Summer’s end in the Māoriland Maara

Our willow fence line is establishing and beautifies the dilapidated tin fence, but this willow does need attention and weaving while it is still supple to develop its shape. This is a creative and somewhat meditative opportunity to enhance a living breathing fence line. I welcome anyone who wants to spend time plaiting and weaving, thereby shaping the creation and saving it from becoming a shaggy wild beast of a thing!

Just to the front of the willow fence line, meadow flowers are interspersed with incredibly healthy,  huge rocket for salads or pesto (too good!). This meadow is surrounded by vegetables. I found my seeds liked being protected from the heat and the birds by a layer of damp cloth over summer.

In the Māoriland Hub maara an interesting social experiment is taking place… All of the Māoriland kaimahi (staff) have in pairs been given responsibility for a maara bed. It is interesting to watch the varied responses…diligence…interest…enthusiasm…avoidance! I am watching this process and figuring out how to best support our kaimahi. I think the seedlings we are growing, (leeks, zucchinis, lettuce, onions, spring onions) may help. The summer crops are starting to fade and space will be made for new season’s kai to continue to grow. Our Māoriland kaimahi and whānau are harvesting as they wish, the tomatoes are always the fastest to go!

At Māoriland our maara is a place to grow our culture and connection through practical acts of waste minimisation, composting, developing soil and in that soil growing kai. This connects us to the whenua, community, and each other. Developing our mahi maara culture requires us to divert our attention from the everyday onslaught. To slow down and tend to Papatūānuku. The happy result of this process, ie. getting our hands in the dirt, is contact with mycobacterium vaccae, a natural bacteria present in soil that has antidepressant effects, which increases serotonin in the prefrontal cortex. This feel-good response has no negative side effects. Haere ki te maara! Get into your gardens!