From Garden to Community: How Food Brings Us Together

Forrest Hill School in Tāmaki Makaurau is showing how gardening, cooking and community can come together to create something truly special. Through the Garden to Table programme, students are not only learning how to grow and prepare their own food but also discovering the power of connection.

Our partner charity, Garden to Table, is all about creating meaningful connections. Connections to nature, to kai, to each other, and to the wider hapori (community). These connections help set tamariki up for brighter, stronger and healthier futures. The impact of Garden to Table extends beyond the school gate, with the greatest influence seen when learning reaches into the community. Forrest Hill School in Tāmaki Makaurau is a great example of this.

Recently, the school’s ākonga (students) had the opportunity to visit the Forrest Hill Community Garden which is just a short walk from their school. They immersed themselves in hands-on activities such as planting broad beans, composting and repotting strawberries.

More than just practical skills, they experienced the deep sense of connection that comes from mahi tahi (working together) in a shared community space. This reflected their school’s values and aligned with the principles of their Garden to Table programme. The visit demonstrated how Garden to Table not only teaches essential kitchen and gardening skills but also fosters relationships that extend beyond the school environment.

The Forrest Hill Community Garden plays a vital role in the local neighbourhood. It provides fresh produce and serves as a space for people to share knowledge and support local food production. Through their visit, the students saw firsthand how the māra kai (garden) contributes to a vibrant, connected community. This reinforced Garden to Table’s kaupapa of environmental sustainability and collaboration.

The day ended with a shared meal, as the tamariki gathered to enjoy wood-fired pizza made with fresh herbs and produce from the garden. This was a powerful reminder of how kai brings people together. Experiences like these help nurture a love for gardening and cooking while also teaching manaakitanga (hospitality and respect). Through Garden to Table, tamariki naturally develop a sense of belonging, a respect for te taiao (the environment) and an understanding of the positive impact they can have on their hapori.

Beyond Forrest Hill, Garden to Table schools across the motu are strengthening community connections by setting up pātaka kai (community pantries) to share the abundance they grow. These pantries allow schools to give back by offering fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs to whānau and local people who need them. In doing so, students not only learn about reducing food waste but also embrace the spirit of aroha through sharing.

Pātaka kai align beautifully with the values of the Garden to Table programme, and students take pride in knowing that the food they grow can help others. These pantries provide more than just fresh produce. They foster empathy, food sustainability and an understanding that sharing creates meaningful connections within a community.

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Words and images supplied by Garden to Table.