mbgp mangere TEAM challenge

MBGP Mangere TEAM Challenge
127 NEW family gardens initiated in Mangere:- 8th - 10th September 2017

#whanaubuildingforwhanau

9pm Sunday 10th September 2017.
The success of this intake hinged largely on TEAM. All who sat and contributed at minimum 6 Monday afternoon huis', attended 4 Sunday working bee workshops repurposing old wheelie bins to compost bins, 100's of pallets either decontructed for palings or cut to build raised garden sides [whanaubuildingforwhanau], we scaled new heights of serving the community by placing 130 gardens with 2 bin compost systems between Friday 8th - Sunday 10th September 2017.

Super special thanks to our contributing committee:

Papatuanuku Kokiri Marae for being great hosts and the working hub for this challenge. Cheers Valerie and Lionel for embracing the bigger picture beyond a healthy productive garden for whanau.
The effervescent Therese Mangos [Pacific Vision Aotearoa] who was a great influence [and leader] as to where the next intake should go after we completed Waitakere together back in July 2017.
Therese doubles as our compost and lasagna garden tutor that is all about diverting green and organic waste from landfill to turning it into great compost to enrich your soil.
Rereata Makiha for sharing with me at the July 2017 intake that he'd like to see this happen out in South Auckland. I know Matua we haven't finished out in South Auckland and I've yet to do a Maramataka workshop under your guidance :)
Aroha Harris [Te Puni Kōkiri] for her astute note taking skills/contributor, and being a genuine gem partnering with Graham [the mature crew] and smashing out heaps of gardens.
Big thanks from the committee for the funding injection that benefited all families.
Kelly Marie [Whenua Warrior]. Mate... you have a super BIG heart for helping others. A lot of great learnings aye on this one. Super effort and star in your own right.
Anaru Ah Kew [Healthy Families - Manukau, Manurewa-Papakura] - passionate about the project to initiate a means of food security through whanau learning how to grow their own vegetables. The bonus being able to harvest and eat nutritious veges!
Connector for Mangere East and One Love Mangere Project 2017.

What's coming out of the MBGP came to look forward to.

Shared harvest meals. These occur for spring/summer and autumn/winter. It's a great night of getting together and sharing cuisine where the vegetable component has come from your vibrant garden. We will inform you of the dates.
Lasagna Garden Challenge - details found here
Soil Olympics - details found here
My Garden Salad Challenge - details found here

Volunteers
There were numerous volunteers who devoted their time and energy to benefit many families who will start their green thumb journey with us. Thank you all so much for your efforts.

Patrick Howard... cheers mate for stepping up when I called you a couple of weeks out to see if you could take a lead role in the garden building/topsoil delivery allowing me to work behind the scenes [Saturday] ensuring everything ran smoothely.
Thanks Lucas, Sam, and Pasoe for adding the teenage element of serving the community. Best of luck with exams Sam and Pasoe.
Thanks Graham and Kerry for the services and resources you provided to advance the project enabling delivery of raised gardens and soil to finish ahead of time.

2 months since Waitakere intake in July 2017
The time between intakes went from initial 4 months [how long it takes for me to accrue 1 weeks annual leave to go out and build gardens in the community] to 2 months. This intake was purposely brought forward to accommodate for the 'red lidded bin' roll-out in South Auckland.
Kerbside waste accounts for 40-45% of green and organic waste and having a garden [lasagna garden] and compost bins in a families backyard is a super way from diverting organic and green waste from landfill.

Media
Waatea News - 8 September 2017 [click logo]