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   AOTEA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP - Community Garden
 

The seeds of thought for a Community Garden were sown by many people for a number of years and finally in 2004 under the care and guidance of Cait Devey the Outreach Coordinator at the time, germination finally occurred and the first Aotea Family Support Group community garden sprang appropriately from the well-nourished and much worked soil of the old gardens at Rangimarie (Medlands Backpackers).

Five years later the gardens are now sited in the grounds of the St Johns Church and will soon to be expanding into the Medlands Recreation Reserve which the Aotea Family Support Group now manages and will be developing as the Oruawharo Community Gardens.

A combination of many factors, the economic climate, the involvement in the community of horticultural tutor Caity Endt, North-Tech courses, and a timely coming together of many community organisations - St John’s Church, DoC, and the Aotea Family Support Group, mean that exciting times are ahead and the Community Gardens will go on to be an integral part of the island's infrastructure for many years to come.

Quite apart from the obvious benefits to community well being and social development, the gardens have already proven themselves to be a valuable contributor to the food parcels scheme offered  by the St Johns Church, The Gardens currently employ one part-time worker and has the benefit of many keen volunteers.

Many courses and workshops are planned as part of the development of the site and should gain the interest and involvement of every islander over the next few years.