Kelmarna Gardens rises to the challenge of finding new funding and the best way to serve the local community

Kelmarna is a beautiful one-acre organic garden bordering Cox’s Bay, Grey Lynn and Herne Bay. It hosts a diverse variety of plants with numerous vegetable plots, flowers and abundant well-established fruit trees. It contains a chicken coop, office, glasshouse, lunchroom and beehives (and is surrounded by grass paddocks). Kelmarna is a working model of sustainability - the gardens are organic and have organic certification.

Kelmarna was established on council land in 1981 and since 1992 has been used as a therapeutic centre by Framework, a community based mental health and disabilities services provider. The clients who come to Kelmarna have grown along with the garden in confidence, communication and life skills, it has been an invaluable refuge for them. Framework have decided they no longer wish to fund the gardens so have terminated their sublease as of the end of February. The surrounding paddocks continue to be stocked by the Mt Albert Grammar School farm department.

Kelmarna is a precious oasis that has always been open to the public. Frequented by locals keen to enjoy its unique atmosphere or purchase the delicious organic produce, it is also well loved by local schools and community groups who visit it for educational purposes. Kelmarna is a great asset to the community – it’s literally a slice of paradise in the middle of the city.

Kelmarna Community Garden Trust lease the land from Auckland Council and are looking for expressions of interest from an organisation or organisations that can continue the direction of this wonderful facility. A public meeting will be held on Thursday 29th January 5:30-7:00pm at the Grey Lynn Community Centre – all organisations and individuals interested in the future of Kelmarna Gardens are welcome.

In order to keep the gardens maintained until a new use can be determined, the trust would also like to hear from any interested garden volunteers and anyone in the position to offer donations. Any help to help retain this cherished jewel of the community would be gratefully received.

For more information please email kelmarnagardens@gmail.com.

If you have not visited the Gardens and are not sure what all the fuss is about, come along and explore their beauty on the weekend of the 14th and 15th of February when Kelmarna is taking part in the Heroic Gardens Festival. Tickets are available at http://heroicgardens.org.nz, or at the gardens on the day. Kelmarna Gardens are located at 12 Hukanui Cresent, Herne Bay.

ENDS

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