latest news

The Garden to Table Trust is on the hunt for a special person to be the very first Area Coordinator for Wellington. We'd love to hear from you if you feel you have what we are looking for.

The Programme:

The aim of the Garden to Table Trust is to change the way children approach and think about food. It was established in 2009 to facilitate a programme in New Zealand schools where children aged 7-10 can learn to grow, harvest, prepare and share food. It recognises a wide concern that basic ‘life’ skills are not being taught at home, that many children are disconnected from their food supply, do not recognise common vegetables and know little or nothing about where food comes from, or how to cook it.

The Role:

Garden to Table has experienced substantial growth and unprecedented interest in our programme in recent months and we need someone to provide the support, encouragement and guidance to schools and sponsors in the Wellington region to ensure the best possible delivery of the programme.

The hours will vary but are expected to average between 10-15 per week, with a focus on the four school terms. 

Key tasks include:

• Building strong relationships at school level with principals and specialist staff and ensuring the successful implementation of the programme in  GTT schools;
• Supporting school partners who have committed to working together with a school to assist in the delivery of the programme;
• Ensuring sponsorship agreements are delivered at the school level and identifying local supporters of goods and services, including volunteers who can further the realisation of the programme.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrate experience in working independently, but collaboratively;
• Knowledge and experience in the education and community development  sectors would be an advantage;
• Self-motivation, the ability to plan, prioritise and problem solve will be key to effective outcomes;
• Strong communication skills - both written and verbal- will be required, and confidence on Microsoft Office and Outlook is essential;
• This is a sole charge role so you will need to assure us of your capacity to  exercise sound judgment and employ excellent consultation skills.

 Contact details:

Please send your CV to info@gardentotable.org.nz together with cover letter, detailing why this job fits your skills and interests. A role profile is available on through this email address. Applications close on 10 February 2014. 

Here are some suggestions on how you can support Garden to Table this weekend by Feasting for the Future. 

• Waihekeans can grab a coffee or a meal at Wai Kitchen or head to Cable Bay where they’ll be serving a special dish of rare seared beef from which all proceeds will go to GTT.
• Start the day with breakfast or brunch at one of the many cafés involved in Feast for the Future including Café on Kohi, Richmond Road Café, Rosehip, St Heliers Bay Café & Bistro, Takapuna Beach Café, Teed St Larder, Toru, Pescado or Urban Café.
• For something a little special The French Café, Merediths, O’Connell St Bistro or Clooney will take care of you.
• A sweet treat and a good brew can be found at Little & Friday (Newmarket & Takapuna), Cool Food Café, Kokako Café, or any of The Store cafés (Takapuna, St Heliers or Britomart)
• Get the best view in town and a great cocktail at The Sugar Club.
• If you’re after a little spice head to Tasca for tapas or Ima for some Middle Eastern fare.
• Go glam at The Langham Auckland – Eight and The Winery are supporting Feast for the Future.
• For a night out in Britomart head into Ortolana and follow up your meal with a home-made jelly-tip ice cream and a glass of bubbles as Milse.
• A good steak can be found at The Grill by Sean Connolly and Marvel Grill North Wharf
• Go Vegan or vegetarian with a meal at Hectors at The Heritage – they’re putting on a special four course Feast for the Future menu.
• For a bit of fun and a slider or two hit up Depot, or go Italian at SPQR.
• Hit your local – Ponsonby Road Bistro or The Engine Room are always a hit.

As part of the celebrations for Wynyard Quarter's 2nd Birthday we are holding an open day at the Garden To Table site on 3 August from 11 am to 2 pm. This is a great chance for Garden to Table at Wynyard Quarter to tell people about the programme and we need your help to provide some produce, preserves or home baking for us to sell on the day. Funds raised from these sales will go towards Garden to Table at Wynyard Quarter.

How you can help:

You can help by donating some produce, baking or preserves for us to sell at the Open Day. Ideally this would be home baking and preserves making use of current seasonal produce. Preserves could include jams, marmalades, honey, pickles or chutneys. Donations of produce from the garden also most welcome. If we can get enough citrus fruit we will set up some juicers so children can squeeze their own fresh fruit juice.

To express your interest or to find out more information about our requirements please email Joanne Harland at joanne@gardentotable.org.nz

 

The Garden to Table Trust is delighted to announce that it's annual restaurant-based fundraiser will be held this year on Saturday September 21st.

Already many restaurants and cafe's have pledged their support. They will donate a portion of their takings on that day so we  encourage you to choose one of these eateries for breakfast, lunch or dinner on this day.

You can find out more about Feast for the Future and see the restaurants and cafe's that have already signed up here.

Garden to Table is delighted to announce a charitable partnership with the Langham Auckland.

Garden to Table Trust Chairperson Catherine Bell says the Trust is thrilled to be working with The Langham. 

“Our respective environmental philosophies are closely aligned, creating a great synergy between our two organisations. The support the Langham will provide over the next two years as a partner will greatly assist in the future growth of Garden to Table and we look forward very much to having the Langham family involved in our schools and fundraising activities.”

Jeffrey Van Vorsselen, Managing Director of The Langham Auckland says that The Langham staff are looking forward to their involvement in the programme, especially helping in local schools. 

“We believe that Garden to Table has such a positive influence for families and the community. The programme changes the way children think about food, and teaches basic life skills. It’s important that children know where their food comes from and Garden to Table encourages them to grow their own food, then prepare it to share with their peers and families” says Mr Van Vorsselen.  

“Hopefully we can help Garden to Table in their work to roll the programme out to schools across the country.”

                                          
                                           Image courtesy of Jason Burgess

28 May, 2013

MEDIA STATEMENT

Long term solution in food education needed, not just food in schools

The government’s plan to feed hungry children in school is laudable but it is a short term solution that represents an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

Garden to Table Trust believes the ‘food in schools’ programme does not break the cycle of dependency that already exists among many struggling families. To paraphrase a Chinese proverb, if you give a child a meal you feed him for a day; teach him how to put food on the table and you feed him for a lifetime.

Supplying the food via schools does not arm adults of the future with skills that will help them as they grow and have families themselves.

The Garden to Table Programme is a proven solution – children as young as seven years old can learn life skills they will have forever. It is positive for their health and long term will help address New Zealand’s growing obesity problem.

A sibling programme in Australia is highly successful teaching thousands of children from more than 350 schools. But this has been government funded for some years.

Garden to Table teaches young children how to grow, harvest, prepare and share food using purpose-built gardens and kitchen facilities. The Garden to Table programme is cheap to run costing less than one full time equivalent staff member per school after an initial investment in the garden and the kitchen classroom.

Initiatives that provide long term value both for those who receive the benefits and also for the nation need to be fostered.  The Garden to Table Trust’s activities are one example of a long term solution that government needs to urgently investigate.

Contact for comment: Catherine Bell, Chairperson, Garden to Table Trust, Tel: 021 471 973 

Issued by Pead PR for Garden To Table Trust
Olivia Price, Pead PR, Tel: 09 551 2378, Mob: 021 474 127, Email: olivia@peadpr.co.nz

Image courtesy Laurence Smith

Volunteers are an essential part of running the Garden to Table programme in primary schools. Our schools need regular volunteers to assist in the kitchen classroom and gardens. Volunteering is a fun, worthwhile and rewarding activity - you just have to try it once and you’ll be hooked! And you might even learn a thing or two along the way. Contact us at info@gardentotable.org.nz to find out where you can volunteer.