Get Growing At The 7 Best Urban Farms And Community Gardens In Auckland

With life slowly beginning to normalise again, we’re all itching to get out of our bubbles and back into the community. As much as you’re loving reconnecting with your family, flatmates and workmates post-lockdown, there’s something truly heart-warming about meeting new people in a positive space too, and what better place to do that than volunteering at your local community garden.

Community gardens, or urban farms, are green spaces in a community that are run to educate, give people the opportunity to grow their own vegetables in an often cramped urban environment and offer a way for community members to connect. Most offer open volunteer slots of a few hours once a week that everyone is welcome to come along to and help out with the weeding, harvesting, planting and general maintenance. We’ve got a list of some of the local Auckland community gardens you can pop along to and try out your green thumb at. Most of the gardens are planning to reopen at Level 2, but do make sure to check their socials before heading along.

Devonport Community Garden

Located in the heart of Devonport at Mt Cambria Reserve, the Devonport Community Garden is run entirely by volunteers so we’re sure they’d really appreciate your help. Their garden is the home to quails, chickens and honey bees, plus they have a stone pizza oven so you could host your own pizza party there. Hop along on Sunday’s from 2pm-4pm to volunteer in the gardens—the best part is they also hold an afternoon tea for solid community catch ups once you’re done.

About the Author

Tash McGill

Tash McGill works as a strategy consultant in tourism, hospitality and digital transformation. She is co-founder of The Feed, President of Food Writers NZ, Chair of the New Zealand Whisky Association.

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