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**A ground-breaking Dunedin charity is refurbishing gardening tools for those struggling who want to grow their own food.**
“We collect and redistribute surplus gardening tools to people in need,” says Give to Grow Ōtepoti Founder Carla Thomson.
“The majority of our recipients have nothing; they’re gardening with an old broken gardening fork or a teaspoon – it makes the job very hard.”
In the past she’s worked with individuals who were trying to garden using their bare hands.
While some recipients simply want one tool, such as a hoe, most require and receive a complete kit of gardening gear.
Last year, the charity dropped off more than 20 kits plus some donated seeds and plants.
Carla sees “the joy” of people finding pleasure in the vegetable gardens they create.
> #### Being able to grow your own food, it’s amazing, particularly when you can’t afford to buy vegetables.”
People wanting to donate tools can have them picked up or pre-arrange to drop them off at the not-for-profit organisation’s base at Skillsec in South Dunedin.
Give to Grow accepts new gardening tools or any old ones that can be easily repaired, except for petrol or battery operated or electric tools.
“And we tend to say no to push mowers.”
Very small hand tools or shovels are the most common and hoes, rakes, secateurs and cultivators are also popular.
The criteria for donations is simple: “Basically if it’s re-useable, people can use it and we can store it”.
Occasionally wheelbarrows are donated, as are watering cans, hoses and their attachments.
More spades, long-handled forks, rakes, hoes, cultivators, watering gear, wheelbarrows and gloves are needed.
Carla says Skillsec is very generous and Give to Grow uses a tool shed, tunnel house and outside area there for storage and the refurbishment working bees.
Volunteers clean off rust or dirt then sharpen, sand or oil the tools, taking between 20 minutes and an hour depending on the implement.
“We give them a wee flash up if they need a flash up – a bit of TLC.”
One hard-working regular volunteer, Jan Aitken, refurbishes four big tools in three or four hours.
They used to run monthly working bees for anyone who turned up, however this year are trialling one-off sessions with existing community groups.
Keeping tools circulating: Give to Grow Ōtepoti volunteer Jan Aitken sands down a rake at one of the charity’s working bees. Photo: Steve Mills
### **A sense of purpose**
Carla says growing your own food reduces costs and provides increased nutrition, self-esteem, well-being and a sense of purpose.
“And a sense of community – you feel part of something bigger than you and your household”.
Reusing tools keeps them circulating instead of going to landfills and adding to carbon dioxide emissions.
Give to Grow Operations Coordinator and Liaison Jess Squire says Dunedin City Council (DCC) contractor Enviro NZ has begun passing on small garden tools collected with the rubbish.
With the help of a special machine, the company is finding at least six to 12 such tools a day.
Jess says growing your own food also helps build resilience against price hikes and climate change.
Gardening tools are refurbished for people in need who want to grow their own food. Photo: Steve Mills
### **Seeds of growth**
There’s a lovely story of how Carla founded Give to Grow in mid-2022.
She was working in food education and her dad donated gardening gear after hearing about some of those needing help to grow veggies.
From these seeds, the small operation has grown organically and recently registered as a charity, although still survives with meagre resources.
“We’re a total ‘oily rag’ operation at the moment.”
A small team of volunteers keeps things running with practical support from Bunnings and Probus and gardening clubs.
The Fairfield Garden Club has donated a “whole heap” of tools and one member builds raised garden beds from old pallets.
“Gardening has quite a generous, sharing spirit,” Carla notes.
She says the Give to Grow name is a call to action and also refers to people giving so others can grow.
“And giving so we grow – volunteers and people who donate gardening resources. I think we grow from those actions.”
She says the first tool recipients were those who wanted to grow their own food but were under-resourced.
Now, individuals can receive the tools if they live in a Kāinga Ora or DCC home or have a Community Services or SuperGold card.
Social agencies refer clients and the charity wouldn’t turn others away unless perhaps demand outstripped tool supply.
> #### Basically anyone who asks, we’ve said yes to.”
After the summer holidays, a backlog of tools requires refurbishment, and four families are waiting for them.
It seems the grassroots charity will continue to go from strength to strength as it empowers others to do the same.
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**For further information:**
Give to Grow Ōtepoti website and Facebook
Our 2021 story about Skillsec
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