The Garden to Table Trust currently works in schools teaching children to grow, harvest, prepare and share healthy seasonal food in a curriculum integrated programme. In this programme extensive fruit and vegetable gardens are established in which 7 to 10 year old children help to establish design and maintain the garden and growing of food. A wide range of vegetables fruits and herbs are harvested, prepared and shared in a home-style sustainable kitchen classroom.
Waterfront Auckland has allocated land in the Wynyard Quarter where such a programme will be centrally located and utilised by 4 or 5 schools who will come to the site weekly.
Garden to Table Chairperson, Catherine Bell is a well-known foodie who is passionate about quality food, eating healthy local fresh food and teaching our young people these necessary skills.
The first working bee held by Parnell Rotary took place on a glorious sunny Saturday 12 May when a dozen or more Rotarians turned up with Trustees of the Garden to Table Trust with wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and strong backs to move and spread five large piles of gravel 40mm thick over a 400+square metre area. Rotarians produced delicious scones and savouries plus a little wine as well as Catherine providing coffees for the workers.
Everyone is keen to return to help with the next stage which could be fencing, planting, erecting pots or any task asked of our members. This is a great project that will be of significant interest as it develops in this central location.
For more information go to www.gardentotable.org.nz
Submitted by:
Phillippa Pitcher
President
Rotary Club of Parnell
