Kaitaia students have a bountiful harvest on show

Kaitaia students have a bountiful harvest to show for first term’s work

NorthTec Sustainable Rural Development (Level 4) students have produced a bumper crop from their first term’s work despite the water restrictions in place in the drought-stricken Far North.

The students grew cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli plants with tutor John Hill last term and returned from their term break to find a great crop of lettuces ready to harvest.

“After only a few weeks on the course the students had produced an abundance of amazing seedlings – despite the water shortage here in Kaitaia,” said John. With drought conditions prevailing in much of the Far North, Kaitaia residents are not allowed to use hoses to water their gardens so the students have had to tend the plants using water sparingly from watering cans. John says that the students were pleased to be able to share some of their seedlings with local community groups. “We produced several hundred plants and were very happy to be able to give some trays of plants away. The students hope to be able to provide more seedlings to community groups in the future.”

The students will soon be generating produce that can be used by their own whānau. “The students are starting to get excited and are keen to sell their surplus produce to others. They can see there’s a demand for seedlings.”

The students obtained free pallets that they dismantled and used to make raised bed gardens and also collected seaweed from the beach to use as a mulch so that they could keep as much moisture as possible in the soil. “This is especially important when there’s a water shortage. It’s all about being sustainable. We’ve also secured a supply of horse manure which we’re going to go and get soon.”

ENDS

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