Growing food grows communities. Discover how commercial gardens, community initiatives and local food networks are strengthening resilience, connection and belonging.
Growing food is about far more than producing vegetables. It creates opportunities for people to connect with each other, the land and the seasons while strengthening local resilience.
Join Theo Richard, Head Gardener at the award-winning Sherwood restaurant and a driving force behind the Queenstown Harvest Community Gardens, alongside Babu Blatt, facilitator of the Southern Lakes Kai Collective, as they explore the many ways local growing contributes to thriving communities.
Theo will share his experience of commercial and community gardening, demonstrating how local food production can nourish people while fostering stewardship, learning and connection.
Babu will highlight the wider ecosystem of initiatives supporting food resilience across the region, including community education programmes, the Southern Lakes Food Growing Blog, the regional food event calendar, and initiatives such as Kai Commons and Kai Connect, which are helping people grow, share and access local food.
Together, they demonstrate that resilient food systems are built not only by growing food, but by growing knowledge, relationships and communities.
YOUR SPEAKERS
Programme Manager Wao Aotearoa Food Resilience, and Southern Lakes Kai Collective
Theo Richard
Organic Gardener, Head Gardner Sherwood Gardens