Our working bee tasks for Sunday 13th August.

And our beautiful new signs showing the connectivity to the Oakley Creek walkway.

All hands on deck at the working bee - a blue sky day.

Early signs of spring...

Brendan ready to help mulch the paths.

Riley and Stephanie on the food forest chain gang.

Jenni laying out the cardboard layer

 Our visionary, Jenni!

 Karine

 Shawn

 Stephanie

 Benedicte

 Loading up the barrows with mulch - Shawn and Clement.

 with Stephanie too - quite a workout!

Mort with the paparazzi!

 Stephanie and Clement.

Stephanie, Shawn and Karine

John finishes off the sowing of Mustard - as a green crop.

Brendan and Abbie weeding the paths.

David works on the paths too.

Bill, VJ and Arthur doing the heavy lifting on the compost piles.

Rose and Jan.

At our shared lunch, Action Group Chair Karine updated the Society members on the meeting with the WLC.

Rena, Sinead and Rosie.

Mike, Stephanie and Diane.

Sarah, Jenni, Bill (obscured), Rose, Janet and Sarah.

Kathryn, VJ and Shawn.

Happy Gardening!

Sanctuary Mahi Whenua Greenway sign unveiling.

To inform the Community of our existing greenway through our beautiful Sanctuary Mahi Whenua to the Oakley Creek walkway, we installed some signs to help people find their way. 

We were delighted to host our guests; local Councillor Cathy Casey and members of the Local Board who came along to support our initiative and the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua.

Here are some photos from our ‘Greenway’ unveiling.

Our new Greenway signage. Marita gave our mihi and Trevor also spoke about the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua. They wore green lei so they could be readily identified as Sanctuary members.

Peter Haynes, Albert-Eden Local Board Chairperson with Councillor Cathy Casey.

Everyone assembled to see the ribbon cut with Peter recording events.

Councillor Cathy Casey, LB member Graeme Easte, Marita Hunt (spokesperson for Sanctuary Mahi Whenua Society) and LB Chair Peter Haynes, addressing our group.

Councillor Cathy Casey, LB member Margi Watson speaking in support, of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, Marita and LB member Graeme Easte.

 Carla (our Comms guru) with local residents.

We are thrilled with the support offered to us by Councillor Cathy Casey and members of the Local Board. It is gratifying to know they are behind us with their deep appreciation of what the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua has to offer the wider community.

See the other connections the Government, through the NZ Transport Agency, together with Auckland Transport and the Albert Eden Local Board have delivered here, 

http://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2017/07/first-section-of-waterview-shared-path-now-open/

9 July Working Bee

Torrential downpours welcomed us to the Working Bee on Sunday! But due to the magnificently free-draining and productive soil at the Sanctuary, we were still able to work and maintain the gardens and wider environs.

The crop of Peas is establishing well and will not only provide nutrient dense food in the communal garden, but will also replenish Nitrogen into the soil. Bev helps provide support structures from our recycled prunings for the peas to grow on.

Patricia weeds the onion bed. 

Sarah weeds the pathways to create easy access for all of the visitors to our beautiful Sanctuary gardens. Many people walk, rest, and simply enjoy being in the gardens and we maintain the pathways to enable this.

Cathy weeds the spinach, a perennial green, that provides nutrition for many of the organisations we support.

Benedicte also helped weed the long rows of Spinach.

A healthy green crop of Spinach, positively glowing in the sunshine, in between downpours.

Marita helps with the maintenance of the pathways in the Sanctuary.

Along with Clara. The paths need constant upkeep as the self seeding flowers - as well as the weeds - try to establish there.

John (with Trevor in the background) at work.

Bill, also staking the Pea crop.

And Janet - with Bill in the background.

Even in winter, the gardens are productive and beautiful, providing a haven of biodiversity right in the heart of Auckland. A working example of organic, sustainable, urban horticulture for the entire community to experience and enjoy.

A pile of jackets collect as the work continues.

Trevor packaging up some of the crop of Jerusalem Artichokes (we have harvested over 50 kg so far this season). Even our 'bags' are recycled and bespoke! 

Karine avoids a downpour in the shed. Rainfall so far for July has been 125mm.

Additional produce that is starting to come through is citrus - oranges and lemons. Clever Mother Nature providing exactly what is needed for the middle of winter.

Happy Gardening.