Meet Lisa
Garden to Table kitchen volunteer Lisa was a food and lifestyle magazine editor for more than 10 years before she emigrated from China.
Lisa says "When I moved to this country, I really wanted to be more involved with my local community. I wanted to share my passion for food, and to be around my son. Garden to Table is a wonderful programme for kids, and volunteering really changed my life in New Zealand too."
Lisa is part of the kitchen team for her local school. She says “I’m passionate about food and healthy eating, especially for children. It’s the answer to good health!”
Lisa says “It’s so great to see how the children work together as a team in the kitchen (and in the garden). They chat, share, and celebrate everything they create together. You can see the joy and pride on their faces.”
“There are so many different cultural recipes we make with the fresh vegetables and herbs that we grow. We recently tried recipes for Samoan Language Week. We also had a Vietnamese food session. It’s a great way to celebrate everyone’s culture and our diversity.”
Lisa is keen to see more Garden to Table volunteers, including volunteers from the wider Chinese community. “I want to share my positive experiences with others and to encourage them to volunteer. I think sometimes people might worry that they’re not good enough at gardening or cooking. But I think you can find out what you’re good at and then you can contribute your skills in that area.”
Lisa says “It’s good to get involved. In our local Garden to Table volunteering team, we have a Korean grandma. She doesn’t speak much English but it doesn’t matter. I think that’s magic!”
Kitchen Specialist Sunny (left) with kitchen volunteers Anna (centre) and Lisa (right).
Garden Specialist Ashleigh works alongside Lisa. She says “‘Lisa is highly skilled in the kitchen. We couldn’t do without her. We love her happy attitude and she’s always willing to help.”
Ashleigh says “The food that Lisa helps the children create is delicious. That flows over to the garden. We have such a variety of herbs and plants that we might not have grown otherwise. Lisa helps to broaden our tastes, and she encourages us to appreciate different flavours and other cultures.”
Each year, Lisa invites other volunteer mums to experience her famous Hot Pot dish. It’s full of lovely Chinese vegetables like bok choi and shanghai, as well as taro. Ashleigh says “It’s become an annual event that everyone looks forward to. It also creates a great feeling of community.”
Ngā mihi nui ki a koe – Thank you Lisa.
Garden to Table provides member schools with a wide range of tested and proven child-friendly recipes. Recipes like Kawakawa Biscuits and Salad of the Imagination. Check out these two recipes (along with some others) here.