Community Garden Kicks Off with Love Your Neighbourhood Funding
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Matt Chamberlain and his friends had been talking about starting a community garden together, and when he heard of the Love Your Neighbourhood funding, he jumped at the chance to get support with filling the garden beds in their no-dig garden in Laingholm.
Why did you start a community garden?
It’s about having a bit of food sovereignty. Everyone likes to know where their food has come from and what’s been done to it. We like knowing that there are no sprays or artificial fertilisers going on any of the food here.
Community is our other reason. We wanted to create something together, and it’s very much whoever feels like coming along. We have a larger group of around 30 people, and there are probably ten people who are more active. Some people come and do a bit of harvesting and hang out for a while. It’s a pleasant place to be.
What would you say to someone who’s thinking of starting a community garden or environmental project?
If you’re keen and have got the space, go for it. It’s great. I think the research shows that it’s very good for your well-being. Community gardening is one of the top things you can do, but the same applies for any way that people get together and work on a project. So I’d say, if you’ve got people around you who are into it, just go for it. There are a lot of intangible benefits.
How was the process of applying for the Love Your Neighbourhood funding?
The process of applying for the Love Your Neighbourhood fund was amazingly easy. I’m not a very fast form filler-outer, but it didn’t take me long at all, and then I heard back really quickly.
It’s been really helpful. The funds we applied for helped us with some of the costs for the 10 cubic metres of soil that we needed to transport here, and it was really what we needed to get it all started.
Love Your Neighbourhood funding of up to $500 is available for groups for environmental and volunteer-driven initiatives in the Henderson-Massey, Whau, Waitākere Ranges or Maungakiekie-Tāmaki local board areas. Find out more and apply now to get a quick response
Thank you to the local boards above for supporting community-led environmental action.
