From backyards to pots and windowsills, this partnership between the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board and the Canterbury Horticultural Society is an opportunity to celebrate all types of food gardens.

Entries for the 2024 Edible and Sustainable Garden Awards closed on Sunday 12 January 2025.

If you're proud of your peas or delighted with your dill, we want to hear from you.

Entry is free and open to individuals, groups, organisations, schools, early learning centres and businesses.

Previous entrants and special award winners are welcome to enter again.

Your garden must be located in the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board area. 

After you have submitted your entry, Canterbury Horticultural Society members will arrange to visit your garden early next year and offer advice and feedback on things like:

  • Plant variety, quality and health.
  • General presentation.
  • Management of weeds.
  • Innovative features.
  • Water saving techniques.
  • Use of beneficial – flowers, herbs, and companion planting.
  • Organic aspects – conversion of waste, etc.
  • Crop rotation and planning – sustainability.

We would love to see high-resolution photos of your gardening journey, from planting to harvesting.

With your permission, we would love to use these photos to celebrate your great efforts and for promotional purposes.

For advice on setting up and growing your edible garden see:

Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board

Kia ora koutou katoa, the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board is really glad to partner with Canterbury Horticultural Society in the Edible and Sustainable Garden Awards for 2025.

Our goal is to share our knowledge and provide support and encouragement whether you’re a first-time edible gardener or seasoned pro. We’re particularly interested in highlighting sustainability and the well-being that flows from caring for our natural environment.

So, whether the vegetable patch, orchard, or rain garden in your yard or your neighbour’s, is new or long-established, do put in an entry and join with gardeners of all ages and stages in their food resilience journeys, to celebrate local edible gardens.

Let’s get growing.

Allan Paterson – President, Canterbury Horticultural Society

Canterbury Horticultural Society is pleased to again join the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board for its Edible and Sustainable Garden Awards.

The pleasure and health benefits of creating your own garden to produce fresh, healthy food for the family and friends are so rewarding.

We look forward to visiting the wonderful edible gardens in Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote.

For more information about the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Edible and Sustainable Garden Awards, contact Jane Walders at 03 941 6584 or jane.walders@ccc.govt.nz.