Our Naturally Smarter programme celebrates local people and their choices.

Our heirloom chickens were very comfortable in their starring role , especially when children were feeding them comfrey and chard! The garden was a lively place to visit, collect ideas, discuss gardening, sign up for free composting courses The garden won a silver award in the Weekend Gardener's Landscape Design Competition The components of the garden were donated to local people and organisations - including families learning to grow through the Salvation Army and Browns Bay Palmers Gardenworld, Cambria Community Gardens, and local schools.

In April this year, we focused on Naturally Smarter gardeners at the the North Shore Home and Garden Show.

A group of council staff and local gardeners collaborated to develop a garden that contributes to a healthier, more vibrant and productive North Shore.

Organic gardeners  were on hand to talk to people all weekend about the garden and its features such as:

• Heirloom chooks in a permaculture chook dome
• Vegetables herbs and flowers to grow for winter
• Brews and teas to keep your garden healthy
• Fruit trees that grow well on the North Shore
• Garden materials that have less impact on the environment - macrocarpa, natural fertilisers, living mulch, organic seedlings.

You can get full information about our naturally smarter garden here or at www.naturallysmarter.co.nz , under “gardening”.