I spent Saturday in a church. I've photos to prove it, however the discussions there were generally of a prosaic nature, rather than an ethereal one. Religion, as I recall, didn't come up. The talk was of community, communities and communication (democracy too, and money, politics and gardening, but they don't start with the letter 'c'.) The group of 'transition towners' at the hui were from all over the south - Motueka to Riverton and included reps from Christchurch and Lyttleton , bringing their first-hand experience of towns in turmoil and stories of reconstruction of both the physical community and the well-being, mental and spiritual, of those affected by the unexpected re-alignment of their worlds. It was a very interesting weekend, based around the 'open space' process where a fluid style of group discussion allowed for some very worthwhile ideas to see the light of day and be batted back and forth like shuttlecocks. We ate well, thanks to the potluck system of meal provision :-) with the evening meal catered for us by Hari and his team of Indian cooks (well, the meal was 'indian' and plentiful to boot!). Robyn and I were billeted with two very kind folk who live on a beautiful 'farmlet/orchard' in the countryside south west of Timaru - apples, figs, quinces and walnuts everywhere, banana palms, turkeys, ducks, huge pumpkins, towering artichokes, rare potatoes - fabulous things growing like topsy. It was great. We've come home with some almost-impossible-to-find plants and new ideas galore.
We breakfasted at the Timaru Farmers' Market (blackboy peaches and yoghurt) , talked to two dynamic councillors from Timaru District Council about life inside the chamber along with a clear thinking District Health Board member whose views I'd enjoyed at the open spaces the day before and all of whom were sharp as tacks!
Beyond breakfast was the drive to Oamaru and the harvest festival there - shaving-horses, apple and pork sandwiches, fancy dress and cider by the bucket.
Then Moeraki to see a flourishing 'valley garden', up-lift a fire-brand Dunedin City Councillor after discussing dairy politics with her dad, then down to Dunners to deliver Jinty and have dinner with Adam. We reached Riverton at 12:30 am.
Here's a pic.
and another
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3 comments:
What's a 'valley garden'?
There was a good Kim Hill interview with James Samuel on Sat.
Oh, just a garden tucked into and taking up the bulk of, a valley. It was growing some pretty wild stuff, including an especially virilent variety of parsnip that pushes its way up through the lawn, en masse, year after year.
I'll try to find the interview and listen in.
I thought it was some new trendy greeny gardening style I hadn't heard of yet ;-)
I can appreciate gardening a whole valley 8-) Esp if there are virulent parsnips!
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