A look at the gardens in Waitakere Gardens.

These pictures were all taken from October 15th though the 18th, 2021. 

Believe it or not, it has been 10 months (at the time of this writing) since we moved into Waitakere Gardens.  Jeanne had hoped, when we arrived, that she would be able to do some gardening here.  It had always been a big part of her life.  However, we weren't sure how things worked and if it would be possible. There seemed to be such a well established gardening organization; would her abilities be needed or welcomed?   

In answer, I'd say that things have turned out every bit as well as we could have imagined. 

Today's post will show you what Jeanne's been up to since we arrived. She has been busy.  She is now an integral part of the diverse team that manages the hydroponics, the compost piles, the worm farm; that plants and harvests vegetables, flowers and fruit of several kinds. She is going to show you around the vegetable gardens today.    -djf

In the past ten months, Doug and I have settled into a comfortable routine, indulging in the keen interests that have defined who we are: Doug loves to explore, take photos with his magnificent new camera and, of course, write his blog. I, on the other hand, am a home body and enjoy gardening and cooking. In this blog entry, we have combined our various interests to give you a look at the gardens at Waitakere Gardens Retirement Village. Thank you, Doug, for the many photos you have taken as well as the nice layout in this blog.

I planted these cabbages last autumn (June) and wondered what would develop in my first try at winter gardening. The cabbage seedlings were purchased by another member of the gardening team and it was up to me to set them out. I just finished harvesting them this spring (October) and they are quite different from the solid sweet autumn cabbages we are used to in Michigan. They are loose leafed and quite sharp tasting.  All the cabbage were put out in the  Atrium for fellow residents to take as needed. They disappeared quickly.

The gardens are located on a steep slope on the southern side of the village, where the ground quickly descends to the Opanuku Stream. The brushy growth beyond the fence is the green space bordering the stream. The steep slope requires terraces. The bottom terrace next to the fence has more cabbages, planted at the same time at the top terrace. They are not doing as well because the soil is poor there and needs to be developed. It also tends to get very swampy there after heavy winter rainfalls. I've harvested a few cauliflower from there, and they are "buttons". The next terrace has carrots, onions and beets. The third tier up has cabbages, lettuces and more beets. The tier right below the nice cabbages has tomatoes. All these plants were started from seed by team member Dave, and I set them out.

We have a nice rhubarb patch, which is protected by heavy netting. The pukekos (a colorful marsh hen that lives in the wetland brush along the stream) seem to love eating the leaves. Rhubarb can be harvested year-round in Auckland.

This garden patch is on level ground and is by far the largest community garden plot. John started to dig deep trenches for potatoes in August, when it was still quite wintry. He is 89 years old, so he took his time. I planted the potatoes for him. Unfortunately, he had an accident and couldn't continue his potato patch. He managed to dig eight trenches. I finished the project for him, and we now have a huge potato patch with staggered harvest times. In the foreground, we have lovely zucchini, which Dave planted in pots for me.

This is the eastern-most community garden, comprised of more terraces. These cabbages are next in line for harvesting. The eastern garden terrace is mostly devoted to fruit trees.

Some winter carrots, which I'm pulling for the table we put in the Atrium. I planted these from seed last June. Winter carrots are very pale colored. They will bolt by summer if not pulled up now. Very sweet and tender. Beyond the carrots are silverbeet (Swiss chard to us). The residents are crazy about silverbeet; can't get enough of it, so we plant a lot.

More silverbeet. Below and to the right is a row of individual raised beds for residents to grow whatever they want. On the left are the four huge composting bins. Margaret oversees the compost project. Green bins for collection of vegetable waste are located throughout the garden. Margaret helps empty the bins once a week. Big strong custodial staff like Nick help her, as managing compost is quite heavy work. A bin is "finished" and ready for use about every three months. 

This looks further to the right, with the same carrot patch in the foreground. You can see more of the individual raised beds. And yes, that is a Monarch butterfly, and no, it is not a real one, only a wooden garden ornament. We grow huge veggies in New Zealand, but the Monarchs are the same size as North American ones. Monarchs are a much-loved butterfly here, and many people grow Swan plants (same family as milkweed) as food for them.

One of the many fruit trees in the eastern terrace; this is a peach. Note the green netting to keep out pukekos; they love silverbeet too.

The banana tree is huge, and  flourishes beyond the compost bins. This tree is Johanna's baby. The fruit is small and very delicious. She does a good job caring for all the fruit trees in the garden.

This is my individual raised garden plot, number 11. Carrots, cauliflower, garlic, snap peas and a tomato. Johanna loves flowers, too. The primroses are part of her project to "tidy up" the garden. Even the weeds growing from the cracks of the boards look pretty.

These are the hydroponic lettuce beds. Dave takes care of planting the lettuce seedlings and setting them out in little "pottles". He watches the fertilizer levels in the tank that irrigates the beds. His wife Deb and I recently scrubbed and cleaned out every tray in the hydroponic garden. A huge task, but Deb is great fun and I enjoyed working with her. Away in the background is a shed housing the Worm Farm. Arthur and Margaret take care of feeding the worms and harvesting their worm tea and castings. The Worm Farm, along with the compost bins, form the vital support base for all the other gardening endeavors. Not to mention a wonderful example of community recycling and food production.

Here is where Dave is growing his tomato seedlings. They are available for residents to plant in their garden plots or take up to their balcony or patio to grow in a pot. Another rather anemic butterfly, also a garden ornament. I told you Kiwis love Monarchs!

The gardens also support a vineyard, which provides table grapes. 

A plea for more help in the gardens. I've mentioned quite a few people who are involved, but we could always use more help. I hope we get a few more volunteers to help with the harvesting which is done three times a week.

Here is what gives me a great deal of pleasure; the offering of fresh vegetables for the residents! (The pink highlighted lists behind and above the gardening wagon list "places of interest" for Covid 19 exposure events. Yes, we are still in lockdown, but managing to adhere to restrictions in a creative way.)

After all that hard work, I am resting on my balcony, surrounded by flowers and vegetables. The flowers are geraniums started from cuttings taken from our old place on Harvest drive. The two buckets (dark green and light green) hold potatoes for the Village "potato growing contest". By mid December the potatoes will be gathered and decanted. The winner will be the one having the most number of potatoes.

Here is what I am looking at as I relax on my lovely patio couch. Sheer bliss! - jmf