I’ve been so busy here at Anita’s Garden! The summer season is well underway. Now is the time to plant all your favourite summer veggies and flowers! Our garden is positively blooming. I’ve been busy clearing the last of our winter crops such as cauliflowers and broad beans to make room for lots of summer vegetables we enjoy growing and eating every season. I thought it was time for an update which captures all of the activities that have been happening at Anita’s Garden recently. Here’s a round up of what has been happening in the past week. Plant nursery The plant nursery is open by prior appointment only. I have had a steady stream of customers come and purchase plants for their summer garden and I have been happy to provide them with growing advice. To make an appointment to visit the plant nursery which includes personal one-on-one advice and assistance, please contact me on 021 02762091. Thank you. Free weekend workshops during the month of November! During the month of November, I am offering free one hour gardening workshops at Anita’s Garden to help members of the public get their summer garden sorted. Afterwards, I invite you to browse my plant nursery for cheap flower and veggie seedlings for your garden. I held the first of these workshops last Saturday. My morning session at 10 am was attended by three people and my afternoon session was attended by two people. I don’t prepare a lecture beforehand but cover the basics of how to grow a range of summer veggies. I allow each session to evolve organically (excuse the gardening pun!) and there is plenty of time for questions and answers. I don’t like to deliver a rehearsed speech as everyone is at a different level in terms of their gardening knowledge and I tailor each session to suit the group’s needs. I covered how to grow the following vegetables: o Lettuce o Tomatoes (including how to remove laterals) o Zucchini o Pumpkin o Squash o Silverbeet o Herbs, including dill, coriander and parsley I also discussed the basics of companion planting and the importance of planting bee attracting flowers to aid pollination. There’s still space in my weekend workshops for the rest of November but be quick as slots are limited! Location: Anita's Garden, Papatoetoe, Manukau in Auckland. I am offering the following dates and times: Saturday 11 November - Morning session and afternoon session (AM session 1 space left; PM session 4 spaces left) Sunday 12 November - Afternoon session only (1 space left) Saturday 18 November - Morning session and afternoon session (AM session 4 spaces left; PM session FULLY BOOKED) Sunday 19 November - Afternoon session only CANCELLED, SORRY Saturday 25 November - Morning session and afternoon session (4 spaces left for both AM and PM slots) Sunday 26 November - Afternoon session only CANCELLED, SORRY Morning sessions commence at 10 am. Afternoon sessions commence at 2 pm. The workshop lasts for an hour. Afterwards I invite you to browse my plant nursery for cheap flower and veggie seedlings for your garden. I will be available to help you and advise on the best varieties for your family's needs. To register, please email me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com or text me on 021 02762091. Visit from Papatoetoe walking group who toured Anita’s Garden last Friday Last Friday, I was delighted to host a Papatoetoe walking group who asked if they could visit Anita's Garden for a guided tour. I was a little nervous as it was the first time I had done a tour. About six months ago, a lovely lady called Louisa Hustwick who came into the plant nursery to purchase some passionfruit plants got in touch with me via my Facebook page and asked if she could visit Anita’s Garden with her walking group for a tour with guided commentary. At that time, there wasn’t much to see in the garden, so I suggested we make a booking for spring, when flowers were blooming again. After introductions, we began taking a detailed tour of the garden. We spent a lot of time in the nursery, where I explained how I start the process of propagating plants from seed. I was also asked about seed saving. We then made our way to the front where we looked at the rows of potatoes and discussed why it’s better to plant certified seed potatoes rather than supermarket ones, and why it’s better to plant potatoes whole rather than cutting them up, which exposes them to diseases. The mini orchard was a talking point for us. The group was fascinated by our dwarf fruit trees and berries in containers. Another stopping point was my row of seven roses along the path leading up to the house, which are in bloom. Afterwards, we looked at the other garden beds filled with different sorts of vegetables – kohlrabi, celeriac, corn, lettuce, broad beans, leeks and celery. We also spent time talking about our other fruit trees, including feijoas, the newly planted avocado tree and the banana tree. There were plenty of questions which I answered. Katie, a young wwoofer from Germany who is currently staying with us and can be seen second from the left in the photo, did take a video of us. Once I have found someone who can help me edit it, I will upload it to my website and on social media. All in all, everyone had a wonderful day. This is something that I would really like to continue to do in future. If you would like a guided tour of the garden, please get in touch with me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com. Here is some feedback from Louisa after the tour: Hi Anita Thank you for giving Manukau City Baptist Church walking group your valuable time on Friday. Your little tour of your garden was very informative and there was so much to take in. Every plant was amazing in beauty and health. Such an inspiration to many, just shows you what can be done in your own backyard. Visit from Aimee Walker and her children for home schooling education and workshop at Anita’s Garden Last Tuesday, we received a visit from my friend Aimee Walker and her lovely three children. Aimee lives on the North Shore with her husband Dave and their kids. Aimee and I became friends while we were at law school. Although we stayed in touch over the years, we hadn’t seen each other in 13 years! Aimee recently decided to home school her kids and came to Anita’s Garden for a day of gardening education for Mischa, 11, Isabelle, 9 and Lucas, 2. After introductions, we began with a detailed tour of the garden. The swan plants were a talking point for us. The girls had already studied the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and really enjoyed looking at the many caterpillars on the plants. Another stopping point was my patch of wildflowers. Everyone (including Lucas) was taken aback by the number of bumble bees drawn to the blue flowers. After our tour, we took a break for lunch, enjoying some fresh produce from the garden. Afterwards, the girls each planted a cherry tomato in a container to take home and look after. We also harvested some vegetables together – broad beans, kale, silverbeet, leeks and celery. There was also plenty of produce from Anita’s Garden and some plants for the Walker family to take home, as you can see from the photo. All in all, everyone had a wonderful day. This is something that I would really like to continue to do in future. Here is some feedback from Aimee after her family’s visit to Anita’s Garden for my home schooling programme: Thank you so much for having us! The kids loved being out in the garden with you! They would love to come back when you're harvesting - that was one of their favourite parts of the day, getting to help you cut everything in the garden! Will definitely keep in touch about another visit xx If you would like me to run a similar gardening workshop and tour of the garden for your kids, please get in touch with me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com. First order for fresh flowers from Anita’s Garden!
I have received my first flower order! I have been waiting for this for a while and am excited, but saddened by the purpose for which they will be used. I am supplying flowers for the tangi (the Maori word for funeral) of my friend’s aunt which will take place in Northland this Friday. Stay tuned for an update in future as to how this went for me. I hope to expand the scope of my services to encompass flower orders in future. For all enquiries, please contact me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com.
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