Edible gardens were set up and funded through collaboration between the Cancer Society and Community and Public Health. The project was driven by a motivated group of health promoters from these organisations with the objective of supporting early childhood centres (ECCs) in Christchurch to grow their own raised gardens.
The gardens are now a feature of the activity in Early Childhood Centres, teaching the children where food comes from and how to grow various vegetables. Some fruit trees have also been planted to expand the teaching around supplying our own vegetables and fruit.
Twenty two centres were involved in the pilot project encouraging children to grow and eat their own fruit and vegetables. Eating fresh produce is one of the basics of good nutrition and encouraging children to eat healthy meals is one of the challenges facing all families. All five Kohanga Reo in Canterbury (for children aged 0 to 5) have edible gardens full of fruit trees and vegetables. The project has had spinoffs in the wider community too, with 68% of the pupils' families from the Kohanga Reo now growing vegetables at home.
The Ministry of Health's 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey identified that only 57% of children ate the minimum number of servings. Knowledge and education around where vegetables come from and how to grow them will hopefully encourage an increased uptake in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables.
 A Gardening Guide and Planting and Growth Calendar were produced as part of the project. The gardening guide has content for schools as well as early childhood centres.
Order a set of the Edible Gardens resources from the Community Health Information Centre (quantities limited).
An Edible Gardens Network is also being established so that information can be shared between those involved and the development of a seed exchange programme. Contact Eru Waiti if you are interested in joining this network.
Documents
Links
5 Plus A Day
Vegetables (Horticulture NZ)
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