Richard Main on the Gardens4Health Initiative for Diabetes Projects Trust

Imagine a whole country where the population has a dynamic relationship with their environment - that locally, directly feeds them with the most vital of sustenance - fresh healthy, organic produce – that they grow themselves.Now visualize the largest NZ city with close on 20 co-operative urban gardens doing just that already, with the probability of an extra 100 plus clusters spread across the Auckland landscape in the next 18 months.Community garden oases of verdant health that become the focal point for family, friends and neighbours to grow, meet and share in the spirit of goodwill. What initially started with the Counties Manukau District Health Board to curtail the spiraling increase in diabetes has led to a pioneering approach to food growing and bettering ones health. This has been to enable local citizens to work in groups or singularly to learn and grow their own healthy food and exercise in a stress free setting to once again live more in tune with community and nature.Listen to this exciting initiative and the profound possibilities of re-greening and gardening of suburbia and across the nation that in maximizing ones health, is also pulling many differing ethnic and cultural groups together to reestablish contact with the earth, community, share information and beat diabetes.GreenplanetFM104.6 Thurs 4th March 8-9amhttp://www.dpt.org.nzhttp://www.dpt.org.nz/CommGarden.html