When I consider bringing my Chinese dictionary to an English Speaking country

On a plane to Kiwiland...

I'm flying from Glasgow International Airport tomorrow at 1310 and won't have email access for at least 2 days until Sunday, and when I arrive at 525 in the morning, I think I'll spend the day chilling out...... in the meantime, here's the brief for the project I start the day after:

Epping Esplanade Community Garden Concept

Community Waitakere, Project Twin Streams Henderson Creek proposes to establish a community garden in the Epping Esplanade Park. Residents in this area reflect the diversity of ethnicities that is characteristic of Waitakere, with a significant minority of Chinese immigrant households where non English speaking grandparents are involved in childcare while parents work.


Our vision for the garden is not only to establish and manage a community food garden through processes which involve the full participation of members for the supply of fresh, organically grown food, but to create a learning environment which offers practical hands on learning to the wider community. We expect to be offering workshops on all aspects of organic food growing including food forests, composting, water harvesting, and cooking.


We will be inviting residents in the immediate neighbourhood of Buscombe Ave, Epping Rd, Jubaea Place, Hoya Place and Woodford Avenue to participate in this project as well as the two local schools Nga Kakano O Kaihanga Christian Kura and Sunderland School . A community group, Art of Living Meditation Group have the immediate stream bank as their adopted area which they have planted and maintained since 2007 and they are also keen to be involved.


In summary we aim to engage the community in planning and creating a project which aims to achieve the following:-


• to establish and manage a community food garden for the supply of fresh, organically grown food, to members initially with the potential to widen distribution.


• to enhance opportunities for social interaction among members.


• to provide a living classroom for community workshops


• to function as a demonstration model of sustainability and self reliance


• As well as increasing our skills in growing food we are aiming to nurture and grow a sense of belonging and connection between neighbours and residents of Henderson.