August 2, 2018
A Boost for our Community Gardens
Our two local community gardens have received grants from the Wellington City Council for improvements to their infrastructure: about $3,000 in total. The garden next to the school will get some new raised beds using more permanent material. Some old jarrah telephone pole timber has been sourced as a durable, non-treated option. Te Kawakawa commons has funding to install a water tank next to its new shed and to build a herb garden.
Amy Bird, WCC Community Resilience Advisor, who manages the Wellington City Council “Stone Soup” pool of funding for community gardening, visited the valley garden last Sunday and met with six of the garden regulars. As usual many more ideas about resilient communities than just community gardens were discussed!
WCC sees community gardens as small-scale, low-investment neighbourhood communal gardening ventures, where the primary purpose is growing vegetables or fruit. They support community gardens through:
- Creating partnerships with organisations like the Sustainability Trust, Mokai Kainga and Enviroschools;
- Supporting the development of a local community gardens network with funding from their general grants pool;
- Providing public land for gardens;
- Recruiting volunteers and linking them with projects;
- Providing subsidised compost and free mulch.
And while we are on the subject of local food, next year’s Neighbours’ Day is planned to be held from March 22 – 31 2019. Ten days to celebrate ten years! A good time for a harvest festival, or any other neighbourly type activities, have a think about what you could do.
Call for Proposals to use our Hall
At the HV Progressive Association AGM the committee decided to invite proposals for attracting more community use of the hall, or engagement with the Association. If you have an idea, they can help fund it from a total pool of $3,000. The pool may be for one or several proposals so even if yours is just a small cost still get the idea in. Ideas floating around are:
- improving the seating with new cushions;
- better heating;
- a new coffee machine;
- registering with TimeBank;
- a mini-beer festival.
You can discuss any ideas at Koha Koffee if you want a sounding board, otherwise email your proposals to Ken.
Koha coffee – Saturday August 4
Koha Coffee will be held in the community hall from 10.30 til about 12.30 this Saturday. We are hoping to make it a regular event now on the first Saturday of each month.
Come and share your news and ideas with other locals and enjoy good food and coffee.
Houghton Valley Progressive Association Subscriptions
With a new year starting, the HVPA is asking for you to renew your membership or to support the organisation by joining up. Membership is $10 for a single or family (and with your membership you get a free set of 6 hall cards!)
You can pay online to Houghton Valley Progressive Association at BNZ Kilbirnie, 020 520 0143013 00. Please make sure you provide your name and Sub2018 in the payment details.
To receive your cards please email Ken with your address details or come to Koha Coffee to pick them up.
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