Learning to grow your own
Spring clean your life this Saturday at Te Rito Gardens’ first ever Spring Festival.
The organic teaching charity will celebrate sustainable living at its Kenepuru site with gardening, compost and worm farm demonstrations, a bike-mending workshop and a workshop on emergency preparedness in Porirua.
There will be a cheap organic hangi to feed the crowds, a pop-up cafe, kids’ games and entertainment from teen jazz pianist Leonardo Coghini and the Porirua College kapa haka group.
‘‘It’s a sustainability festival. It’s about promoting Te Rito Gardens, promoting organic food, getting kids gardening,’’ says Tushara Kodikara, Porirua city council’s zero waste co-ordinator. ‘‘It’s a fun day for the entire family.’’
Gardeners, whether novice or experienced, will be able to buy seedlings and cooks will be able to pick up organic fruit and veges.
‘‘If you’re into gardening you can come and get cheap seedings to plant,’’ Mr Kodikara says.
If creating a garden is a scary prospect, the festival will give attendees solid knowledge and confidence, says Richard Witheford- Smith, the council’s graffiti management co-ordinator. ‘‘If people have questions about organic gardening, then all the experts will be here.’’
Growing food, composting and indulging in some light DIY can save people heaps of money, says Te Rito tutor Sam Buchanan. ‘‘It’s cheaper to grow it than it is to buy it.’’
Spring Festival, Saturday, 10am till 2pm at Te Rito Gardens, 6 Hassell Rd in the Porirua Hospital grounds. Hangi meals must be pre-ordered – asert.trust@xtra.co.nz, $6 adults, $3 children.