Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail 2020

Kia ora,

Join us for another exciting year of sustainable gardens, guided tours and hot topic talks from local experts. With 34 featured backyards, schools & kindergartens, there are heaps of opportunities to connect & gain inspiration while exploring around our Mounga. Be sure to bring a $2 gold coin donation and cash for seedlings and plant sales.

Parihaka Papakāinga | 249 Mid-Parihaka Road

If you’ve never been, this is your chance!

Sustainability, Te Reo Māori language revitalisation, collectivity, tino rangatiratanga and peaceful resistance all meld into one at Te Māra Hapori ki Parihaka, the Parihaka community gardens. The garden and food forest support the 3 Marae and community as well as providing a peaceful place to work together, fulfilling the legacy of Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai of looking after one another while building positive relationships.

Working Bees: 31st Oct & 8th Nov, 10 am – 4 pm

Poultry in Motion | 78 Uruti Road, Uruti

Maxine and her family live off-grid on a challenging 19 hectares of mostly steep clay hills. The vege gardens are based on the biointensive gardening method and are being remineralised to produce nutrient dense food, with a refractometer used to monitor progress. Learn how she uses chickens to improve soil structure. Handmade shopping bags, garlic, eggs, and seedlings for sale.

Open: 30th - 31st Oct 10am - 4pm 1st, 6th-8th Nov 10am - 4pm

Greenbridge | 321 Hurford Road, Omata

Award winning impact enterprise, Greenbridge began just under a decade ago with a vision to make sustainable permaculture design accessible for Taranaki residents. Several years later, with a team of five, Greenbridge now undertakes nationwide projects as well as a newly launched Healthy Homes package. Their team offers a wealth of knowledge to share around regenerative farm design, water management, food forests, and edible garden design.

Property Tours: Guided in-depth tours 31st Oct 1pm, 6th Nov 5pm, 8th Nov 11am

The Good Life | 69 Gladstone Street, Hāwera

The Carter’s home is a small early 1900's bungalow on a flat 2000m2 section at the edge of town. Planted out with 30+ fruit trees, a berry house, a custom built chook house, tractor tyre composts and a fenced edible patch - the Carter’s keep their focus on time efficient practices. Open every day of the trail from 10am - 4pm.

Talks: Time efficient veggie gardening, 2nd Nov 12pm & 5th Nov 3pm

Demos: Using waste to benefit your garden, 1st, 4th & 7th Nov 12pm

OakuraOrganics | 7a Telford Terrace, Oakura

Sara’s place is a great example of using a small, densely planted area of a property to achieve high food production outcomes, while also retaining space for the children to enjoy the backyard. She grows vegetables from organic seed, saved from last years garden wherever possible. Herbs, vegetable seedlings and companion plants for sale.

Open: 31st Oct, 7th Nov, 8th Nov 10am - 4pm

Weaving Water | 14 Waiwera Place Merrilands

This suburban rain garden has water as its key feature. Recycled water tanks store 6000L of rainwater which flow into a network of swales, through a food forest and annual vegetable garden beds.

Open: 31st Oct & 1st Nov 10am - 4pm

Piwakawaka Eddy | 602 Pembroke Road, Stratford Park

Liz's small house is a converted shed with recycled materials used where possible. Her home is off grid, powered by a 3.4kw solar array with battery storage (depicted above), and has a composting toilet. The property is being developed on permaculture principles, with vegetable beds close to the house while the orchard and soft berries are positioned further away.

Open: 31st Oct, 1st, 6th, & 7th Nov 10am - 4pm

Waitoriki School | Lincoln Road, Inglewood

Waitoriki is a rural school 3.5 km out of Inglewood. The grounds and māara are taken care of during school time with a unique program called Waitoriki Whenua.

Open: 2nd - 5th Nov 9am - 3pm & 6th Nov 9am - 1pm & 7th - 8th Nov 10am - 2pm

Peihana Farm | 281 Okoki Road, Urenui

Just over a year ago Maria committed to working full time on the farm to supply weekly produce boxes and local businesses with a diverse range of spray free fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Setting up a commercial farm kitchen has also enabled Maria to turn surplus into preserves and offer a range of baked items to customers. Food, plants, & artwork from local artists for sale.

Open: 30th-31st Oct & 1st Nov 10am - 4pm

Ratapiko School | 4 Ratapiko Road RD 10 Inglewood

An Enviroschool, the students have created a millennial garden with native trees and birds, as well as sculptures to add colour into the flower beds. Visit them and learn more about their enviro-journey.

Open: 30th & 31st Oct and 2nd - 7th Nov 10am - 4pm

Seedlings Nature Kindergarten | 19 Hadley Drive, Rd1 New Plymouth

The children visit The Orchard (est 2001) which boarders the Huatoki Stream, and they enjoy exploring the terraces of fruit trees. We invite you to visit and feel the calm, peace and slow place of Nature Education.

Open: 3rd & 5th Nov 4pm - 6pm; 7th & 8th Nov 10am - 4pm

Tours: Guided tour to The Orchard on open days