Are you passionate about food and sustainability? Do you have a great initiative on how to reduce food waste in Auckland?
Auckland Council is giving away $50,000 to help Aucklanders reduce food waste. Grants from $500 to $5000 are available throughout February for projects that support people to make the most of our resources and stop throwing away food. Food waste is a major contributor to climate change, and preventing it is one of the simplest ways we can make an impact at home.
According to Love Food Hate Waste NZ, New Zealand households throw away around 157,398 tonnes of food per year. This is enough food to feed the whole of Dunedin for just under three years. The Love Food Hate Waste initiative focuses on reducing avoidable food waste through education and changing habits at home.
Previous grants have been awarded to community fridges and pantries, cooking demonstrations, and activations at schools. Film screenings, community get-togethers, and online competitions have also been popular.
Hope Teaching Garden – connecting people and the land
One of last year’s Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) grant recipients, EcoMatters Environment Trust, has used the grant to build an outdoor kitchen at the Hope Teaching Garden in New Lynn.
The Hope Teaching Garden provides opportunities for people to learn and share skills about productive food growing, harvesting and preparation of food. By growing vegetables at home, we can pick what we need as we need it, and what’s left in the garden stays fresh.
Hope Teaching Garden in New Lynn. Photo credit: EcoMatters Environment Fund
“The new outdoor kitchen will help us show people the important connections between growing food and reducing food waste,” says Richard Lee, who oversees Food and Waste initiatives at EcoMatters.
“Being able to grow, harvest and prepare nutrient-dense food is an important part of improving local sfood security. We’re grateful for the help to provide an outdoor kitchen where more people can learn those skills.”
The garden is bringing the community together and providing hands-on experience in every aspect of restoring the whenua.
“People are popping down to the garden for lunch or bringing their cup of tea to enjoy. It’s a beacon of the beauty of nature,” says Amanda Hookham-Kraft, the Waste Project Assistant at EcoMatters, one of the people who has been putting their heart and soul into the project.
Photo credit: EcoMatters Environment Trust
Have a great initiative? We’d love to hear from you
If you’re interested in applying for a grant, visit lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz to get a better understanding of food waste in New Zealand and how your project can make a difference.
Applications are open 1–28 February. Successful applicants will be notified in April to begin their projects.
