Plenty cooking at Hollard Gardens

Hollard Gardens in Kaponga will host a market day with a difference on Waitangi Day.

As well as the popular Taranaki Farmers Market, attractions at the Taranaki Regional Council heritage property will also include a local growers' stall and two summer food workshops - including one aimed specifically at men.

"Taranaki Farmers Market is always a popular attraction at Hollard Gardens but this time we're adding a couple of extra dimensions," says the Council's Regional Gardens Manager, Greg Rine.

"The local growers' stall will be an opportunity for South Taranaki people to market their excess produce, with buyers assured that it will be freshly harvested.

"And the two workshops are well-timed and should be a hit - there's one for men on cooking a great barbecue, and another on preparing dressings and condiments for summer dining."

The Taranaki Farmers Market will be open from noon to 3pm, with stalls selling seasonal vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis and courgettes as well as fresh spuds, blueberries, passion fruit, plums, nashi pears and garlic. There'll also be nuts, jams, honey, dips, chutneys and sauces, bread and baking, meat, seedlings and lavender products.

Garden visitors will be entertained by Guitarra and the quartet Six by Four playing Latin and classical music. Visitors can also enjoy the free barbecue and children's play area at the gardens.

Hollard Gardens and its sister heritage property, Tupare in New Plymouth, are open from 9am to 8pm daily over summer. Entry is free.

Local growers' stalls will also be held at market days at Tupare on Saturday 27 February and Taranaki Anniversary Day, Monday 8 March. To book please contact Greg Rine or Georgie Williams at the Taranaki Regional Council (phone 0800 736 222) by the Wednesday prior to the market.

For more information, see www.hollardgardens.info and www.tupare.info.