Project Gro
The Soil & Health Association is pleased to announce the re-launch of Project Gro in December 2009.Project Gro was first launched in 1984 by then patron, Sir Dove-Myer Robinson who said “If mankind is to achieve optimum health he must consume healthy food grown in a healthy environment.”
Many members and readers will remember that at the time Project Gro’s emphasis was on ‘Giving to Research in Organics’ (GRO). Members and the public gave generously during the 80’s and 90’s to the Project Gro fund to support the growth of the Biological Husbandry Unit at Lincoln College, which was established with the support of Soil & Health in 1977. Project Gro also enabled Soil & Health to set up an Advisory Service in Canterbury, Hawkes Bay and Auckland, to employ an Education Officer and assist other organic programmes, such as the work at the Bay of Plenty Polytech growing organic vegetables and kiwifruit.
Project Gro has more recently been dormant, but is now being given a new lease of life to assist with the growth of organic gardening and education, which reflects the resurgence of gardening and the need for better health in our communities.
The fund will be used to support community groups, environment centres and schools starting-up and maintaining organic gardens, to create organic gardening resources and teach organic principles for health of people and planet.
Soil & Health wants Project Gro to be a living example of the Association’s motto: Healthy Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People. This work will also help fulfill the Association’s vision of an organic nation by 2020.
Project Gro to fund Organic Garden Mentor Pilot
Soil & Health is delighted to announce that the first recipient of Project Gro funds is EcoMatters Trust in Auckland.
We have chosen to fund the EcoMatters Organic Garden Mentor Pilot because of the Trusts track record and because we hope the project will be able to offer help to schools nationally.
The Trust is an established organisation with professional & passionate staff, who are already working with schools and communities. They have a well resourced eco-centre, established organic gardens and composting facility. The staff have experience running teacher workshops and have helped schools get gardens underway.
The Organic Garden Mentor Pilot staff will work with schools, offering a professional development workshop, then providing a garden mentor who will work with students, teacher and caretaker, giving practical garden support for half a day a week within term time for one year. The EcoMatters Education for Sustainability Facilitator will liaise with the school and the garden mentor as well as supporting them with curriculum programmes. This would involve composting, worm farms, vegetable gardens, flower gardens, fruit trees and native plantings.
The Organic Garden Mentor Pilot will build on work that is being done around the country, and on completion we hope to have a scheme and resources that can be of use to schools and community groups nationally.
Dee Pigneguy, Soil & Health National Council member, has offered to be a mentor and invites Soil & Health members and readers of Organic NZ to become mentors with the project – initially in the West Auckland area.
However, for readers around New Zealand, we encourage you to establish relationships with your local school to see if they need help either starting an organic garden or maintaining an existing garden. Many schools would welcome the skills and time that Soil & health volunteers could bring.
How you can help
You can make a donation to the Project Gro Fund
* Post a cheque to Soil & Health, PO Box 36170, Northcote, Auckland
* Donate with credit card on our website
* Donate with internet banking
You can become a garden mentor
* If you live in the West Auckland area and would like to be a school garden mentor, please contact Jo Newman at EcoMatters 826 4276 - www.ecomatters.co.nz
Healthy Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People
