Celebrating our Backyards
Taranaki is a majestic region – a coastline that embraces a native bush-cloaked maunga, it doesn’t get any better - but did you know that nestled throughout the region you’ll find hidden gems with their own allure. Tucked away in towns, urban centres and rural farms you’ll uncover backyards that are home to a world of creativity, innovation and dedication towards sustainable living. If you're more into DIY, getting a bit dirty, and hands-on learning, these Backyards will become your diamonds amongst the fluff.
Each year the Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail celebrates local efforts in sustainability and inspires everyday people to make changes in their own backyards. And it’s not just what to plant and when. The Trail offers workshops, events and general knowledge in a multitude of areas.
Keeping chickens, ducks and other live stock on your property
Green technology including solar, EVs, water reticulation/reuse
DIY and upcycling in the backyard (greenhouses, seed raising, pathways, animal spaces, garden beds etc)
Specific gardening techniques including no dig, companion, permaculture, hugelkultur)
Becoming a DIY producer (preserves, sourdough, fruit wine, hydrosols, oils, gins, edible weeds, soaps, cleaners, fertilisers, firewood)
Being involved in community kaupapa (foodbank, volunteers, well-being, māra and the maramataka)
So much more than a garden visit
During the Trail you get to visit the properties of individuals, families, and community organisations that have generously opened their ‘backyards' to the public - but there’s so much more!
Connect and learn
On the Trail, you get to listen and ask questions to every host as they tour you around their backyard. You’ll find yourself chatting with others, sharing and picking up tips, and generally making connections and gardening buddies along the way.
Several Backyards are also offering workshops for a koha or donation. These are on a range of things and from a range of people. You could watch and listen as students at Ōmata school share their journey with growing kūmara traditionally, learn to source your own native seeds, or jump on board with Crop Swap and join the revolution!
But wait, there’s more! We also have loads of events that delve deeper into your particular garden-related interests. What takes your fancy? Painting floral greeting cards, baking your garden dreams into focaccia, or distilling herbs. Check out the range of events here!
Take a tour
As you know, our Backyards are all over the region – from the urban streets of New Plymouth, on the city outskirts (rural NP), Coastal, South, East, and North. And this year, you can tour all the properties in each of these regions at the same time. Check out our route planning ideas.
But car-pooling with friends to a region isn’t the only way to tour sustainably. You can book an e-bike tour to visit our urban properties, or a bus tour to go further afield – both options provide deliciously catered treats along the way.
Keeping it affordable
Although our entry is now $3 we are providing a Backyard Bundle card which gives 5 entries and a free packet of seeds for $12 (a steal!), plus don’t forget the free tours at each property and koha workshops! Sustainable Taranaki, who runs the Trail, is committed to making this an affordable and accessible event – something they endeavour to do with all their initiatives (check them out).
Get involved!
If you’re keen to get involved – there’s plenty of opportunities. We’re always looking for volunteers to help promote the trail, and hosts are always grateful for helpers during the Trail (plus you'll pick up a bunch of tips and tricks!).
If you know of a property that would be great to include in the 2024 Sustainable Backyards Trail we’d love to hear from you. It could be your friends, or yours. We just need a few details here and then we’ll be in touch for more.
