To be – or not to be? A critical community garden question

Like with many things currently, we are asking the question _ can the Community Garden continue as it is?

Over the past nine years the Community Garden has managed to provide produce to the Community Larder on a fairly regular basis. This has been due largely to the dedication of a small team of regular, committed gardeners with a team of summer waterers; some great occasional gardeners and partners of regular gardeners, who have who have been happy and willing to do some of the hard yakka. All who are much appreciated and welcomed. 

However, we are now in the situation where we have reached a crossroad with regard to people’s ability to commit: we have always hoped that we would somehow hand over to new gardeners, allowing the original gardeners a break to perhaps become those occasional gardeners rather than taking full responsibility for the entire growth cycle of crops, i.e: managing compost, seed raising, plant ordering, funding applications, harvesting and delivering, weeding, grass cutting etc. 

But, this has not eventuated _ so whereto from here ? … Continue Reading

Wairarapa “postcode hole” for govt’s Alzheimer support

By Ray Lilley

Alzheimers patients in Wairarapa live in a Health New Zealand funding “postcode black hole” _ the only region of the country with no government funds provided to its volunteer group, Alzheimers Wairarapa. 

“This is a major issue for South Wairarapa people. As a voluntary group with no government support, we simply don’t have the funds to extend into South Wairarapa,” Alzheimers Wairarapa board member Carla Eglinton told The Star.. 

Based on Census data, some 620 Wairarapa residents currently suffer from dementia _ and some 500 of those can’t be assisted by the group because of a lack of central government funding.

“We simply don’t have the funds to extend down into South Wairarapa, and at the moment if you’re living in South Wairarapa you’re disadvantaged” as an Alzheimer’s sufferer, Eglinton said.

“The rest of the country has a funded community dementia service,” but not the Wairarapa. … Continue Reading

Wairarapa Moana Spring planting

Everyone is welcome to join the next planting day for Wairarapa Moana restoration – Sunday 29 September at Lake Domain, near Featherston.

The focus will be on planting more of the karaihe sedges especially grown from eco-sourced seed at He Kōtare Native Nursery. 

Karaihe (also known as carex buchananii) is endemic to the moana but is officially listed as ‘at risk – declining.’

Sedges already planted on the shoreline at Lake Domain are thriving and over time, they will promote water quality and fish life.

If you are interested, the mahi will occur from 10:00 a.m. till Noon at the domain. 

Bring a spade and gloves — and enjoy this special place with other members of your community!

Caption: Recently-planted Karaihe/sedges thriving on the Moana shoreline.

Wellington Heritage Festival reaches Wairarapa

Wairarapa this year will join the Greater Wellington region by taking part in the recently-minted Wellington Heritage Festival which will host 140 events across the region over three weeks from October 26. 

Eleven of the events will take place in the Wairarapa, with the rest stretching from Upper Hutt to the Kapiti Coast

“Heritage New Zealand’s mission statement of ‘Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future’ captures the purpose of the festival,” chair Roger Blakeley said in a statement.

This year’s festival starts on Saturday, October 26 (Labour Day weekend) and runs to Sunday November 17. … Continue Reading