What volunteering with Garden to Table is like.
Liz Drummond discovered Garden to Table through one of our supporters, One Percent Collective, in 2014 and has become a valued member of the Garden to Table community as both a volunteer and a seed funder — one of Garden to Table's family of regular donors. Here is her story:
When I started volunteering for the Garden to Table programme at Cardinal McKeefry School in Wilton, it got a few raised eyebrows from friends and family that this was the organisation I chose — because I am not known for either a love of gardening or children! But they sort of understood when I explained that was part of the appeal — that I wanted to widen my circle of understanding and experiences, because I felt like I was getting very stuck in my routine which included investing a lot of my time and thinking to corporate work. I was SO nervous the first time I went to the school, wanting to do it right and be useful as well as liked. It is definitely one of the best decisions I have made, the other adults I have met are all such good people, and the kids are inspirational.
On the programme, I am general minion to our 'Garden Guy' John McCrystal and we tag team between each other doing our best to get at least some of the 'to-do' list each week done, typically, with guidance from Bridget, the class teacher, to keep things under control.
It has always been important to me to 'give back'; I know I am incredibly lucky to have the family and start in life that I did. This includes emigrating to Aotearoa New Zealand when I was a baby, so that we could have a safer and more settled life. I feel so grateful & lucky that I get to call Aotearoa home but was getting increasingly concerned about the growing gap in well-being between different groups of New Zealanders. So, I wanted to put at least a bit of my good fortune — time and money — where my mouth is and do something to contribute toward a different mindset.
There is so much about what Garden to Table does that is beneficial to the practical and mental well-being of the people it involves. The practical skills being taught about how to grow, harvest, prepare and share food are obvious examples, but the sense of purpose, community and belonging it creates from doing — and sharing — these lessons as a group are also fantastic.
I just love that Garden to Table has such an immense 'ripple effect' in terms of the lessons and skills being transferred from schools into homes and communities. It makes my heart sing. The lessons being taught about the relationship between food, nutrition, and physical and emotional well-being are vital ones. And the impact it has on kids wanting to cook, taste and eat such a wide range of fresh vegetables is phenomenal. There is a real sense of pride and achievement in the children from completing tasks that have real and practical benefits.
One of my favourite memories was a gardening session we had when the older kids teach some of the wee-tinies (I think Year 2?) how to plant seedlings. The older kids took their responsibility so seriously, but were also so kind and patient, and the look of adoring attention in the eyes and faces of the younger kids made me grin like an idiot.
For me personally, being involved with GTT has also helped me enormously, and it is 100% true that I get more back than I give.
Ngā mihi maioha to Liz, and to all our volunteers and supporters throughout Aotearoa. Want to join them?