Join us for a special Green Drinks evening exploring how we can grow stronger local food networks and build food resilience across the Upper Clutha.

The evening will introduce three community-led initiatives helping reconnect people with local food systems:

• Kai Connect — small, decentralised food networks connecting people already producing food in different ways;

• Carb Club — collaborative local growing of staple carbohydrate crops;

• The Seedling Cooperative — community coordination of seedling growing and sharing. The Seedling Cooperative will be introduced by Nita Smith, who will share her experience of setting up the initiative in Bannockburn and what she and her group have learned so far.

The evening will introduce three emerging community-led initiatives:

• Kai Connect — small decentralised local food networks connecting people already producing food in different ways

• Carb Club — collaborative local growing of staple carbohydrate crops

• Seedling Cooperative — community coordination around growing and sharing seedlings

Unlike a traditional panel discussion, the evening is designed around participation and connection. Adding to the connection theme, the night will include informal networking rounds that will help attendees discover shared interests, complementary skills, and opportunities for collaboration within their own communities.

Meet Your Speakers

Nita Smith: Based in Bannockburn Nita works in conservation (QEII National Trust). Outside of work, she is a keen gardener with a strong interest in food resilience and is a mum to two primary school aged children. She is actively involved in building community connections in Bannockburn. Nita has helped establish a Seedling Cooperative with a small group of like minded people and will share a brief overview of how the concept works and what they are learning so far.

Babu Blatt: Programme Manager at Wao Aotearoa and facilitator for the Southern Lakes Kai Collective, a 45 member collaboration building a resilient, connected local food system that supports food sovereignty and cooperation across the region.

Tickets only $5 from Humanitix. Register below.

Why come?

• Connect with like-minded people passionate about local food and resilience  

• Discover the hidden skills, knowledge and food networks already thriving in Aotearoa

• Build practical connections for sharing food, resources, ideas and experience  

• Explore simple ways to become more food resilient at home and within your community  

• Be part of strengthening a more connected, localised food system for the future

This event is part of the broader Southern Lakes Kai Collective roadmap of initiatives to strengthen our local food system and community food resilience.