Lyttelton
Grow Local
Opawa Garden - Corner of Hassals Lane and York St in Opawa, Christchurch.
Regular Working Bees 9.30am -Midday on the last Sunday of the Month, All Welcome.
Become a Grow Local, Organic Vege-Box Member
$20/week and 20hrs volunteering / season -Over 20 weeks of produce beginning October 08
Signup at Project Lyttelton
With oil/petrol prices spinning out of control and food shortages starting in many parts of the world it is more important than ever to produce our food locally and organically. It goes without saying that food produced locally is fresher and through this tastes better, has not used up any unnecessary resources through lengthy transport, packaging, cool stores, marketing etc. and provides work for people in the neighbourhood, enabling them to use only minimal transport to get to work and back.
This initiative has been established for nearly a year. It is sited on the original CPIT organic horticultural trainging site in Opawa, Christchurch. PL took over the gardens last July and a team of volunteers and paid gardeners have worked hard over the year to turn it into a productive garden again. We harvested a wonderful variety of vegetables and fruit over the last months and are hoping to increase our output in the following seasons. Grow Lyttelton 2007 Report
Another very important aspect of the garden will be the educational aspect, - running evening classes on growing produce, composting and related matters and hopefully also advising and encouraging other community organisations/ organic growers to take up the challenge to start vegetable-box schemes in their own neighbourhood. There are possibilities for courses on flax weaving (there is a nice stand of harakeke flax in the garden), fruit tree care, herb growing and other related subjects. Some schools in the neighbourhood have shown interest already to be involved and work together with us at the garden.
While Growing Local might not always be situated at the CPIT site (our lease runs out in 2 years), the impulse started there will be carried to whatever other site might come available. In the mean time we hope to establish a growing and thriving neighbourhood garden, open to everyone who wants to go for a wander, do some work or just have a chat.
