FOOD RESILIENCE CO-ORDINATOR

Caity has always been a keen gardener and nature lover, spending endless hours in the garden with her father as a child and eventually studying botany and ecology. She was especially inspired later in life working at the medicinal herb gardens of Weleda in Hawkes Bay, and at Daniel Bridler’s market garden, Parau Gardens. Here the seeds were sown for her vision of growing organic produce on an ecologically diverse farm – preferably a long way from the madding crowd!

After marrying Gerald, the seeds fell on the fertile soil of Great Barrier Island, and Okiwi Passion was born.

Caity now has part-time role as Food Resilience Co-Ordinator on Aotea encouraging, teaching, and supporting individuals to grow more local food!

Caity loves food! And having eaten out of her own garden for the last 19 years since living on Aotea, she would love everybody to experience the same delight.

COMMUNITY GARDEN CO-ORDINATOR

Saskia has always had an affinity for the natural world. Growing up in Holland, her childhood was spent in backyard sanctuaries making flower posies and perfume, weaving sticks and bark, pressing leaves and flowers, drawing or painting nature.

It was through an elderly neighbour, the ‘keenest gardener on the street’, that Saskia first learned about compost, “mind-blowing transformation of yucky stuff to earthy forest smelling goodness filled with wiggly worms”, a moment she would be transported back to, years later when she participated in a composting pile building workshop held by Peter Speck at the Oruawharo Community Garden, where she had another “aha” moment, realising how passionate she felt about gardening.

Saskia began gardening to supplement items from the weekly grocery list. With huge freight increases to the island, and Covid uncertainties, it made sense to Saskia that she would be growing whatever she could at home.

After participating in a permaculture course, Saskia volunteered at the community gardens on Friday volunteer mornings to learn more, and to get to know more people that love growing. It was rewarding to be able to contribute, reaping the rewards of connection as well as harvests from the garden.

When Sue and Emmy - who started and worked the gardens with Peter Speck for the past 10 years - decided they were going to retire, Saskia was the only one putting her hand up to take over the role.

She has found it “humbling to learn together, with the weekly volunteers, and working with Caity Endt during workshops.. slowly seeing the garden grow in fertility and productive outcome.”