Mangawhai Community Garden

The Story Behind Mangawhai Community Gardens

In 2008, as several young mothers faced difficulties ensuring enough food in the house during the expensive Christmas season, Joan Farrell conceived the idea of a community garden where everyone could grow their own food. She approached the local councillor and the Mayor about this need, and they offered the use of council-owned land behind Rose Cottag

e at the Domain on Moir Street. A local nurseryman, Ray Holland from Jaraho Gardens, brought his digger; the local compost supplier, MPL, donated compost; the old bath from Rose Cottage was repurposed for a worm farm; neglected fruit trees were pruned; and the Domain Society, adjacent to the gardens, allowed the piping of water from their tanks to newly installed taps. A shed was made available to store garden implements, frames for climbing beans were built by Ted Tuffey, and Helen McDonald & Jo Roberts contributed horse and donkey manure, as well as hay for compost and mulch. Locals donated garden tools and a rotary hoe, others offered to grow trays of seedlings, compost heaps were started, and like-minded volunteers joined in to help with the gardening. Since then, every Friday, Joan has welcomed people with a relaxed attitude toward volunteering—encouraging them to come when they can, for as long as it suits them, and to take on any tasks they enjoy, whether it be planting, weeding, digging, making compost, watering, or harvesting. She offers everyone fresh lemon drink and biscuits, creating a sociable atmosphere, and always thanks them for their help. Joan arranged with Julie Wintle, the local coordinator of caregivers for Rodney Health, to collect the produce each Friday for distribution to people in the community who would benefit from it. Anyone working in the gardens is also offered produce, and some take it for people they know who are in need. A wide variety of vegetables have been grown in season, including beans, silverbeet, spinach, tomatoes, strawberries, broad beans, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, pak choi, Chinese cabbages, Mesclun salad mix, stir-fry greens, corn, beetroot, capsicums, parsnips, carrots, turnips, swedes, pumpkin, potatoes, and rhubarb, along with fruit from the pear, peach, and grapefruit trees. There’s always something to harvest, no matter the time of year. The garden also faces the usual challenges of combating butterflies, birds, mice, and rabbits, especially during the hot summer months when volunteers are essential for watering. Joan even organized a cooking lesson at the Mangawhai Club, led by Kathryn Ferguson, on how to use the produce. Joan encourages everyone to learn from one another, enjoy the company of fellow gardeners, and perhaps even be inspired to start their own vegetable gardens at home as a healthy food option. It is Joan's enthusiasm that has led to a community garden of which Mangawhai can be proud.