🌿 Te Puke’s Green Gems: A Day of Community and Cultivation 🌿

On Sunday, March 16th, the Bay of Plenty buzzed with excitement as local community gardens opened their gates for a special event. Among these verdant havens, two Te Puke treasures stood out: the Te Puke Community Garden and Giggles Te Puke Early Learning Centre. But that’s not all—Troppo’s very own Urban Tropical Food Forest is the most diverse of its kind in the Bay! Let’s dive into the highlights of the day. 🌱✨

Te Puke Community Garden: A Legacy of Growth

🌻 Established in 2011 by the visionary Jenny Utting, the Te Puke Community Garden has flourished into a beloved community space. Jenny’s dedication even earned her the Te Puke Citizen of the Year award! Today, this green haven is lovingly managed by Julie Gray, who continues to cultivate both plants and community spirit.

🌱 They’re looking for volunteers! Whether you’ve got green fingers or just a love for fresh air and good company, this is a fantastic way to give back.

Giggles Te Puke Early Learning Centre: Where Learning Meets Lush Landscapes

🌿 Over at Giggles Early Learning Centre, Shona Ua-Marsh is leading an inspiring transformation, turning the play area into a thriving food-producing space! This project teaches little ones about sustainability, gardening, and the magic of growing their own kai.

🌱 Troppo is stoked to be part of this green revolution! We’ve donated a range of subtropical goodies, including:
🍐 White Sapote
🌿 Mountain Pawpaw
🍒 Cherry Guava
🥭 Tropical Guava
🌰 Japanese Raisin Tree
🫐 Black Mulberry ‘Early Hicks’
🐉 Dragonfruit
🍌 Misi Luki Bananas
🍈 Cherimoya

🌟 To top it all off, Shona gifted us a delicious jar of her homemade kamo kamo relish! Sharing is caring, and this relish was a tasty reminder of the generosity in our community.

Wild & Wonderful: Catching Up with Linda-Mary Barrett

🌿 We also caught up with Linda-Mary Barrett, the powerhouse behind Wilde Weed Workshops in the WBOP. Her herbal knowledge is next level! She even gifted us a handcrafted elderberry tincture—a potent immunity booster and another beautiful reminder of the gifts nature provides.

Troppo’s Urban Tropical Food Forest: The Bay’s Most Diverse Paradise

🌴 Did you know? Troppo is home to the most diverse Urban Tropical Food Forest in the Bay of Plenty! It’s a lush oasis packed with exotic fruits, subtropicals, and rare edibles that thrive in our unique microclimate.

🌱 Want to see it for yourself? Troppo offers tours where you can explore, learn, and get inspired to grow your own food forest. Contact us to arrange a visit or get more info!

🌟 Kamokamo Relish: A Super Yummy Adventure! 🌟

Whoa! You kids have made something EPIC – a relish so tasty it might just make our taste buds do a happy dance! 💃🕺

👃 First Sniff Test:
Smells like a garden party in a jar! Fresh, tangy, and a little bit sweet – like summer and sunshine had a baby. ☀️🥒

👅 Taste Explosion:
Whoa! First, it’s a little zingy, then BOOM – the sweet, tangy, crunchy goodness kicks in! It’s like a flavor rollercoaster for your mouth. 🎢😋

🍔 Best Ways to Eat It:

• Slapped on a burger? YES! 🍔
• Spread on crackers? DOUBLE YES! 🧀
• Straight from the jar with a spoon? WE WON’T TELL! 🤫😆

💡 Random Fun Fact:
Did you know kamokamo is like a ninja zucchini? It hides in the garden, then grows HUGE when you’re not looking! 🥷🥒

⭐ Final Rating: 10 out of 10 Yum Points! ⭐
You kids are official Relish Masters! 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 Keep cooking and creating – the world needs more deliciousness!

#TastyKidz #KamokamoRelishLegends #MorePlease 😍

Join the Green Revolution!

The Community Garden Open Day was a beautiful reminder of how plants bring people together. Whether you’re keen to volunteer at Te Puke Community Garden, support Giggles’ incredible growing project, or visit Troppo’s Urban Tropical Food Forest, there’s a place for you in this green movement. Let’s cultivate together—for today and tomorrow! 🌱💚

📍 For tours and more info, get in touch with Troppo!
🌐 Visit Troppo’s official page