About the Community Gardens...
About Community Gardens
Community gardens are common in cities all over the world. They provide a shared space for communities to work together to grow produce and learn new skills. They benefit individuals by giving people access to fresh, organic produce, by promoting physical activity, and by stimulating learning and adding to a person’s knowledge and expertise. Community gardens also have social benefits through promoting community interaction, providing a venue to meet new people and building a sense of community. The campus community gardens are one of about a dozen community gardens in Christchurch.
Growing Methods
Okeover Community Garden utilises permaculture and organic growing methods. This means food production in the garden is becoming more sustainable – no pesticides or chemical fertilisers are used, and there is an emphasis on creating a self-supporting ecosystem and using natural processes. This produces healthier food and is better for the environment.
Dovedale Community Garden is still in its establishing stages and while it is currently organic, permaculture methods are currently not being used, however final decisions are still being made about how the garden will be established and maintained in the future.
Benefits of Commuity Gardens
Growing your own food is also better than buying it. It reduces the environmental costs associated with transportation and storage, and food will also be fresher and tastier. There is also the satisfaction you get from growing your own produce.
By participating in the community garden you also have a chance to learn about sustainable gardening techniques which you can apply in your own garden at home.
The community garden is an excellent place to put sustainable theory into practice. You learn by doing, and have fun and meet new people at the same time. As an added bonus, you can take your share of the fresh produce harvested that day!
About Okeover Community Garden
Where is the garden?The community garden entrance is via the walking path from Engineering Road beside Okeover Stream. Follow the sign for 'Cleaning Services.' To see a larger map, click here or click on the map to the right. Why the garden?The Okeover community garden was established as an informal recreation and learning space for students, staff and anyone else associated with the University. All interested people can come along and help out in the garden, learn new skills and meet new people. |
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About Dovedale Community Garden
Where is the garden?The community garden entrance is via the road from Solway Avenue if you are coming from off campus. Follow the road as per the map and turn left where you will find a gateway to enter the garden straight ahead. To see a larger map, click here or click on the map to the right. |
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More Information
For further information, contact:
Email Matt Morris (mathew.morris@canterbury.ac.nz) for more information.