Imagine growing enough vegetables to feed five families with just three hours of enjoyable work a week. That’s exactly what sisters Miriam and Sarah Sherratt and three Golden Bay women have achieved through their weekly “Garden Group,” which meets every Monday morning on family land.
“It’s a very social garden,” Sarah says. “I was sick of trying to find time for my own gardening and was inspired by the Fertile Ground group in Tākaka.”
Like that group, the Garden Group works under shared principles – commitment, co-creation, respect for the land, and shared responsibility.
The team works hard for three or four hours, then that’s it for the week.
“You do need to grow five times as much when you’re feeding five families,” Sarah laughs. “Digging a big spud patch is so much more enjoyable with five people.”
Rain and grey water harvested from nearby homes help keep the garden thriving. In winter, the beds overflow with brassicas, leeks and silver beet. In summer, they burst with colour – eggplants, chillies, capsicums, pumpkins and more.
Sarah says what began as a practical way to share the workload has blossomed into something much deeper.
“We’re in a time when people are struggling for community,” she says. “This has been an opportunity to build it. We’ve made amazing connections and really look out for one another.”
Studies show gardening with others can reduce stress, boost mood and improve physical health. For Sarah, those benefits are plain to see. She’s watched friendships bloom and children grow – like the wee boy who started coming along at one and now, at four, excitedly grabs his own tools and dives into the garden beds.
