Mahinga Kai Urban Farm
Mahinga Kai is an urban farm spread over several locations in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Our vegetables, salads and microgreens are grown using only organically certified sprays, natural fertilisers and our self-produced compost.
We are mentored by For The Love of Bees. They have been working with our team showing them a better way to develop a productive urban farm that is good for the soil. Their system works with in-ground beds and means our team strategically plans our planting, using either “multi-cropping” or “companion-planting” methods.
Our dream
A sad fact in our society is that healthy food costs more than junk food, so it is understandable that many people on lower incomes feel forced into buying unhealthy food. We at 4 A Better City want to do our part to change that in Upper Hutt. We believe that with the support of our community we can.
Our dream is to create what we call an urban farm, large enough that we can grow enough healthy food at very affordable prices.
Through a combination of cooking classes, a healthy food store and community dinners at different locations around the city we will be able to support lower income families either make their own tasty, healthy dishes at home or they can come along with their families and enjoy a tasty healthy meal with lots of other locals on a regular basis.
The Mahinga Kai Garden team
Our Mahinga Kai Urban Farm team is headed up by Allison Kingsford (middle). Kent, Jason and Robert work hard to bring you fresh, nutrient dense vegetables and salad through our CSA Box Program.
How we sell our produce
Our produce is sold using a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. A CSA initiative creates a symbiotic relationship between the farmer and the community. The community supports their local farmer by committing to purchasing a share of vegetables over the season, and in return they know they will be cared for by committed farmers growing high quality produce.
Becoming a CSA member will entitle you to a box of freshly harvested vegetables every week for the season, calculated in 13 week cycles from 1 March. Our farm produces a wide variety of produce so the make-up of a box will change each week depending on what is in season and ready to be picked.
To help reduce packaging waste you will need to bring your own box, bag, or container with you when picking up your produce or for a small fee of $4 per week you can have your box delivered within the Upper Hutt urban area.
Mahinga Kai Urban Farm CSA Options:
Family Box
$35/PW or $416 or part thereof (when paid upfront).
Sign up to receive a weekly box of fresh and seasonal vegetables, enough for a family.
Duo Box
$24/PW or $286 or part there of (when paid upfront).
Sign up to receive a weekly box of fresh and seasonal vegetables, enough for two people.
What happens if I go away?
There are three options if you go away for a week or more, first is you tell us and we deliver your box to a needy household in Upper Hutt. Second, you chat to a family member or friend and either gift it to them or they pay for it that week. Third, you give us at least 2 weeks notice and we will cancel your box for this period of time.
Social Enterprises
Information
Keep In Touch
152 Main Street, Upper Hutt 5018
04 528 3793 / 027 527 0122
admin@4abettercity.nz