Land Based Training - Opportunity to gain knowledge in Horticulture

Where does your food come from?

During this period of uncertainty, people are starting to wonder where their food comes from, along with how to support their whānau.  A very high percentage of the fresh fruit and vegetables available in the supermarkets come from overseas and can be at risk of undersupply.  So how can we as a community remain resilient in these challenging and unpredictable times?

Land Based Training runs full-time horticulture courses at Newstart Gardens (on Saxton Road, in upper Vogeltown) from 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. 

The age group of the students ranges from school leavers to retirees, and everyone is welcome, providing they meet the eligibility criteria.  There is a rolling intake, therefore, there is no set start or finish date four the courses. This means that students are able to begin learning on a date that suits them best.  

There are Level 2 and Level 3 courses on-site, so students have the opportunity to come out with a qualification that is transferrable into the wider horticulture community. In this course, the unit standards that are covered give a good overview of everything from sowing, transplanting and harvesting, to soil health and controlling weeds, just to name a few. In most cases, transport can be provided for students from Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara, Bell Block and New Plymouth. 

The Horticulture courses are not just about theory, as time is spent in the gardens every day, putting into practice what has been learnt.  Regular field trips to investigate all the different types of horticulture that exist in Taranaki give everyone a good overview of the horticulture industry and support the learning process.

Testimony from Joe

Horticulture student, Joe preparing beds this winter under the bean and pea tower fence.

“Kia ora, I am a student and a father of seven beautiful children.  We recently moved back home from Australia, about a year ago now.  When we moved back, I wanted to do something for myself that I love doing. I didn’t want to do meat works again, so I started looking around for something that interests me.  I found a site on Facebook about a Level 2 Horticulture course, sent through a message and Land Based Training got back to me quick smart.  I made arrangements to come and view the garden and what it was all about and that’s where it all started.

I have been here since October last year. Now, I provide my family with fresh vegetables on a daily basis.  I’ve learnt how to do stem cuttings, which I intend to use as an extra money earner on the side.  I’ve also learnt to germinate and sow seeds, and how long they will take, planting seedlings out into garden right up until harvest time.  I’ll also take away with me different ways of weeding, mulching and also planning my garden.  It’s awesome to put theory into practice here at Newstart Gardens, New Plymouth.  Learning different types of gardening has been really useful for me and my family, and it could be rewarding for you as well.  We are always learning new things here at course, our own little piece of paradise, so come and have a look at what we get up to.  Looking forward to seeing you all.”

Alongside the courses, they also help local volunteers maintain the community gardens and offer support for the community:

“Not only are we learning how to provide good quality food for our families, which is really satisfying, but we also know that the work we are doing in the gardens is going to help feed the community.”

Newstart Gardens is a community garden on Saxton Rd in upper Vogeltown. Horticulture students train here, and volunteers come together to harvest produce for communities in need around New Plymouth.

So, if you are looking for a change of job or a change of direction, or maybe your family situation has changed and you need to be able to provide for your family, this course may be a fantastic solution.

Come and join Land Based Training, to learn how to sustainably grow vegetables for yourself and whānau along with potentially finding a new career path in horticulture.