Ōtākaro Orchard & Community hub
🌱 Greetings, Neighbours of Christchurch! 🌿
We're excited to share with you the incredible journey of Ōtākaro Orchard, a vibrant urban farm and community hub right here in our midst. As part of the Food Resilience Network, Ōtākaro Orchard is not just a green space but a thriving ecosystem dedicated to promoting local food, education, and sustainability.
What is Ōtākaro Orchard?
At its core, Ōtākaro Orchard is a community-led initiative situated at the heart of our city. Our mission is simple yet profound — to cultivate a space that fosters local food resilience, intergenerational learning, and environmental awareness. It all began in 2017 with a successful PledgeMe campaign followed by a second in 2023, and since then, our orchard has grown into a garden with a food forest, herb and vegetable beds, and in the future an open-air amphitheater for gatherings.
The Information Centre and Café: A Hub for Growth
Now, we're on the brink of something exciting! The Ōtākaro Orchard Information Centre and Café are nearing completion, thanks to the incredible support of our community. This space will be a dynamic hub for educational workshops, local businesses, and gatherings. Picture a green roof, solar panels, compost toilets, and a café along Cambridge Terrace.
The Blue-Green Roof: A Global Innovation
We're currently installing a pioneering blue-green roof, integrating solar panels and a diverse array of plants. This groundbreaking feature is not only one of the first in Aotearoa but stands as a global innovation. It's a living testament to our commitment to sustainability and showcases the potential of urban spaces to harmonize with nature.
How Can You Get Involved?
Our journey wouldn't be complete without our amazing neighbors. We invite you to join us in this exciting venture! Whether you're a seasoned gardener, a sustainability enthusiast, or simply curious, there's a place for you at Ōtākaro Orchard. Keep an eye out for events, workshops, and opportunities to get hands-on with the urban farm.
Let's cultivate a greener, more resilient community together! 🌿
Cheers,
The Ōtākaro Orchard Team 🍏🍇🌞
2025 has been massive. The Luxon-led Government's attacks on workers, on Te Tiriti, on pay equity, on educators, on health workers, and on the public service, have been relentless.
But despite everything thrown at working people, we've also seen some massive wins. We've fought back together with strike action. We've unified with days of action. We have focused on what matters. Make no mistake, 2026 will be wild, and we are ready for it! Source - New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Water Leak
Hi, I have a water leak somewhere just been sent a bill from CCC
It's been going on since May, and I've just been told about it by CCC
Can anyone out there help me find this leak and fix it, please
You can email me at Madcow_46@hotmail.com or phone me on 0272223034
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Loading…
