Nearly 600 people are now involved in Manukau City Council’s teaching gardens project.

Two new teaching gardens have been established at East Tamaki Domain and Mangere Centre Park, bringing the total to six for the summer course which started mid-October.

Plots are allocated to an individual or a group to grow vegetables for a season, and participants are taught a range of skills from seed germination through to harvesting. The 20-week course prepares participants to grow their own fruit and vegetables at home.

There are some plots left for the summer season, so anyone interested should phone the Parks Booking Officer 263 7100 for an application form.

Enrolments don’t close until the end of November says Robert Findlay, Manager Park Recreation and the teaching garden co-ordinator.

“The response has been great and we are pleased to have good mentors at all sites including Ake Ariki, June Alexander Kingi and Ari Tauroa at Mangere Centre Park.”

Mentors Terri Marchant and Zahood Sheikh at the East Tamaki teaching garden have a novel way of letting students know that they are present on the site. They hoist the New Zealand flag on the old Croquet Club flagpole.

Mr Findlay says that the two planned gardens for Manurewa and Otara are on hold until external funding is obtained.

He believes the Manukau Parks teaching garden model where the gardens are essentially outdoor classrooms is a sustainable one.

“During our programme students are taught basic horticulture husbandry which they then transfer to their own home garden,” he says.

All course students are automatically members of the Manukau Parks Garden Laughter and Food Processing Club.  Clubrooms are located at the Stadium Reserve in Papatoetoe. The club is due to open its doors early in the new year.