Our Reflection on 2023
As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to reflect on the journey Garden to Table has taken throughout the year.
This year marked the 14th year of the Garden to Table programme - and we started on a real high, with 254 member schools. By the end of the year, 309 schools were part of our whānau.
That means, throughout 2023, over 32,000 tamariki got stuck into the garden and kitchen - growing, harvesting, preparing, and sharing 1.2 million fresh meals!
But, none of this would have been possible without you! Join us as we celebrate the milestones we achieved together throughout the year.
Educational resources
As a Trust, part of the support we provide to schools includes the development of resources that teach tamariki new skills in the garden and kitchen. This year, we were thrilled to release:
The Invisible World of Soil, supported by Weleda NZ - teaching tamariki about the importance of soil.
Deep Pockets - Hōhonu te Pūkoro, supported by our Principal Partner Rabobank - building financial literacy through everyday garden and cooking activities.
Root to Tip, also supported by Rabobank - helping tamariki understand food waste, and take positive action to tackle the problem.
Bake Sale
A particular highlight came in May, when we hosted our second annual Bake Sale, with support from our valued partner Westgold.
51 schools hosted their own Bake Sale to raise funds for their Garden to Table programme (and some raised over $1,000)!
We were so inspired by how well each school honoured fresh produce they had grown themselves in their baking. We also know that the delicious butter that Westgold kindly supplied to schools was deeply appreciated and added to the yumminess.
Seedling Sale
This year, a record 113 schools signed up for our annual Seedling Sale, with support from our valued partner Tui.
Across the motu, tamariki grew seedlings, created labels, and ran stalls. This opportunity helped students develop their financial literacy, while earning some well-deserved cash for their programmes.
Pollinator Pathways
A particularly memorable moment was being involved in the planting of pollinator pathways at Government House in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington.
Hosted by His Excellency Dr Richard Davies, Garden to Table tamariki and their kaiako (teachers) enjoyed a busy session of planting pollinator-friendly seedlings, which will grow to offer pollinators a safe area to forage and thrive.
Matariki
We witnessed a nationwide celebration as schools enjoyed hākari (feast) together, embraced our Matariki resources, and spent time looking back, giving thanks for the present, and preparing for the new Māori year ahead.
Training
To help new Garden to Table schools deliver and embed strong programmes, we regularly deliver introductory trainings and hui. Garden to Table is a real movement - and these gatherings represent an opportunity for our team and our schools to come together, connect, and grow.
One of the regular hui we are always delighted to host is for our Model Schools. These schools exemplify thriving, embedded, and sustainable Garden to Table programmes, and help new schools understand what the programme can look like in action. Through monthly online hui, these schools share their learnings and knowledge so they, and all of our member schools, can build thriving programmes.
These photos are from Fruitvale Road School - a Model School in Auckland. They were taken when our valued partner, My Food Bag, visited the school to participate in a Garden to Table session.
Volunteer Week
In honour of National Volunteer Week, we shared the stories of four Garden to Table volunteers - Lisa, Stephanie, Joy, and Josie and Mac.
This year’s theme was ‘Big Shout Out’, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate the time, passion, and skills of our volunteers, who do so much for tamariki across the motu.
A Ten-Year Partnership
We were thrilled to reach the wonderful milestone of ten years in partnership with T&G.
To kickstart our celebrations, we held a working bee at Colwill Kindergarten with the T&G team.
Not only was it a chance for us to unite and celebrate, but it also signified the beginning of a new chapter for Garden to Table, as we pilot our programme for early childhood centres. Our thanks go to Jenkins Foundation for supporting this pilot project.
The Gift of Growth
We wrapped up the year with a Christmas Appeal. We were blown away by the generosity of our community, who helped us raise over $20,000. These funds will enable us to reach and empower more tamariki in the year ahead - helping them build lifelong healthy habits.
Ngā mihi nui - thank you for your kind support and making this all possible. We’re grateful for all that 2023 has offered, and look forward to empowering more tamariki in 2024 (and beyond).