’ team who get TDC funding to fill the main street with flowers. This is available for the rest of the year for nursery production.
Hothouse rented for small scale production by allotment holder(s).

Golden Bay Sustainable Living Course
TDC funded composting workshops.
Sustainable Living Course - 11 week course based at Gardens.
Kindergarten nature exploration on Tuesdays and Thursdays in nut and woodlot areas.
Afterschool nature programme.
Living Skills programme funded by Corrections for offenders.
Organic gardening/health workshops eg produce fermentation, fruit tree pruning and seed saving.
Creative arts & craft workshops seasonally eg mosaics, flax weaving.
Youth Horticulture 8 week course run through Work Centre.

Harvest Festival in March/April celebrating local organic food, entertainment and annual fundraiser.
Annual Sustainable Golden Bay event in February promoting discussion by locals on sustainable practices.
WWOOFers/Volunteers assist with gardening and maintenance in exchange for stay and/or produce.
Corrections offenders doing community service help maintain Gardens site
Community stall offers local organic seasonal produce, other growing products and vegetable and flower seedlings.

Seasonal workshop programme offering learning opportunities to the public on organic gardening, healthy cooking, earth building, and beekeeping
Educational programmes working with children including nature exploration, organic horticulture, healthy cooking and alternative technology
New signage and information area. Includes inclusion of Maori land history.
Construction of a low-impact eco-building to house staff/volunteers who help manage the gardens, along with a compost toilet to recycle valuable humanure. The aim is to build these using natural building methods, as an educational experience both in the building and later as a demonstration for the public.