Home and Garden Show

Have you started your spring cleaning or planted your tubers yet? Or has the recent cold snap put spring-related duties on the back burner? Maybe that’s a good thing - the City Council can help get your garden off to a good start.

Just visit our stall made out of recycled goods at the Home and Garden Show at Westpac Stadium this weekend (9 - 11 October) where people will give you lots of helpful tips on getting your very own vege-garden going. Designed by architecture students from Victoria University, our stall is made mostly of thrown-away items from the Southern Landfill and its shop Second Treasures.

The Council's Waste Awareness Officer, Donna Sherlock, says the Second Treasures shop at the landfill is the perfect place to drop off some reusable goods while getting rid of large items of rubbish or hazardous waste at the landfill.

"And in case you didn't know - the Second Treasure shop really is a treasure trove full of all kinds of things for your home. We stock heaps of pre-loved but quality goods and sell them at really cheap prices," says Donna.

We've also arranged a great two-for-one offer for Wellington City residents going to the Home and Garden Show. We've teamed up with community gardening group Operation Green Thumb for our sustainable gardening stall.

Donna says more and more Wellingtonians are growing their own food and the stall will offer great tips and ideas - like composting with the help of worms - to get them going at little or no cost.

"If you've any questions about getting your garden started or bringing sustainability to your existing garden - come to us," says Donna.

Operation Green Thumb - funded by the City Council, Lottery Grants and Community Trust of Wellington - has been helping low-income Wellingtonians establish and run their vege gardens for the past 15 years.
Sue Boyle of Operation Green Thumb says their services are available to people who are on a benefit or low income, retired or living in the city with no access to a garden. "People involved in our community gardens get to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends and grow good-quality, cheap food for their friends and families," says Sue.

Also at our stall will be a display showing how to change the washers in your taps and we're giving away free washers. Library staff will be on-hand to help you find more about whatever gardening topic interests you and Council waste management staff can help you turn trash into garden treasure.

If you'd like to get involved with Operation Green Thumb, visit the Community Gardens website or contact Sue on greenthumb@paradise.net.nz or (04) 934 2629.

The Home and Garden Show is open from 10.00am - 6.00pm on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October and from 10.00am - 5.00pm on Sunday 11 October. Visit the Home and Garden Show website for more information.
If you bring along a friend and proof that you both live in Wellington City, you can both get in for half price - $10. And we've got two double-passes to give away - just email marketing@wcc.govt.nz by 5.00pm tomorrow (Wednesday 7 October) to enter the draw.

The lucky winners will be notified by email with information on how to pick up their tickets.