Kia ora tātou,

It’s Mahuru 2024 and we’re celebrating the start of Koanga. This month is the perfect time to get your planting groove on, start planning for the 2024 Sustainable Trails in November, or try something new.

In this pānui you will find:
👩‍🌾 A new article! A Decade of Sustainable Backyards - Inspiring Change Towards a Greener Future
❗️Hot Tips for the Sustainable Trails 2024
🌱Te Ara Taiao celebrate the season of Koanga
🌻 Updates from St Georges Community Garden
🙋‍♀️Inspiring words from our Volunteer of the month
🎙️Podcast guide for Talking Taiao & Hit the Trail
📆 Our Event Calendar to make sure you won’t miss any sustainable events in Taranaki!

🏆Our top 3 most read articles this month:
1. Local Taranaki Markets in 2024
2. Growing Community Connections with Community Gardens
3. Rejuvenating the Art of Repurposing in the Garden

Ngā mihi,
The Sustainable Taranaki tīma

New ARTICLE!
A Decade of Sustainable Backyards: Inspiring Change Towards a Greener Future

This year we celebrate 10 years of the trails empowering change, AND the start of the Sustainable Farms and Builds Trails!

Learn more about how the Trails has grown from a grassroots initiative promoting environmentally gardening practices, in to a broader more impactful vision. From a few backyards in 2014, to now showcasing local schools, community gardens, working farms, sustainable builds, workshops, tours, events and more.

Read the full article HERE

Hot Tips for Sustainable Trails 2024

• Sustainable Trails booklet now available at libraries, cafes, and shops around Taranaki. Also at The EnviroHub, 28 Brooklands Park Drive, New Plymouth.

• Book ticketed events HERE - including permaculture workshops, edible garden & food forest design, cooking with fresh produce, and saving your own seed.

• Register for Builds and Farms tours HERE. Most of these are FREE but spots are limited, don't leave it too late!

• Do you have friends or family coming from out of town? We have electric vehicles that can be hired for one or more days. More info HERE. If you’d like to book for multiple days for a discounted rate, email: Jenni Hammonds

• GIANT Crop Swap Event and the Trails 10 Year Celebration is confirmed for Saturday 3rd November, 9am till 10am at Puke Ariki Foyer. This event is FREE but please register HERE.

The Season of Kōanga with Te Ara Taiao

Energy is shifting as we ease into Kōanga, Te Rā graces our skies earlier and Papatūānuku beneath our feet is starting to warm herself again.

Rāhotu tamariki were excited to experience their first Kiwi telemetry mission, while Ōakura tamariki are in the planning stages for a new chicken coop at their Kura.

Ōmata tamariki created a trial batch of Kawa Kawa Rongoā balm, and Kaimata Kura has received the first delivery of rākau for Trees for Survival.

Fitzroy kura, other kura along the Waiwhakaiho Awa, and Devon Intermediate were gifted 300 rākau each from Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Nursery and are now either planning or starting their planting projects (photo on right).

Midhurst Kura are in the final stages of completing construction on their shade house (middle photo) and getting it ready to grow rākau and kai.

Waitoriki tamariki continue their weed releasing (photo on left) and trapping endeavours on the kura grounds, while 6 of their tamariki were guests on Talking Taiao (episode to air Sunday 6th October).

Hāpaitia te ara tika pūmau ai te rangatiratanga mō ngã uri whakatipu - Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence and growth for future generations 💚

Exciting Progress atSt George’s Community Garden in Pātea

Our newest community garden is quickly evolving. A working bee was held on 29th August and included pruning and weeding of the existing site.

This was followed by the donation and delivery of 5 old concrete troughs, to be upcycled into raised garden beds. Thanks to Agri-crete Precast Concrete LTD for cutting the base of the troughs so they could drain. Thanks also go to Hooper Engineering and Murdoch Contracting for making it all happen!

The next working bee was held on 8th Septmber. This included emptying sludge from remaing troughs, and starting the process of filling the two that had the base cut out. The filling procees started with old woolen carpet as weed matting, then sheep dags, pony poo and finally, compost. Now the fun part, deciding what will be planted in the new garden beds for spring and summer!

Our Volunteer of the Month Inspires Us All!

Congratulations to our fantastic volunteer of the month, Binju!

“As someone new to New Zealand, volunteering with Sustainable Taranaki’s Zero Waste Events has not only allowed me to contribute to reducing waste but also helped me connect with a wonderful community. This opportunity has been instrumental in improving my networking and has given me the chance to meet and learn from great people, both within Sustainable Taranaki and across the wider region. It’s been a truly rewarding experience on multiple levels.”

Feeling inspired? Register to receive opportunities to volunteer in your areas of interest HERE.

Fresh Podcasts for Talking Taiao & Hit the Trail!

Koanga features more podcasts with the launch of the Hit the Trail.

Hit the Trail show airs weekly into the lead up to the Trails 2024. The show features interviews with Hosts across garden and arts events planned in November. For Sustainable Trails, episodes this month inluded:

• Bayley Terraces - Urban New Plymouth Backyard - korero begins at 30 minutes

• Kahu Glen - Organic Feijoa Orchard and Hemp Build - Sustainable Farms and Builds 11 - 17 November - korero starts at the beginning and lasts 30 minutes

• Mountain Road Estate and St Mary’s Community Garden - South Taranaki - korero begins at 30 minutes

Hit the Trail airs every Monday at 9am on Access Radio Taranaki 104.4FM.

Weekly episodes for Talking Taiao continue and this month featured:

• Making change with Community Gardens in Taranaki

• Behind the Scenes on Hit the Trail Show

• Kōia - mana kai, mana tangata (gardening for well-being)

Keen to listen live? The show airs every Sunday at 5.30pm, on Access Radio Taranaki 104.4FM.

All these shows are up to 30 minutes in length and can also be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (search ‘Talking Taiao’ or ‘Hit the Trail’).

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