WWOOFing it Up in Kiwiland: organic farming in New Zealand 2012

3 years later and life brings me back to New Zealand. This time for a longer period, for a different purpose, with a different outlook on life than last time. I hope what transpires from a few years of travelling as far and as wide as possible across this beautiful country is a basic but decent knowledge and experience in organic farming, self sustainable living, and food production. Come and join me, there's loads of room in the car.

Friday 28 August 2009

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.

Labels: , , , ,

Faith



Is it strange I love my jobs? Is it even stranger that I love them so much I don't want to leave?

I love the work I do because it's about the people, their happiness and their sense of self worth that is central to everything I do. Part of me wants to stay behind, here in Edinburgh, where people need my support....then the same feeling awaits at the close of the 7 weeks in Auckland. There'll be tears when I have to say goodbye: there always is. And I hope that this is just the beginning of a long career, meaningful, hopeful, and contributing to making the world a better place. And I know it is, and will be, as long as I have faith.

Labels: , ,