Te Pukenga NMIT curriculum area manager for primary, food and environment, Pam Wood says the institute wants to give families the ability to be more self-sufficient and to enjoy the taste of organic homegrown success.
She says there has been a ‘perfect storm’ of increasing costs for fruit and vegetables, coupled with weather events which are impacting the movement of produce both regionally and internationally.
To help address the issue for local communities, Te Pukenga NMIT is launching a level 2 Sustainable Horticulture programme, which offers practical education on how to successfully grow and maintain a productive garden.
The programme is designed to give people a solution to rising food prices and offer them a way to eat healthier.
“You harvest your kai fresh when you need it; it hasn’t sat in a coolstore and you know what has gone on while it was growing,” says Wood.
Jenny North, horticulture tutor at Te Pukenga NMIT, says classes will examine how to plan and execute a successful garden by learning several practical skills, like building your own compost and pruning and shaping trees.
“It is a hands-on course, with a bit of theory that gives reason behind what we do. We learn useful techniques for pruning and shaping trees, feeding the soil, and encouraging biodiversity,” North says.
“We will also focus a lot on organic practices, teaching how to make fertiliser and compost, as well as discussing sustainable solutions to managing pests and diseases.”
The New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills - Sustainable Horticulture is open for enrolments in Blenheim, Kaikoura and Richmond and runs over six months with evening, daytime and Saturday morning classes available.
