Horticulture student’s garden in Sustainable Backyards Trail

In a medium-sized backyard in Waitara, WITT horticulture student Kate Parker, and her husband Finn, have created a thriving garden, Māra Kai, which will be part of this year’s Sustainable Backyards Trail.

What started as a small project five years ago has grown into an ever-evolving labour of love blending productive gardening, sustainability and visual beauty.

Visitors to their garden will find a kitchen garden bursting with seasonal produce, a colourful cut flower patch and a developing food forest. Tropical plants, a functional greenhouse and carefully planned growing spaces show what can be achieved on an urban section with creativity and commitment.

“I’ve always been passionate about gardening, and studying horticulture through WITT has taken my knowledge and confidence to the next level,” says Kate.

“I’ve learned how to properly identify pests and plant diseases, understand what causes them, and how to manage them effectively. The course also deepened my understanding of building healthy soil - knowing the right components and balance needed to support strong plant growth.

“On top of that, I’ve gained hands-on skills in propagation and grafting, which has opened so many new possibilities in my garden. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience for any gardener looking to grow their skills and understanding.”

Māra Kai also demonstrates practical sustainability in action. Rainwater is collected for irrigation, chickens help with pest control and egg supply, worm farms recycle food scraps, and multiple compost bins return nutrients to the soil.

For Kate and Finn, these systems are about more than convenience. “It’s a way of building resilience and modelling solutions other young families can follow,” says Kate.

“We wanted to show that you don’t need a big lifestyle block to grow a lot of your own food. With a bit of planning, you can create a productive, beautiful space in an ordinary backyard.”

Carl Freeman, horticulture tutor at WITT, said it was inspiring to see students applying their learning in real-world contexts. “It’s one thing to study horticulture, but it’s another to implement it at home and be brave enough to invite the community in. Students like Kate are showing how horticultural skills can make a huge impact in the home, work, and community.”

Caption: Scenes from Māra Kai - Kate's sustainable garden in Waitara

As part of the Sustainable Backyards Trail, Kate’s garden will be open for visitors to explore, ask questions and take away practical ideas for their own properties. Seedlings will be available for purchase, and the site is wheelchair accessible.

Māra Kai open hours:

• 1–2 November 10am to 4pm (Saturday and Sunday)
• 8–9 November 10am to 4pm (Saturday and Sunday)

 The Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail runs from 31 October to 9 November. Aotearoa’s longest running sustainable gardening festival, it comprises three sections: Backyards, Builds and Farms Trais, with a plethora of workshops, talks, tastings and tours. https://www.sustainablebackyards.org.nz/

For more information about studying horticulture at WITT: https://www.witt.ac.nz/study/primary-industries/food-and-fibre-production/

Caption: (top) Kate harvesting home-grown kai in her Waitara garden with her daughter (Photo credit - Fran Parker)