Community Garden

The Linwood Community Garden sits right outside the Linwood Resource Centre and is a haven for plant lovers, green thumbs and beginner gardeners. We have raised garden beds, many fruit trees, a great composting system and happy egg laying chickens.

Community Garden

The Linwood Community Garden is a safe space to get hands-on gardening experience and make friends and lifelong connections to a community space. Those who wish to commit to regular volunteering are welcome to the seasonal harvest of fruit and vegetables. Nikki, our fantastic garden coordinator, runs seasonal garden workshops in the garden and a fortnightly garden group. If you are someone with limited garden space at home, you can rent an individual allotment at the back of the garden for the low price of one hour of volunteering per week! If this sounds like something you would be interested in, get in contact with our community gardener Nikki (021 134 0656).

Important information

The Gardens are open Monday & Wednesday 10am-12pm for weekly working bees.
Our garden coordinator, Nikki, works Monday - Thursday.
Tuesdays: 10am-11am is an Introduction Session with a tour, open to all new or interested gardeners.
Please check the Garden Timetable for other sessions (see below).
Please enter through the Linwood Resource Centre (house) and sign in before coming into the garden space.
Dogs are not allowed in the house or the gardens (exceptions made for service dogs).

How to get involved

Become a super garden volunteer and help with seasonal jobs like weeding, maintenance, composting, and propagation.
When you gain experience on site you can choose to help out in our afternoon sessions or take care of a specific area.
Drop into the Linwood Resource Centre and purchase eggs or veggies for a koha.
Help us prepare for our fundraising plant sales, open days, and workshops on site.
Donate to the LRC charitable trust.
Join our Board and become a trustee to help us serve our local community.

Community Garden FAQ

How do things work in the garden?

You are more than welcome to come visit and simply enjoy the space when the Centre is open. The Centre (House) hours are Monday- Thursday 9:30am-2:00pm.

If you wish to volunteer, come along to one of our weekly open Information Sessions, get in touch with Nikki, or stop by for a chat.

Please check the Māra Kai / Garden Timetable for further information.

Is the garden wheelchair accessible?

Our garden grounds are mostly grass and woodchip, so they are uneven in places, but we believe the garden is mostly wheelchair accessible. The House has an entrance ramp and accessible toilet.

How many people work here?

There is one garden coordinator at the Linwood Community Gardens, who can give you a tour and show you what to help with. Volunteers fluctuate; there can be anywhere from 2-25 people in the gardens depending on the season. Please be patient if our coordinator is busy helping others, sometimes there is a lot to juggle, but they still value your visit!

Can I bring my children?

Yes! The whole whanau is welcome to come and enjoy and participate. However, children must be supervised at all times by a parent or guardian. Our wonderful garden coordinator's role is to manage the site and assist with gardening, not to provide childcare or babysitting.

Who else participates?

We have a diverse group of people attending. Local individuals, primary and secondary school groups, adult day programmes, a Pasifika community group and more! Please do get in touch if you have a possible group in mind or ideas for broadening participation.

Can I harvest the produce myself?

No, we prefer you let the garden coordinator harvest the produce and give it to you. This ensures fair distribution of produce and timely harvesting.

Is the garden organic?

Yes, although not certified, we only use organic inputs (compost, natural oils) and processes, and do not use chemical herbicides or pesticides.

Where or how can I make a donation?

Please talk to the staff or donate to our LRC charitable trust bank account, Te Whare Taonga o nga iwi katoa 03-1591-0124121-000 and be sure to leave a reference.