The People’s Pumpkin Project

This morning, a number of high profile community members from the Canterbury region were invited by Allen Lim, Chair of the Selwyn Waihora Zone Committee, and Sam Broughton, Mayor of Selwyn to be a part of ‘The People’s Pumpkin Project’. Environment Canterbury Councillors John Sunckell, Tom Lambie, and Cynthia Roberts were also invited.

This community-focused project will challenge participants across the urban and rural sectors to grow a pumpkin from a seedling in a friendly competition with each other. The aim of the project is to raise the general public’s awareness of the considerations when growing food, including water management.

Participants will receive their seedling and growing instruction pack on Show weekend, and the project will run until the beginning of May 2018.

Allen Lim said he hopes the project will create a platform for discussions that overcome the urban/rural divide, especially when it comes to farm water management.

“This project aims to encourage urban and rural stakeholders to take another step towards building trust and working together, in an effort to solve the water quality issues in the region. It is our hope that this activity will provide opportunities to discuss these sensitive issues in an informal setting.”

“We see good things coming out of this, even for the person with the smallest pumpkin”.

Schools in the Selwyn District will also be involved, with a competition to see which school can grow the biggest pumpkin, and which school’s students present the best informational poster about water and nutrient management for growing pumpkins. The winners of the two categories will each receive $500, from donations courtesy of the Selwyn District Council and other organisations and individuals.

ENDS

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