You may be a long-time greenfinger, a new gardener, or someone thrifty always looking for new ways to save cash on the food bill.

But do you know how to grow plants from seed? If not, a workshop in Katikati can help you learn the lifeskill that keeps on giving.

Grow On Katikati is a volunteer-run group aiming to build food resilience in the community by educating people on the ease and cost-saving benefits of growing your own fresh produce.

The group has a range of initiatives to give people access to seeds, seedlings, education and mentoring.

On Saturday, October 14, from 11am-1pm, GOK hosted a Seed 101 workshop at its shed beside the Katikati Community Centre to help people learn to sow seeds, and raise successful seedlings.

GOK’s Jizzy Green says the idea sprouted from her talking to a man in his 70s.

“I mentioned that I wouldn’t show him how to sow seeds as he’s been a gardener all of his life. He said:‘No, please tell me – I can do with all the hints and tips I can get because I’ve always bought seedlings!

“That was quite surprising to me as you often think everyone who gardens knows how to sow seeds.”

Huge benefits 
Jizzy says sowing seeds is the starting point of gardening – and if you know how, there’s huge economic benefits.

“Look at today’s food prices – so many families can’t afford to buy fresh produce so they put a lot more junk in their trolleys because processed food is a lot cheaper.

“If you can show them how to sow seeds successfully, it’s put more money in their back pocket that doesn’t need to be spent on exorbitantly-priced fresh produce.”

GOK’s Ange Hussey takes a Propagating 101 workshop last year. Photo: supplied.

Jizzy agrees Covid lockdowns renewed people’s appetite for growing their own food – but with food prices going up dramatically since, so have seedling prices. “[Growing from seed] is way, way cheaper than buying seedlings,” says Jizzy.

“A punnet of six seedlings can cost $5, whereas you can buy a packet of tomato seeds for $5 but there’ll be so many more seeds.”

GOK’s little shed is open each Saturday morning, offering a seed library and seed swap.

“Our seed library has seeds grown, harvested and stored by local growers. People can also bring their own seeds to share.”

Monthly Crop Swaps
And the first Saturday of each month there’s a Crop Swap from 9.30am-10.30am, which is growing in popularity.

“We recently had one person come past from Auckland to the Crop Swap. You should have seen their eyes sparkle as they saw all the produce. They wanted to pay for it – but we said: ‘No, a swap or donation will be fine’.”

With many heading to the monthly Crop Swap, Jizzy says the produce table is groaning with locally-
grown food.

“People donate their excess crops or plant cuttings, kombucha scobie – anything related to gardening and sustainability.”

Jizzy says the Crop Swap brings a new set of people, which might not normally come to GOK.

“It’s an opportunity for people to share, to meet up, to chat – it just has a lovely community feel.”

For those wanting to know more about Grow On Katikati, the Crop Swap, seed sowing workshops
and growing community, see: www.facebook.com/growonkatikati

Or don’t be shy! Turn up to the shed next to the Katikati Community Centre, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati,
from 9.30am -11am on Saturdays.