100 trollies for 100 planters - Kiwi Harvest winter campaign launch
With the pressure of rising mortgage rates, rent and cost of living increases, Kiwi Harvest are currently supporting over 760 individuals in our region each week. With the financial pressure that we’re all under, they have launched their Winter Food Campaign to help alleviate some of the strain that people are feeling.
Kiwi Harvest’s mission is to reuse excess food from supermarkets, cafes and local businesses that is donated to the community groups helping those in need. Around Otago, the group provides food to Te Whare Hauora ki Tahuna, The Salvation Army, Baskets of Blessings and Happiness House in Queenstown, Community Networks Foodbank and Food for Love in Wanaka, and Cromwell Foodbank. They also have plans to expand to Alexandra in the future. Last year, the crew rescued 120,000kg of food in the region, which equates to 340,000 meals worth of food.
“For a very small team with a small imprint, it has a big impact every week. We’re just trying to do what we can and this campaign is part of that,” says Gary Hough, the Queenstown Branch Manager for Kiwi Harvest. “For people who are struggling out there, they are not alone. There’s a huge amount of people struggling – we are there as a community to help them in their time of need”
Part one of their plan to increase food donations by introducing trollies at local supermarket entrances, where the community will be able to make food donations and bring in any excess food from their home. For every trolley that is filled, an upcycled customised raised planter package will go to locals in the community with the goal of helping with long-term resilience within the community.
Next, Kiwi Harvest are asking for donations through their Givealittle page. All funds raised will be split among the local charities to increase food supply and capability. Finally, they’re asking for volunteers – if you have any amount of regular time during the week and want to be part of the amazing mahi that local charities are doing, it would be greatly appreciated.
They say it takes a village, and local businesses certainly stepped up to the plate for this project. Naylor Love have taken up the task of creating the upcycled raised planters from palettes that would otherwise go to waste. They will be enlisting the help of the community and noted they will be looking to retirees, individuals who are out of work, fathers and sons, or daughters and mothers to help build the boxes.
As many people are living in rented accommodation or without large space, it was important to create something that can be easily moved and make the most small areas. They also wanted to make it easy for those under time-constraints, or who may be lacking a bit of a green thumb – Liger Academy Students designed the self-watering system for the planter.
Ecostore donated 300 used drums, which were used in the creation of the planter, and Cherry Tree Farm are donating the seedings to be used. Bunnings have supplied the netting, and Dr Compost have created a custom maintenance and training booklet on the planters. Chef Alvaro Morales will create budget-friendly recipes that will incorporate the leafy greens, and Wao Charity have offered research support and help to connect the community with the imitative.
Wao have reported that in 1923, over 90% of our calories were grown within a 100km radius of us, whereas now, we bring in over 95% of calories into the region. We’re becoming more disconnected with our food systems and this programme is a practical way to help people overcome some of the hurdles that come with growing your own food.
“Everyone’s costs are going up, including charities. We’re not exempt from that and some of us are seeing a huge increase. Demand goes up and our costs go up, and that’s just not a good combination for the community. So as part of that, we’re just trying to give points that the community can get behind the charity, so we’ve set up a Givealittle page,” says Gary.
To find out more about what Queenstown Kiwi Harvest do and their Winter Campaign you can head to kiwiharvest.org.nz/central-lakes-winter-campaign or you can donate to the Givealittle at givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwiharvest-central-lakes-winter-food-campaign
