Our Programme
Set on a beautiful five-acre site in Meeanee, Napier, Earth Gardens combines horticulture with practical life skills. Here, our participants are supported to learn, share, and thrive in an environment designed to grow both confidence and community.
The things we do
Our day programme is mostly outdoors, practical and physical. Activities vary and include:
Horticulture - from sowing seeds to harvesting and preparing vegetable orders
Cooking, meal preparation on a budget, nutrition and preserving skills
Maintenance of equipment and hand tools
Furniture restoration and repurposing
Work ethic and practical life skills
Employment skills
Educational opportunities
Social skills
Cultural & community activities
Through growing kai, caring for the land, and working together, we help people and Papatūānuku to thrive.
Gardening and Growing
When it comes to gardening we focus on organic principles and where possible, we prefer heritage seeds to grow nutrient-dense vegetables and herbs.
We offer vegetables, fruit and herbs for sale, so please contact us if you would like join our email list for produce orders.
Creative activities
In the past, our programme has included creative projects such as Oamaru stone carving, with participants making pieces for the Earth Gardens artistic garden and for themselves.
We’d love to offer more activities like this again and are looking for volunteers to support harakeke (flax) weaving and other creative pursuits.
If you have time and creative or practical life skills to share though volunteering, we'd love to hear from you.
