The Heart of Garden to Table: Celebrating Our Incredible Volunteers

At Garden to Table we enable schools and kura throughout the motu to deliver, embed and sustain impactful food education. In over 330 schools across the country Garden to Table helps to empower tamariki to grow, harvest, preapare and share great kai. And at the heart of our programme are the incredible volunteers who make this vision come to life every day.  

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’re shining a light on some of the remarkable people whose time, passion, and expertise help nurture tamariki and bring our gardens and kitchens to life in schools across the country. 

Rita has been a familiar and cherished face in the Dawson School gardens in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland for over ten years. After retiring, she decided to give back to her community by sharing her love for gardening and working with children. With patience and aroha, she’s taught tamariki essential skills—from planting seeds and caring for tools to understanding composting and the magic of growing your own food. One of Rita’s favourite highlights is watching the children harvest potatoes, marvelling at the ‘treasure’ they pull from the soil. “It’s like digging for gold!” she says. Sitting down with them afterwards to share a meal made from their harvest is a moment of connection and celebration that embodies the heart of Garden to Table. Rita’s dedication has left a lasting mark on the lives of so many children. 

Lorraine is another volunteer whose presence brings a calm, steady energy to the kīhini (kitchen) at Dominion Road School in Tāmaki Makaurau -Auckland. She started volunteering nearly a decade ago when her mokopuna joined the programme and has continued to show up week after week, long after they’ve grown. Always ready to lend a hand and promote Garden to Table’s values in the wider community, Lorraine’s warmth and enthusiasm make her a beloved part of the programme. 

Then there’s Zoe, whose creativity and boundless energy light up every Garden to Table session at Papanui Primary School in Ōtautahi - Christchurch. Rain, hail, or shine, Zoe steps in wherever needed, bringing joy and delicious food to every class. Whether it’s sharing gardening tips or sparking new ideas for hands-on learning, she makes every moment fun and engaging for tamariki. Her food is a highlight too! 

Conrad, a busy local business owner, still makes time every Monday morning to guide Year 7-8 students at Takitimu School in Murihiku – Southland through the wonders of gardening. From pruning apple trees to passing on essential Māori tikanga around caring for the whenua (land), his contributions go far beyond the classroom. Conrad’s dedication has sparked a love for growing food not just in the senior class, but across the whole school. 

These inspiring individuals, along with so many other volunteers across Aotearoa New Zealand, are the heart and soul of Garden to Table. They bring knowledge, patience, and connection into the garden and kitchen, creating spaces where children can learn, grow, and thrive. Their impact extends beyond the school gates, fostering a culture of sustainability, resilience, and aroha. 

Volunteering with Garden to Table gives and rewards. While children learn vital life skills and build confidence, our volunteers enjoy meaningful engagement, a sense of purpose, and the joy of contributing to something bigger than themselves. 

To all our volunteers: thank you for the time, energy, and love you give to Garden to Table. You make our programme not only possible but truly special. 

If you’d like to join our volunteer community and be part of this amazing journey, we’d love to have you. Register your interest here- https://gardentotable.org.nz/volunteer