Vocational Training Programme
Set on a beautiful five-acre site in Meeanee, Napier, Earth Gardens combines horticulture with practical life skills. Here, tangata whaikaha are supported to learn, share, and thrive in a programme designed to grow both confidence and community.
The things we do
Our programme varies and includes:
Horticulture - from sowing seeds to harvesting and preparing vegetable orders
Cooking and meal preparation, nutrition and preserving skills
Maintenance of equipment and hand tools
Furniture restoration and repurposing
Work ethics
Employment skills
Educational opportunities
Budgeting
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 and herbs for sale, so please call us if you would like to order a regular supply of fresh vegetables.
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 skills to share though volunteering, we'd love to hear from you.
