MIT, council bring horticulture to the community

Joint Media Release
22 June 2009

MIT and council bring horticulture to the community

In a new initiative aimed at bringing learning to the community, Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) is offering National Certificate in Horticulture Level 2 courses at some Manukau City Council community houses from 20 July.

The initiative, which is the first of its kind in the Auckland region, will equip members of the community with key horticulture skills through several courses.

Vegetable Growing will be available at Highland Park and Clover Park Community Houses. Through this MIT programme, which is run in conjunction with community houses and supported by Manukau City Council, students will learn how to grow healthy vegetables to help them become more self-sufficient.

The Soft Landscaping course will run at Mangere Community House and teaches students how to grow native plants, pruning techniques and selecting the best plants for landscaping.

Each course is full-time and runs for 18 weeks, four days a week from 9am to 3pm. The cost is $300 per course. Participants are eligible for StudyLink living allowances and student loans. Students must have a good understanding of the English language and be a permanent New Zealand resident. They must provide their own safety boots.

Students who complete a course may be eligible for further study on MIT’s horticulture and landscape programmes or can seek employment in New Zealand’s growing horticultural industry.

Spaces are limited on these courses. Contact Highland Park, Clover Park and Mangere Community houses or MIT’s School of Horticulture and Landscaping on 09 968 7351 for further information or to obtain an enrolment form.

The initiative provides a great opportunity for MIT and Manukau’s community houses to work together and follows on from Highland Park Community House’s successful Gardening, Language, Literacy and Numeracy course.

ENDS

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