Hutt Valley - Stories from the ground
Food 4 Thought
Food 4 Thought is a family-oriented community led group that is uniquely Upper Hutt. The group consists of a cross section of community members, whose mission is to encourage waste reduction and the use of the resources around us, we achieve this through fostering growth conversations and actions around our food sources, waste and natural environment. We cannot achieve this alone but with community connections and local government engagement. It is achieved through community led advocacy and working across the whole community spectrum (from Tamariki to elderly) and revolving around the concept of Kaitiakitanga.
Nestled alongside the Mangaroa River in Te Awa Kairangi Hutt Valley water catchment, Mangaroa Farms is a resilient community food hub and education centre, specialising in regenerative agriculture, market gardening and native tree reforestation.
Cultivating an eco-cultural landscape with a wide range of projects, people, and skills keeps our approach diverse, and our feet grounded in the soil.
Visit our Farm Shop / Kete Kai for our collection of local produce & products open Friday - Sundays - 98 Whitemans Valley Road, Upper Hutt.
We often have job opportunities available at www.mangaroa.org
Follow us on Facebook for regular updates
Mahinga Kai Urban Farm
Mahinga Kai Urban Farm is part of the 4 A better city charitable trust based in Upper Hutt which provides transitional housing, family counselling, a schools based child support service and an employment programme for the long term unemployed.
We are located behind Lane Park Church (22 Lane Street, Wallaceville) on the site of the previous community gardens. We also have three other sites. We sell our produce through a subscription to our CSA boxes (Community Supported Agriculture) and the surplus is given to organisations like Orongomai Marae.
We practise regenerative farming techniques like no till, poly cropping and the use of natural fertilisers which increase the biology in the soil. We are mentored by For the Love of Bees based in Auckland. We grow everything from seed in our poly tunnel and we plant flowers to make the site attractive to pollinators and humans alike!
We run a 6 month training programme in partnership with MSD to give gardening skills to the long term unemployed. Supporting people through relationships is an important part of what we do at Mahinga Kai. We make our own organic compost on site and also collect food waste which is processed separately at the back of 'Brewtown" into compost.
We are always keen to have volunteers.
Find us on Facebook or on our website. Tel: 045283793 (Office) or Allison 022 412 5887
Mangaroa farms - Upper Hutt
Common Unity Project Aotearoa
We dream of a world where communities are connected, empowered and activated to exercise sovereignty over their food systems, starting in our own backyard of Te Puni (Epuni Fairfield), Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai (Lower Hutt). We’re a kaupapa that revolves around sustainable circular living where communities are empowered and activated to exercise sovereignty over their food systems. Central to this is a re/connection with whenua (land) and guidance by mātauranga Māori and local history of the land. We trust that listening to and connecting to the whenua (land) is vital and enriching for all people.
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Email: admin@cupa.org.nz
