For Kaipātiki Project, learning happens naturally when people come together, get their hands dirty and share what they know.
That was the idea behind the organisation’s Garden Volunteer Welcome Day at Hobsonville Point, held on 9 September as part of Adult Learners’ Week He Tangata Mātauranga 2026.
Kaipātiki Project is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based environmental organisation working to create a more sustainable future for people and nature. More than 1,000 volunteers give their time to the organisation each year, working across a wide range of projects in the bush, streams, native plant nursery, gardens and compost hub.
Some volunteers come every week, while others may only come once. Whatever their involvement, learning is an important part of the experience. Blanka Ros from Kaipātiki Project said volunteers could learn everything from preparing a garden bed and improving soil to sowing seeds, working in a greenhouse, composting and growing food.
The organisation’s approach is based around regenerative gardening. Chemicals are avoided, with volunteers instead learning about practices such as companion planting, building healthy soil and thinking about the garden as a complete ecosystem.
Importantly, that knowledge does not stay in the community garden. Volunteers often returned home inspired to apply what they had learned to their own gardens and food growing.
But gardening was not the only reason people volunteered.
Blanka said some volunteers came because they wanted to spend more time outdoors or had retired and were looking for new ways to use their time. Others were ESOL learners who found volunteering provided a relaxed and natural environment in which to practise their English.
The garden became an informal learning space where people could share language and knowledge while working alongside others.
For Adult Learners’ Week He Tangata Mātauranga, Kaipātiki Project decided to turn the focus onto the volunteers themselves and what they had gained from being involved. Five volunteers were interviewed and asked questions including: Why do you volunteer? What have you learned? What is the most surprising thing you have found in the garden?
“Every time we ask these questions, we get different answers and we learn something new,” Blanka said. Each interview was turned into a short video, which was brought together and shared with volunteers in the garden on 9 September. With no building available, the screening was kept simple, with the videos shared via WhatsApp so they were easily accessible to the community.
The event was also an opportunity to welcome people interested in volunteering, while also recognising those who had contributed their time and knowledge over many years. Blanka said sunshine poured across Engine Bay Garden on the morning of 9 September, as more than 20 new and regular volunteers came together to celebrate Adult Learners’ Week. Over a relaxed morning tea, people shared food, stories and reflections, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
“Conversations flowed easily between gardening, food and life experience. Volunteers talked about the freedom to make mistakes in a safe and supportive environment, and how enjoyment makes learning feel natural. They exchanged cooking ideas from different cultures, some connected through conversation in Mandarin, and everyone recognised how much they learn from one another across generations and backgrounds.
“There was a real sense of warmth, gratitude and belonging throughout the morning. Volunteers thanked the team and each other, reminding us that Engine Bay Garden is much more than a place to grow food. It is a community learning space where people share knowledge, build confidence and discover the joy of learning alongside others,” Blanka said.
One participant summed up the spirit of the day:
“Thank you for creating this opportunity for the community to connect and learn together.”
Written by ACE Aotearoa and featured in their Spring 2026 newsletter
