Growing project seeks five families

November 25th, 2013

A dream to see everyone have easy access to fresh vegetables is the inspiration behind the Joyful Soil Project. It is a brand new venture started by Pania Robinson of Lower Moutere (pictured).

With a diploma in nutrition, and as a Dirt Doctor gardening workshop presenter, Pania has a real passion for vegetables. "They're my favourite food and a real love. I love to grow them, photograph them, eat them and cook them," she says.

Pania is looking for five people to work with - people who have families to feed and could really use some extra nourishment in their lives.

They might be having financial challenges and be looking for ways for their family to eat healthy meals together without having to spend lots of money on food. Importantly they will be keen to learn how to grow vegetables.

"Research shows that nearly one third of New Zealanders aren't eating their recommended daily serving of fruit and vegetables," Pania says. "Vegetables are so important for a healthy diet and much vitality can be added to people's lives through eating more vegetables; even more so if they are actively growing them too."

Through her nutrition studies Pania realised her passion for growing food and also that people often simply don't eat enough vegetables, whether because they don't realise the health benefits, don't have access to them, or don't know how to prepare them.

"I started the Joyful Soil Project with the intention to grow food for sale, and teach workshops along the way. But I recently realised that, as the main purpose of this project is to help people have more knowledge about vegetables, then I need to start working with people!"

Pania intends to meet once a week with these five people, mostly in Motueka or Lower Moutere. As a group, they will all learn how to grow vegetables and will help each other put that into practice in their own gardens, or shared gardens.

As they start to grow and harvest vegetables, they will learn healthy meal ideas together and ways to use fresh seasonal produce.

All going well with the first five families, Pania will consider another 5 applicants and so on, with the aim of 20 families being able to grow and eat fresh healthy vegetables, within 20 months.

Please call Pania on or email if you:

Are interested in applying to be one of the families for the project (Pania will send you application guidelines).
Know of people or organisations who might be interested.
Would like to get involved in the project in another way and volunteer your knowledge, resources or help.

For more info, visit www.joyfulsoil.co.nz.

Comment by Shirley Frater:
[Posted 26 November 2013]

Well done Pania. I wish you all the best for this project. When people eat straight from the garden they will be amazed at the great taste compaired to 'chilled stored for sale' vegies & fruit. Not handled by people/customers in the supermarkets or contaminated by other vegies, a new taste opens to true flavours and textures. There is also the peaceful and spiritual satisfaction of tending soil and plants, then in turn one's family. Good luck.

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