Overview

Azwood® has been a proud supporter of Mitre 10’s helping hands charity for a few years now. We caught up with Murray Leaning, the project manager, to learn about their recent Richmond community garden project, in which, Azwood® donated green waste compost for their raised garden beds.

Background

Helping Hands started in Nelson in 2016, as a way of celebrating 10 years of being a Mitre 10 MEGA store. Every year they pick up to 10 projects to help out within the community and sends 10 of their team out to work for 10 hours on each project. 

They have support and donations of materials from local and National suppliers, including Azwood, and have completed 77 projects to date. 

They have done many different projects around Nelson including house renovations, landscaping, building, gardening, painting and built 3 houses for the rescue helicopter to sell and was able to donate nearly $1,000,000 to their trust.

The Helping Hands project was such a great success that Mitre 10 decided to roll it out nationwide to all 140 stores.

Their most recent project goals were to complete and maintain a community garden and orchard, providing free fruit and vegetables to benefit the families in the communities of the Nelson and Tasman Districts.

Challenges

Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging aspects of community projects lies in the search for dedicated and ethically-minded project partners. These invaluable collaborators generously contribute their materials, labour and resources. It is through this community support that Mitre 10 MEGA Helping Hands can bring their projects to life, transforming them from ideas into impactful realities. 

Assessment

Their community garden project had a number raised planters, garden beds and a tunnel house that needed to be filled with compost to ensure the fruit and veggies planted in them would produce enough food to share within the community. As this was all volunteer based they needed a product that was low maintenance providing moisture retention and weed suppresion whilst also providing organic matter for the plants to thrive.

Azwood’s Green Waste Compost boasts numerous benefits for plants and soil. With its high nitrogen content, it has moisture retention capabilities and improves soil structure which promotes healthy and vibrant growth. As an organic certified product that is free from animal waste, it is the perfect all-round soil conditioner.

Outcome

“Your Green waste compost was perfect for our requirements and we know from past experience that all of the growing mediums will produce a lot of very healthy and much-needed food for vulnerable families.”