We’re postponing today’s working bee due to some pretty wild weather coming our way! If you’d still like to join us today we’ll be in the māra from 3pm – 5pm when the rain and wind has settled down.
If we don’t see you, enjoy the full power of Te Rākaunui (the full moon) tonight 🌕
The past few weeks we’ve been reminded of the whakataukī:
“I whea koe i te ao o te kōwhai?” “Where were you when the kōwhai was in bud?”
It speaks to the importance of hard work at the very beginning of kōanga, when preparation sets the stage for an abundant harvest ahead. The answer to that question is clear: many of you have been right here with us in the māra, getting the mahi done. We’re so grateful for your contributions, energy, and shared care for this space.
You might also have noticed more red stakes appearing around the garden. These mark plants we’ve selected for seed saving. Please don’t pick from or pull out anything tied to a red stake — these plants are being grown to flower and set seed, helping us build a resilient, mauri-rich seed bank for future seasons.
The māra is alive with busy spring energy — from trailer-loads of manure for our bananas, kūmara stirring in their tāpapa beds, to new seedlings emerging in the greenhouse. Read on for this week’s story, upcoming events, and the mahi ahead.
Arohamai – there’s lots of rain due tomorrow morning in Tāmaki Makaurau so we’re cancelling both our Ostara Equinox and Tuesday Working Bee. We hope you stay warm and dry at home, and find a special way to reflect on the equinox for you and your whānau.
Here’s to longer, brighter days ahead, fresh new growth and the waking up of the more-than-human world this Kõanga/Spring.
What a week! The māra has been buzzing with energy — from a massive community effort preparing our kūmara beds, to sharing kai straight from the pizza oven. Read on for the story of today’s kūmara puke mounding, details on seed saving in the māra, and the mahi ahead this week.
Scroll on for details and how to be part of it all.
This week is all about listening, learning, and planting seeds for the future. We’re opening a survey for our garden members and wider community, sharing kai together at our reo Māori parakuihi, and joining Matua Rob to mound kūmara puke in the māra.
Nau mai, haere mai ki Kõanga 🌸 The greenhouse and seedling shed are filling with life, our kūmara beds are being prepared, and new ideas are taking root. Today also happens to be Father’s Day — from the quintessential Kiwi dads and grandads tending veggie patches, to the father-figures in our lives who show patience, kindness, and wisdom, we carry their lessons with us in the māra and beyond.
This week we’re trialling something exciting with turmeric, looking ahead to a reo Māori breakfast in the māra, and as always, welcoming everyone for our regular garden sessions.
Spring is well and truly here, and signs of its arrival are everywhere — from the delicate blossoms on our dwarf peach tree to the rich, warming soil in the garden. The kūmara patch has been buzzing with incredible work digging up paths to increase our growing space, and the greenhouse is ready for a giant crop of turmeric!
We’re sending this email a little early to let you know that tomorrow’s seed sowing and pizza event has been cancelled due to rain. But don’t worry — we’ll still continue our seed sowing mission this week.
Life is quietly at work all around us, from the billions of microbes turning yacon into kimchi to the fungal networks holding our soil together. This week we celebrate these invisible helpers and invite you to notice the rhythms of growth, renewal, and connection in your own corner of Aotearoa. If you want to get hands-on, join us next Sunday for our spring seed-sowing workshop followed by woodfired pizza — a chance to plant something new and soak up beautiful vibes!