Sun, shade, and water - we've got it covered

In exciting news, Te Hōnonga a Iwi Restoring Rosedale Park has acquired new equipment for our community food garden, allowing us to grow vegetables and native plants from seeds.  

These new upgrades include a wheelchair-accessible glasshouse funded by Foundation North, a wheelchair-accessible shade house funded by Auckland Council Park Ranger, water tanks provided by Upper Harbour Local Board, and an irrigation system supplied by BUPA and the NZ Landcare Trust.

The glasshouse allows us to grow vegetable seedlings from seeds and microgreens, and the shade house is where native plants will be grown.

The water tanks ensure planting and growing success, and allow all the plants in shadehouse, glasshouse and garden beds to be watered. The irrigation system reaches across the entire garden and is also set up with features to harvest rainwater from the Harbour Hockey shed roof.

Project co-ordinator Nicky Shave explains how this new equipment is an important step in Te Hōnonga a Iwi's journey.

"We are so excited to have this equipment in place so we can increase our activity at the mara kai. Growing vegetables and natives from seeds will cost significantly less than having to buy seedlings, so it's a more sustainable approach for Te Hōnonga a Iwi."

It is also essential that these structures have wheelchair accessibility, and this is something we are very proud of.

"It's fantastic to have a space that supports health, learning and connecting for our diverse community, now, and into the future."

This new equipment is a step forward in future-proofing Te Hōnonga a Iwi and ensuring we make a lasting impact on the community through growing vegetables and natives. This wouldn't be possible without support from the community and organisations, so a huge thank you to everyone involved.