Western Bay of Plenty residents are invited to step into the world of five Katikati gardens on March 1 to inspire about what can be achieved in their own backyards.
“This is our second Edible Backyard Safari – we ran one in 2024 and it came from some of our members wanting to see other people’s gardens to gain different ideas and inspiration,” said Grow On Katikati spokesperson Jizzy Green.
Mini workshops
Green said the 2026 event will have five hosts who will run mini-workshops when safari visitors arrive, to show their different techniques on how to grow food.
“This is so safari-goers can look at gardening through five different lenses,” said Green, who said GOK is a community group that aimed to inspire food resilience, one backyard at a time, in the Katikati district.
Finn and Donna McDonald from Dr. Bucha will show people how to preserve food through nutrition-enhancing fermentation, including drinks.
Seba Amman will showcase his newly built permaculture garden. “At the same he built his garden he enrolled in a permaculture design course, so he’s been implementing techniques as he’s learning,” Green said. “It is nice for people to see something in progress, not only finished gardens or projects that can look overwhelming to some.”
Tash Haskins will give people tips and tricks making the most of every inch of your garden. “She has a very tiny garden in town but she is very productive in terms of what she does,” Green said.
Smaller spaces
While many WBOP residents have large sections Green said modern subdivisions and housing options were offering smaller and smaller areas to grow food. “Her workshop will show how you can grow the maximum amount of food in a really small space.”
Sam Mortensen will focus of growing food with chickens in your backyard. “You will see how chickens play a role in growing food inside her established permaculture garden.”
A fifth garden to visit was being prepared and would be a surprise to safari-goes.
GOK’s Edible Backyard Safari is 9.30am-2.30pm on March 1. Tickets cost $45 by emailing: membersgrowonkatikati@gmail.com GOK members get a $5 discount, and all Safari-goers need to bring their own lunch.