Ngataringa Community Garden Learning Zone update

Please have a look at the latest news  from Ngataringa Community Garden. By using a good organic compost, all plants grow happy and healthy here. In the square foot gardening area, almost all small plots are taken by vegetable, to  name a few ; lettuce, spinach, kale etc.  Now turn to the herbs area. This is just a beginning of the project. In the centre there is Echinacea, unquestionably the  Queen of the immune system. In one corner we have inherited Lemon Balm, and in another, we planted lavender. They are two  herbs that  support our nervous system. There is also a Rosemary, Marjoram and St John’s Wort  in our small garden.
During our “Medicinal Weeds “tour during Eco Festival, we served nettle infusion, which was very popular, so we intend to propagate more nettle in the future.

Eco Festival Openng Day 2015

last Saturday was the opening day for Eco Festival, a wonderful event at Eskdale reserve.  During the month there will be 90+ different events at http://ecofest.org.nz to participate in.  On Saturday, Child Connection shared a space with the nice ladies from Laughter Yoga – a perfect mach.    The weather was marvelous, and thousands of visitors attended the event.  I was very busy too. A family version of  Children Massaging Children - Children Massaging Parents – worked excellently.

During the Eco Festival, I will ran “Medicinal Weed” tours in the Ngataringa  Community Garden on Sundays.   Each session will finish with a Hands Massage CMC technique, with nice smelling natural wax.

Educational Project

At the Ngataringa Community Garden  on Monday 3rd March,. we made a foundation for an educational project
We always welcome visitors from the local schools and kindergartens, and answer lots of questions which has motivated us to make a proper educational plot that visitors, especially children, can enjoy and learn.
The aim is to familiarise children with plants, vegetables and herbs, giving them experience of not only watching them, but to also touch and smell.  We will also teach children how to use herbs for their own health.
In the picture, Jacob, Cornelius, Eva and Eion are next to the square foot gardening plots.On our blog we will keep you updated with progress, and would be happy to share this design with the wider community.

Eco festival 2015 Kawaipurapura

It is difficult to imagine, but already a year has gone by since our presentation at the last Voices of Sacred Earth Eco-Festival at the Kawaipurapura retreat. Saturday’s weather was superb, and this magic place again made an unforgettable impression on us, serving us perfectly.
Some of our students that participated in the workshop last year were there , so it was very nice to meet them again.  We also had some new students, and the youngest massage therapist was just 2.5 years old who performed with confidence on the back of his brother (center of picture).  With such talented “new forces” we can confidently look to the future.

Sacred Earth Festival

The Year has gone, and we are again at KPP this year with Children Massaging Children

 We invite all family members –( not only children) to enjoy hands massage with beautifully smelling lavender ointment, and learn how to massage the palms to help the heart to be healthy according to the basic rules of reflexology. There will be 2 more techniques as well. I am sure everybody will enjoy it there is no age limit – Welcome all.
http://www.facebook.com/events/743696242393445/
The presentations will be Saturday the 28^th at 4 pm in Bedouin Tent  

Visit to Ngataringa Community Garden

Recently we had a very nice visit to the Ngataringa Community Garden  by the toddlers from the local Devonport kindergarten. After entering the gate they were now inside the magic garden.

Surrounded by colourful flowers, they chased butterflies.   We have lots of Monarch butterflies at Ngataringa, and the kids clapped their hands as they watched them.

Later, Graham showed them our silky chickens. They are all white, and some of the braver kids even touched them!
We very much like such visits, and welcome all young visitors to our Community Garden.

Touch is part of Nature

Well, the holidays are almost over, and it's back to our activities.
The new year is shaping up to be our busiest yet.  Our diary is filling up fast.
This year will see an emphasis of the ecological  aspects of  the Child Connection Programme.
We will be participating at the Ecofest North festival this year, http://ecofest.org.nz/ continuing the work we did at Kawaipurapura last year.
Our course for "Professionals Working with Children", will be held at Ellerslie this year at the College of Natural Medicine.  It's not tool late to book if you have not already done so.