Marfell Community Garden - New Year update

Since its first hui in November, the Marfell Community Garden has made considerable progress and has brought together neighbors near and far to help develop the space. With 24 fully planted rows of vegetables, a kumara patch, corn clusters, teepees of runner beans and sunflowers as well as a perimeter of native trees, flowering bulbs, and taro, one could say...it has really taken off.  It took nearly 7 months of collaboration between Sustainable Taranaki, the local Marfell community and the New Plymouth District Council before the first spade could be dug into the ground, and so far, the efforts, along with the consistent rainfall from spring has culminated into what will be an abundant first harvest.

Appropriately, a Pātaka kai or kai cupboard has been erected by the gate for all to access excess produce and bread from Countdown as well as donations from the community. The movement has been so swift that it looks different every time you pass. Bread and bouquets of  fresh lettuce from the garden, and eventually more and more of the harvest will make its way into the cupboard for all to enjoy. Take a stroll along the Manguatoku stream, starting from Devon Street to Cook, past the banana forest and through the woods to Endeavor, and you will find it.  Plans for a shed to house tools and items to support the maintenance of the garden is in the pipeline.

Meetings (garden hui) are traditionally held every other Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Join the Marfell Community Garden group on Facebook and like the new Marfell Community Garden page to find out more, and the space will be hosting the first Seedsavers gathering on Saturday, 20th February at 1:30pm. All are welcome. 

There are nine community gardens around Taranaki and all welcome the support of volunteers. Please contact info@sustainabletaranaki.org.nz to find out how to get involved. Raw materials for composting are currently needed.

Read more about the Pātaka Kai - Kai cupboard