Share Food & Strengthen Neighbourhoods
Nelson has a great climate for just about everything including growing food.
Yet, amazingly nearly half of us do not eat enough fruit and vegetables to stay healthy. The big barrier is cost. However, things are beginning to change as more and more people are going back to what their parents and grandparents did – growing food at home.
Why not strengthen your neighbourhood by using it to share food. Here are some ways you can do this:
- you might end up with 100 seedlings from one packet of seeds – way too much spinach or broccoli for one household! Why not sow the whole packet of seeds and share or swap the seedlings you don’t need with your neighbours and friends.
- Growing fruit and vegetables often results in ‘feast or famine’ when the crop ripens all at once. Have you thought about setting up a neighbourhood barter box where you can contribute an item of food to replace the item you take out.
- Some food plants are easy to propagate (e.g. rhubarb or artichokes send up new crowns in Spring). Other plants are really easy to grow from cuttings. Cuttings taken from winter prunings of grapes, figs, currants and gooseberries and put in a pot of potting mix will sprout in Spring if kept moist. Why not pot up some cuttings or new crowns and share /swap these with your neighbours.
To find out more about growing food in Nelson
Nelson’s Community Gardens are learning and resource ‘hubs’ for home food gardeners in Nelson – there is probably one near you.
Victory Community Gardens is at the back corner of the Victory Primary School campus, near the Victory Village Learning Centre buildings and next to the railway reserve.
Waimarama Community Garden is located in Upper Brook Street on Andrews Farm Reserve. It is signposted at the intersection with Brook Street: Look for the blue sign at the intersection with Tantragee Road.
Nelson Environment Centre’s Garden is located at 1 Braemar Place off Upper Franklyn Street.
Nayland College’s Community Education runs “Grow Food At Home” courses. For more information go to www.communityeducation.nayland.school.nz .
For more resources and ideas, go to: www.sites.google.com/site/victorycommunitycentre/grow-it
