Meanwhile, at the #CommunityGarden, the one remaining #MammothSunflower towers over the #Zinnias, #Cosmos, #Squash, #Beans, #Potatoes and a few other miscellaneous flowers and veggies I planted. It was nice to have an "overflow" for plants, even if it means the seeds will be hybrids. Anything I want to collect seed from, I'm growing at home. Next year, I'll only plant veggies in half of the garden, and will plant buckwheat and clover in the remaining half, then do the same with the veggie plot the year after that.

#SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardens #CommunityGarfdening

#NewZealand / #Aotearoa - Boosting Social Cohesion with #Sustainable #CommunityGardens

By Olivia Campbell

"Sustainable community gardens serve as vibrant hubs for inclusion and diversity, bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and age groups. These gardens create an opportunity for community members to engage in urban agriculture while celebrating their differences. By fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, community gardens can help break down social barriers, allowing for the exchange of ideas and cultural practices. This #inclusivity not only enriches the gardening experience but also strengthens social ties, leading to a more cohesive community.

"In New Zealand, initiatives like the #SustainableLivingCoalition highlight the importance of diverse participation in community gardens. These gardens often host #multicultural events and workshops that encourage collaboration among different community groups, enhancing social interactions and promoting understanding. By embracing #diversity, sustainable community gardens become a microcosm of society, showcasing the beauty of collective efforts and shared experiences."

Learn more:
https://sustainableliving.org.nz/boosting-social-cohesion-with-sustainable-community-gardens/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity
#FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO

#DunedinNZ - #CommunityGardens

"There are a lot of community gardens all over the city. Most of them are open to anyone. Find one near you, get stuck in, make new friends, and take home some kai!"

Learn more:
https://www.ourfoodnetwork.org.nz/resources/community-gardens

#SolarPunkSunday #NewZealand #Aotearoa #OurFoodNetwork #BuildingCommunity #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO

#CommunityGardens #NewZealand / #Aotearoa

"#CommunityGardening is where a single pieces of land is gardened collectively by a group of people.

The purpose and benefits of community gardens can be:

- Provides fresh healthy food.
- Creates a sense of community in local areas.
- Can reduce the feeling of isolation and loneliness for local residents.
- Gives people healthy exercise in fresh air.
- Can improve the neighbourhood environment.
- Can give participants a sense of connection to nature, that can be therapeutic and relaxing creating a sense of well being.
- Can be used as an educational opportunity for children and adults to understand and appreciate nature and how food can be produced.
- Can reduce the use of fossil fuel and associated CO2 emissions, by saving people from driving to the supermarket to buy food, and reducing the amount of food needed to be transported significant distances to markets.
- Saves money for participants who don’t have to buy so much food.

Ownership.

"The land is typically publicly owned by the local council. Although it may be privately owned land that is used. The management is often by a community organisation that elects members to perform the various management roles. Sometimes a security fence with access restricted to members of the collective is required to reduce theft and vandalism problems.

Types of gardens.

"Most community gardens are aimed at food production. But there are also collectives that are aimed at #HabitatRestoration with #NativePlants for conservation and recreation purposes. Also some gardens are more for amenity recreational uses and can include art such as sculpture, garden furniture for seating, and #ChildrensPlay areas. Some combine all of these features, so require careful planning to achieve these all these aims. There are also groups such as #GreenGuerrillas of #NewYork who started out doing a more instant type of garden that may not be long lasting, but the organisation has developed and taken on larger long term projects."

Learn more:
https://gardeningnz.com/community-gardens-nz/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #FoodSecurity #SpendTimeInNature #NatureBasedLearning #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO

#WellingtonNZ - The value of #CommunityGardens

28 January 2021
by Alison Ballance

"Research shows that community gardens provide more than just silverbeet and beans – they promote a sense of engagement and belonging in a community.

"And it turns out that a good #composting scheme will also attract people from the surrounding suburbs who are keen to recycle their food scraps."

Read more:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2018780502/the-value-of-community-gardens

#Aotearoa #SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #NewZealand #FoodScraps #ZeroWaste #FoodSecurity

#NewZealand / #Aotearoa #CommunityGardens - #NUWAO

"NUWAO aims to develop #NatureBased #UrbanDesign solutions, rooted in #Indigenousknowledges that support #ClimateChange adaptation and individual and community wellbeing in different contexts across Aotearoa and #Oceania.

Relationship to #IndigenousKnowledge

Indigenous communities worldwide have cultivated land for generations, crafting sustainable agricultural techniques in harmony with nature and rooted in local ecosystems. Throughout #TeMoananui Oceania, a rich diversity of TraditionalAgriculture and #agroforestry practices exists (Thaman, 1994, Thaman et al., 2006), and can be the basis of, or integrate into community gardens.

Community gardens can blend traditional methods, Indigenous #EcologicalKnowledge, and cultural values into their design, plant selection, and upkeep. Community gardens serve as vital spaces for honouring and preserving indigenous knowledge. They embrace traditional plant varieties, cultivation methods, and seasonal cycles passed down through generations.

Moreover, these gardens act as hubs for intergenerational knowledge exchange, with elders imparting wisdom to younger members, ensuring the continuity of traditional practices. These gardens can also foster #CulturalExchange and understanding, offering platforms for Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals to come together, learn from one another, and foster mutual respect. By embracing Indigenous knowledge, community gardens can not only bolster environmental #sustainability and food security but also fortify #CulturalResilience and advocate for #SocialJustice."

Learn more:
https://nuwao.org.nz/community-gardens/

#SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardens #BuildingCommunity #FoodSecurity

TBH, for me, focusing on what other areas are doing with regards to #MutualAid, #RepairCafes, #CommunityGardens, etc., is inspiring! And I hope helpful to folks who live in those areas.

#SolarPunkSunday

Well, darn. I forgot that editing the poll undid the responses. It was at 52% for #Aotearoa / #NewZealand, so that's what it will be.

It seems that focusing on a specific location (#PortlandOR) and posting about #SolarPunk -related resources was a big hit last week. Question for #SolarPunkSunday folks... Which location would you like me to focus on next? Throwing some options out there, but feel free to add your own suggestions!

#RepairCafes #LibrariesOfThings #MutualAid #CommunityGardens #ToyLibraries #ToolLibraries #NatureBasedLearning

#PortlandOR - #GrowPortland #CommunityGardens

"From 2010 - 2018, Grow Portland transformed underused land throughout Portland into thriving gardens. We built or sponsored multiple gardens that help people grow healthy food for their families and communities. Our work focused in East Portland, the most ethnically diverse and lowest income area of our city.

"Grow Portland led the successful expansion of #CommunityGarden access for #refugees and #immigrants, creating important healing spaces for families recovering from trauma and displacement. Our organization is now focused on school garden education through our #GardenSchool program where we partner with regional schools. Community gardens are managed by our partners, the City of Portland Community Gardens Program and nonprofit, Outgrowing Hunger who can help interested gardeners enroll in a plot in these gardens.

"Our community gardens work started at the height of the financial crisis when our region faced a huge waiting list for community garden plots. Grow Portland built and sponsored ten gardens throughout Portland, helping more than 5,000 new gardeners access land and resources— more than two-thirds of these gardeners are low income, refugees, immigrants and/or people of color."

FMI and garden locations:
https://www.growportland.org/community-gardens

#SolarPunkSunday #Oregon #FoodSecurity #BuildingCommunity #SchoolGardens #YouthInAgriculture #GrowYourOwn