A home for your excess veges: New scheme aims help elderly with rising living costs
Seeing the elderly go without fresh fruit and vegetables led one North Canterbury woman to set up what she hopes will become a nationwide scheme that connects gardeners with excess produce to those most in need.
Julie Lamplugh has set up The SEDE Project in Rangiora and is hoping its success may lead to other communities through-out New Zealand doing the same to help pensioners who may be struggling with the cost of living.
After hearing about 93-year-old Christchurch man Keith Simmonds struggle to afford to eat fresh produce, Lamplugh wanted to help.
“We’ve managed to find a gap where the need isn’t being met.”
A community-led initiative, SEDE which stands for Supporting Elderly Diet Enrichment, aims to coordinate contact between home gardeners and pensioners who would welcome free produce.
The service will also offer isolated elderly residents ongoing contact with people in their neighbourhoods.
Read more here.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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75.7% Yes
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22.9% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
Raspberry plants $10-20ea and Thornless Blackberry plants $10-25ea
This sale is for raspberry plants ($15 or $20 each depending on size) and thornless blackberry plants ($25 or $20 each depending on size).
Discounts for bulk purchases.
All plants are in top-quality soil.
All raspberries have been transplanted from existing Clutha, Heritage and Lewis varieties. They produce fantastic raspberries. The thornless blackberries are Black Satin.
Pick up in Rangiora. However, for a $80 purchase, I'm happy to deliver within 30 minutes of Rangiora for an extra $10.
*Pick up my free ‘How To Grow Raspberries’ guide with your purchase.*
We need to exchange mobile numbers before pickup.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.