Kaicycle, a community farming and composting initiative in Newton, Pōneke, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, marked Compost Awareness Week with a successful Farm Open Day.
Around one hundred people gathered at Kaicycle to explore the farm, purchase seedlings and learn about all things compost. The event started with a hands-on compost workshop, led by Kaicycle Community Manager Phoebe Balle and Kaicycle Compost Managers Lydia Thomsen and Liam Prince. International Compost Awareness Week runs from
Farm Open Day encouraged all to connect with the staff and learn more about the benefits of composting and urban farming. This event also created an inclusive space for the community to come together and meet their neighbours. Attendees shared kai over a free community lunch and enjoyed live music by local acoustic group ‘Ratproof’.
Donations from multiple groups and individuals contributed to the success of the event, including lawn clippings supplied by Government House next door and spent beer malt provided by Occasional Brewer. Newtown Community Centre also provided ‘Wash Against Waste’ kits, chairs and tables to help make it a waste-free event. Peter Chrisp and Rebecca Bell from Predator Free Wellington also joined the team for the day.
The event was an opportunity to connect with the community and openly discuss regenerative resources within Te Whanganui-a-Tara through Kaicycle’s farming and composting efforts. Kaicycle is looking forward to its next Farm Open Day and other community events in near future.
Kaicycle is on a mission to see communities recycling their organic waste and growing nutrient-dense food. The team operates a bicycle-powered compost collection service in Wellington City and the surrounding suburbs, taking composting taking compostable scraps from homes, offices and small businesses for recycling into living compost.
Kaicycle’s Urban Farm is located at 5 Hospital Road in Newtown.
Image credit: Toroa Photography
