Māra Kai at St Peter Chanel, Whakatāne
by Bonnie Savage
For the past five years there has been a slow and steady progress towards introducing edible landscaping around the church of St Peter Chanel, Whakatāne. Within a relatively short time bananas have been harvested. A steady supply of spinach, beans, lettuce, and culinary and medicinal herbs regularly find themselves in the parish kitchen as catering ingredients for use by our Catholic Women's League branch.
At the front of the church five olive trees are growing healthily and cropping, while at the back of the building grapevines and lemon, peach, and plum trees grow, looking like they’ll provide decent crops this summer.
The vision is to plant items mentioned in the Bible. A potted fig, babaco, and pawpaw wait for a spot in the dedicated orchard space. Swan plants are thriving, providing for the monarch butterflies.
Over the year about nine parishioners have started volunteering regularly to maintain and manage specific areas, such as pruning, composting, planting flowers, and general tidying. I am grateful.
The plan is to introduce a decent sized chili bed. Taro is growing. I am planting kamokamo, kumara and taewa (Maori potato) again this year. The māra kai/food garden will gradually reflect the diverse cultures that make up the congregation. Beautiful.
It makes sense to utilise the land for food and medicine as an offering to God and community. Toxic sprays are absolutely excluded. It is exciting to provide organic kai and to know that it has been planted, nurtured, and dedicated for the joyous higher good. By this we automatically develop a relationship with the māra plus folk know the whakapapa of the kai and its nutritional value. More than ideal.
It is very exciting that children after Mass enjoy the garden and dream of eating their own carrots and lettuce. (Plantings were made some months ago with unsuccessful results. Slugs. A second attempt was made. Disappointment and hope. The reality of being a gardener.) Mauri ora!
Tenei te mihi kia tatou katoa.
