Community Gardening
HOW² Community Gardening Programme
Growing Roots is a HOW² initiative designed to help families from refugee backgrounds grow their own kai (food) at home, harvest it, and enjoy the benefits of fresh, healthy produce. Rooted in the belief that every family deserves access to nutritious food, green spaces, and the ability to keep culture alive through gardening, this programme brings people and land together.
About the Programme
Growing Roots is part of the Community Led Development Programme (CLDP), with HOW² as an alliance partner of Ora Konnect. We work alongside four dedicated squads to deliver high-impact, community-led activities that support a shared vision of stronger, more connected communities.
The programme is proudly supported by
Dr. Peter Bishop, agricultural scientist and associate researcher at Massey University.
Environmental allies such as ENM, Te Wakahuia Manawatū Trust, 5 Million Flying Kiwis, and local Hauora networks.
Together, we’re cultivating not just gardens, but community resilience, cultural identity, and long-term wellbeing.
Programme Objectives
Growing Roots is more than gardening, it’s about growth in every sense:
- Wellbeing & Resilience - Enhance family wellbeing and strengthen community connections.
- Cultural Identity & Healing - Rebuild identity and heal through hands-on activities tied to land and soil.
- Kai Security - Encourage families to grow fresh, culturally appropriate produce and flowers. Some families will also be able to sell flowers at local markets, helping to generate income for more kai.
- Community Integration - Build trust and intercultural relationships between refugee families, local residents, and providers.
- Environmental Education - Promote sustainable practices and long-term life skills through gardening.
- Youth Engagement - Offer children and young people leadership and learning opportunities in outdoor spaces, including special school holiday programmes focused on Kai Sovereignty.
Programme Details
Why Growing Roots Matters
Helping families grow their own kai nurtures wellbeing, self-reliance, and cultural pride. Each garden becomes a classroom, a marketplace, and a meeting place where traditions are shared, friendships are built, and fresh produce flourishes.
Growing Roots ensures that families not only have healthy food on their tables but also a stronger sense of belonging in their new home.
