Shetland St. Community Gardens
Introduction
Shetland St. Community Gardens were established in 1996 at Shetland Street, adjacent to the Arai Te Uru Marae by volunteers who wished to share in growing food together according to organic principles. The Arai Te Uru Marae Council generously allowed us to use the structures immediately next door to the garden, which included a couple of hothouses and a wind-protected native plant stand-out area and a shed.
The Gardens is run by volunteers. The produce is shared amongst those who work here. All the work of growing plants is done by people who wish to share their time with other like-minded people and whom also wish to share in the produce. We ask that all visitors respect the Gardens and all who contribute.
Gardens hours
The Gardens holds work sessions from 10am-3pm Tuesday & Thursday. If you wish to arrange a visit or make an enquiry please contact Hendrik Koch 021 1168320
Gardens activities
The Gardens runs seasonally appropriate food growing activities throughout the year: check on the calendar page for current activities. Events will be held at times also: check the calendar page
Gardens Co-ordinator:
Our Gardens Co-ordinator is Hendrik Koch. Hendrik has been Co-ordinating the Gardens since 2004 and growing food organically since 1972. He will lead visitors through all the basics of food production.
Volunteer co-ordinator:
Ros Craven is the co-ordinator of volunteers, so please contact her if you wish to assist. 0211500980
Visiting the Gardens:
For general members of the public, please visit during the posted hours, or, if you cannot attend at these times but wish to look around please feel free. If you desire to be shown around outside ordinary hours, please contact Hendrik Koch 021 1168320.
We welcome schools and other institutions; but: please make arrangements first. Please bear in mind that volunteers are busy looking after the Gardens and Nursery and Conservation Projects. They need notice of your visit.
Community Native Nursery
The Community Native Nursery was established by Hendrik Koch in 2001 at the Shetland Street Community Gardens.
The native plants are grown for conservation projects; both for conservation projects run by community groups on public lands and also for conservation projects on private land. All plants are sold at a fair, non-profit price to the project groups or landowners. The sale of native plants provides a vital chunk of the funding required to keep the Gardens facility running. All native plants grown are from eco-sourced seed, local to the Dunedin Ecological Region.
