21. Viv's Garden
18 Halse Pl, Ōpunakē
Large backyard
Viv and Rob weave creativity and sustainability into their 1-acre urban farmlet. Explore organic, no dig and lasagne garden beds, orchards, a food forest and hardy natives. Learn about companion planting, ducks and chickens, DIY fertilisers, windbreaks, rainwater harvesting and irrigation, solar power, predator control, and soil recovery. Their harvest provides food but also dye and fibres for cordage, paper making and basketry.
Seedlings for sale. Toilets available.
Workshops and talks:
Creating Natural Cordage: Learn how to create cordage from natural fibres for use in the garden. 11am-12pm 5 Nov (Tue) & 9 Nov (Sat)
Open hours:
1 Nov - 10 Nov between 10am - 5pm (Fri - Sun)
22. Pouakai Farm
63 Leith Rd, Ōkato
Market garden
Sam manages 2 acres, with the help of Sam H and Knicky. There are two fruit orchards, an avocado orchard, large vegetable garden, chickens, and small scale nursery. Pouakai Farms is part of the Venture Taranaki Branching Out project growing ashwaganda and garlic as part of the medicinal, food and fibre trials. The farm is non-certified organic following permaculture principals and all the food grown is spray free.
Seedlings for sale. Toilets available.
Open hours:
1 Nov - 10 Nov between 10am - 4pm (Fri - Sun)
23. Fernhill
243A Timaru Rd Upper, Tataraimaka
Large backyard
Tom and Sara are quickly transforming a once bare and windswept 1-hectare section at 165m above sea level into a regenerative oasis. The main focus has been on food production and land regeneration by using permaculture principles, creating shelter, micro climates, building soil fertility and encouraging bio diversity. A forest garden, vege garden, worm farm, woodlots, solar, EV and grey water system are all features of this property.
Open hours:
2 Nov - 3 Nov between 10am - 4pm (Sat & Sun)
9 Nov - 10 Nov between 10am - 4pm (Sat & Sun)
24. Urban Sanctuary
130b Wairau Rd, Ōakura
Medium backyard
Sue, Geoff and Gibson moved to their 1/4-acre property in 2021 and have added a feeling of tropical sanctuary to the existing edible garden. The property produces organic vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants, citrus, tropical, fruit and nut trees, with a glasshouse that provides year-round tomatoes, perfect in the wood-fired pizza oven! A great opportunity to see what can be created in an urban backyard.
Seedlings for sale. Toilets available.
Open hours:
1 Nov & 8 Nov between 1pm - 4pm (Fri)
2 Nov - 3 Nov between 10am - 4pm (Sat & Sun)
9 Nov - 10 Nov between 10am - 4pm (Sat & Sun)
Ōmata School
1 Holloway Rd, Ōmata
School garden
Students and parent volunteers have transformed a previously barren area into a dynamic food forest consisting of large fruiting trees, veggie beds, support plants, chickens and much more. The orchard project was implemented by the children, staff, and community in 2017 and more recently tamariki have learnt about and used cultural tikanga (protocol) for seed collection and cultivation. Join the Ōmata students as they show you around edible classroom.
Toilets available.
Workshops and talks:
Making a bumblebee home. Sat 2 Nov, Fri 8 Nov, Sat 9 Nov (during open hours)
Creating pesto from garden greens. Sat 2 Nov, Fri 8 Nov, Sat 9 Nov (during open hours)
Open hours:
2 Nov & 9 Nov between 10am - 1pm (Sat)
8 Nov between 1pm - 3pm (Fri)
Green School New Zealand
406 Koru Rd, Ōakura
School garden
Come visit the jaw-dropping and inspiring GSNZ campus where learners will take you on a tour of the propagation and tropical greenhouse, the māra, and Compass Hill native plantings. Grab some refreshments and see our learners’ market at our converted barn, The Bridge.
Toilets available.
Open hours:
2 Nov between 9am - 3pm (Sat)
PARIHAKA MĀRA KAI
249 Mid Parihaka Rd, Pungarehu
Marae community garden
E rua tau ruru; e rua tau wehe; e rua tau mutu; e rua tau kai. Two seasons of storms; two seasons of scarcity; two seasons of crop failure; two seasons of plenty – a proverb about perseverance.
Sustainability, Te Reo Māori language revitalisation, collectivity, tino rangatiratanga and peaceful resistance all meld into one at Te Māra Hapori ki Parihaka, the Parihaka community gardens.
The garden and food forest support the three Marae and community as well as providing a peaceful place to work together, fulfilling the legacy of Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai of looking after one another and building positive relationships.
Come along for a guided garden tour with insights on growing practices and the tikanga that underpins the Parihaka māra.
Guided tour only 10 Nov 2pm - 3pm (Sun) (free)
