Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
With my food basket and your food basket, the people shall live
Originally set up through Kaitāia TimeBank as a way for the community to share their spare produce from their gardens, giving value to fruit and vegetables that might otherwise go to waste, the community fruit and veg stands have really taken on a positive life of their own in Kaitāia. There are now three stands around town, all looked after by volunteers. You can even earn Kaitāia TimeBank timecredits for helping out!
Not only are people sharing surplus produce but dropping off other food supplies etc that may be of use to those struggling to make ends meet, or for whatever reason can’t get to the shops. We’ve even had kina dropped off for folk to enjoy, as well as a selection of homemade chutneys and jams! You don’t have to be in dire straits to use the stands, the kaupapa is waste not, want not; we don’t want perfectly good kai going to waste in gardens and pantries just because someone can’t use it all themselves!
So simply help yourself to anything in the stand. If you have anything spare from home we would love you to drop it off. You do not need to trade if you can’t, just take what you like. When you drop things off it really helps if you can post to the Kaitāia Community Fruit & Veg Stand Facebook group so folk know it’s there. Obviously the contents of the shelves turns over fairly regularly so remember to have a look each time you pass by to see if there is anything you can use.
The first one was set up at 60 North Road, Kaitaia (outside Open the Curtains/Mana). This has been followed by one on Bonnetts Road, and one on Parkdale Crescent.
If you want to get involved with looking after the stands, or even set up another in a different part of town, please contact Steph at kaitaiatimebank@gmail.com or via the Facebook group.
Photos and information courtesy of Kaitāia TimeBank and the Kaitāia Community Fruit & Veg Facebook page