Roimata Food Commons

05/05/2024

Kia ora whānau...

I am taking a break from all social media...and that means that this page will go offline for a while.

Working bees will still continue every second Saturday...if this changes then I will inform those at the working bees of the changes. At some stage over the next wee while we will shift to monthly working bees.

Next working bee is 18th May....

I haven't been posting much...so likely you won't notice much of a difference 🤣🤣🤣

16/04/2024

Our wee film has been out for a month now...and it feels like time for a bit of an update on where things are and where they are heading...

I have been getting a solid wee crew of locals along to our regular fortnightly working bees, as well as a few mid week crews visiting to contribute some energy too.
The regular working bees will continue for the foreseeable future, I may change them to monthly over Winter (depending on the weather)...however, mid week activity will stop.
The economic reality of the world we live in means I will be taking a full time role elsewhere...until there is a clear pathway to support a presence down at Roimata on a more consistent basis.

As the Trust moves towards its disestablishment, I am looking for a small crew of like minded (ish) folks that would be keen to step into a joint practice of kaitiakitanga of the Roimata Food Commons...monthly yarns over a cuppa to keep things grounded and moving...

Just trying to feel my way through this all...without any sense of urgency...

Take care out there...
Maybe see you at Roimata on Saturday at 2pm-ish...

The City Food Commons shares the story of Roimata Food Commons, an urban permaculture food forest initiative driven by Ōtautahi Christchurch local Michael Re...

08/04/2024

Last few days to get your peastraw orders in...

Remember...pick up only this year...

Here's the link to the google form :)

Please fill out your details below to pre-order spray-free peastraw :) We are only going to do the smaller bales this time around - Conventional (3ft x 1.5ft) bales. Price is $15 for a conventional bale. Pick up date is Saturday April 13th....so get in and order soon, as we will need to cut off orde...

03/04/2024

Chilly morning down at Roimata Food Commons today...with a fantastic group of visitors to Otautahi.

I accompanied W***y, Katie and a group of students visiting Aotearoa from the US on a wee tour of the Commons.
Had some very interesting discussions around Commons, indigenous culture and our ancestry...very rich 🙏🏼

I really admire the work of groups like Ecoquest, based up in Takaka, that create these opportunities for our emerging leaders 💚

23/03/2024

Another fantastic working bee this arvo down at Roimata...nice to have 4 new volunteers...and the 7 of us just slowly got the jobs done 🙏🏼💚🌱

19/03/2024

The auction for our e-trike ends tomorrow evening....we would love to re-home this with someone who would get good use out of it...any extra money left over from winding up Toha Kai will be donated to an aligned charitable organisation near our community...win-win!

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/sports/cycling/electric-bikes/listing/4609681168?bof=BpVFqGnM

18/03/2024

So...ever since I posted this the other day I have been contemplating following it up with this post...

I have been wondering a lot lately what it would look like to gather as a community to discuss what kai security/kai sovereignty looks like?
Maybe we need a more local strategy to address issues that exist within our community???

We have been trying our best at the commons, for nearly 7 years, to provide access to kai in some shape or form...but we need more community buy in (on the ground help) and we need it to be part of a slightly wider strategy....

I'd happily help lead an in person conversation/meeting/gathering if people were keen to come together to start it...

Dave Letele's foodbank is in crisis after funding cuts, but he's got a plan to help people in a different way.

17/03/2024

From humble beginnings can grow great things...

This picture captured a day or 2 after planting our original fruit trees...

As part of the process of understanding what Roimata Food Commons is, what it has and continues to offer...and how that might be replicated in some way in other places...I have been writing a contribution to some research being conducted at Manaaki Whenua by some very good friends of mine....

Here...I am reaching out to the Roimata whānau for stories of what brings you joy, what value it adds to your day, and what you have learnt from being a part of its journey so far...

Please email any thoughts or ponderings to [email protected] or post some wonderings in the comments section...

I am really looking forward to hearing from as many of you that want to contribute as possible...🙏💚🌱

16/03/2024

As we look to re-invigorate the Commons...I am looking into more earth skills based practices to provide support and function to the space....

We lost our fence along the edge of the garden a while back...which was constructed of manuka stakes and excess willow rods from our willow structure construction...

This time I would love to explore this ancient technique of creating a living hedge through hedge laying....hazel, dogwood and elm are ideal species to use for this...

Anyone keen to give this a crack in a month or 2?????

Hedge laying—pleaching a hedge to force it to regenerate – is largely used in rural areas, but can just as easily be applied to domestic gardens.

16/03/2024

What a great afternoon with and 🙏🏼💚
We had fabulous sunshine and Greg did an amazing job of sharing a huge amount of information and tricks of the trade 😉

Already looking forward to our Winter Pruning Workshop concentrating on pipfruit care 🍐🍏