In the photo: Te Whare Awhero director Carey Ewing and project coordinator Georgia Fitzpatrick.
Te Whare Awhero (Hope House) is a multi-service agency offering support to communities in Hornby, Christchurch that are facing many social and economic challengers.
Since 2023, the agency has developed its focus on food security initiatives, according to its director Carey Ewing. An early emphasis on supporting people to grow veggies in their own backyards has gained momentum. Now, Te Whare Awhero is ready to build on this success with the development of an urban farm and community gardens that link in Hornby High School, Christchurch City Council and community growers.
“The goal is to scale up production of fresh fruit and vegetables, which can enhance food security for vulnerable whānau, and provide local schools with a learning opportunity,” says Carey.
For the project, Hynds Foundation supported a Regional Community Fund application from Hornby branch manager Kenny Hill. This has contributed towards funding of a part-time coordinator, Georgia Fitzpatrick, who brings local passion plus knowledge from her Master of Parks Management, which focuses on the connection of people and the environment.
Community gardens are multi-faceted undertakings. As well as knowledge necessary for growing healthy crops, they are social places where inclusion must be carefully managed. They must also have channels to ensure that produce reaches people. The project’s location, on a high-frequency road that is home to the school and a library / recreation centre, is helpful for distribution.
Target outcomes in the coming year are to scale up a production system from seedlings to harvest, progress a learning programme, and start to deliver on longer-term goals of generating income through sales of produce. Georgia says: “My mum asked me if it was an overwhelming task. But I said it wasn’t because the whole community was behind us.”
Kenny Hill sees the urban farm as a place where the Hynds Pipe Systems Hornby team can support in an ongoing way through working bees, help with irrigation set up and service, and spreading awareness (and compost!) to build community engagement.