I had just three pre visits today with the afternoon bookings being postponed.
Tabbusam is from India and is lovely. She first showed me a tiny 1 x 3m space at her front door on the damp and shady side. I didn’t feel it was a great space for chickens, so she then took me around the back. This was a better space. This is an apartment type setting and the neighbours are pretty close, but Tabbusam assured me there would be no issues. She will need to put chicken wire up over the current bars but she didn’t see that as a problem either and had some tucked to one side.
*Naida is an elderly lady from Pakistan, and also lovely. She is already gardening but it is a muddy patch right now. She was keen to have more than one bed delivered and I explained we had limited funding and were just handing one per family right now. She also was keen to get one for her daughter.
Debora was next in Panmure. Huge two story houses along this street and looks like 1/4 acre sections. She also has been trying her hand at gardening and has lots of beds there making use of any boards or whatever she can find. She seemed embarrassed that she’s already got gardens as if she might not be eligible and I guess we’d ideally like newbies to gardening, but she will still be learning and it won’t be a waste of time for her. Not sure how long she’s been there or will be staying there, but she’s planted bananas, an avocado and a lemon tree, so a considerable investment.
*Some names have been changed for the privacy of participants
Rākau Tautoko 