Hey Everyone, we have a great oppurtunity to create something great here in Christchurch, NZ. After the 2011 quakes we have a lot of inner
city land available to repurpose. One of the most exciting projects is looking for a bit help to get the ball rolling..
The Ōtākaro Orchard will be New Zealand's first urban food hub. Located in the heart of the Avon River Precinct between the Town Hall and Margaret Mahy Playground, it will be a place that locals and visitors alike can gain knowledge and inspiration about
sustainable food systems in practice.
The
project has three parts :
An Edible Park featuring a heritage orchard, multiple herb and vegetable beds showcasing a variety of growing techniques, space for educational workshops and an amphitheatre for public gatherings and events.
A
Local Food Information Centre and Cafe housed in what we envision will be Christchurch's most regenerative building.
A Dome which will serve as an indoor food production and classroom space.
The Ōtākaro Orchard will serve as the welcoming front door to the local food resilience movement with has been gaining momentum since the earthquakes shook our city apart. In that time we realised that supermarkets carry only 3 days worth of food and if our supply chains get disrupted we go hungry. Community gardens became important places of refuge and connection as well as sources of fresh food.
In the past few years the Food Resilience Network has been holding a collective vision of Christchurch as an 'Edible Garden City'. A city where every citizen has access to the fresh and healthy food they need to live well. Research has shown that up to 40% of Cantabrians are food insecure which means they can struggle to have access to the food they need. Reimagining our urban green spaces as edible ones is a key way we can start to change this. We hope that by establishing the Ōtākaro Orchard as proof that these kinds of spaces can work, that many more can become possible in the city.
https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/5055-otakaro-orchard-phase-1-build-an-edible-park-for-christchurch
1
