Bailey Perryman has a vision for Christchurch – a garden city where fresh local food is accessible and affordable.

Along with Fiona Stewart, Bailey founded Cultivate Christchurch, to spread the word about growing food and helping communities feed themselves.

Young people who need support to enter the workforce, are given a step up at Cultivate, which offers Urban Farm Hand internships.

"It means they have a place where they can come to, to connect to the land and to each other and have a sense of purpose," Stewart said.

So far, 25 young people have completed an internship, with many moving on to other training or employment opportunities.

Bailey calls it "urbundance" and cites Cuba as the model. "Ninety per cent of that country's daily fresh produce is from urban farms, and 44,000 people work on them. Relative to Christchurch, that's 10 per cent of the population – the same number of kids the government says is not involved in employment, education or training. And we have the space here, not just in Christchurch but in every city in New Zealand."

After studying environmental management at Lincoln University, Bailey realised he wanted action – not just theory. He got involved in community gardens and just after the quakes he helped set up Agropolis, a smaller urban farm, which he says, compared to Cultivate Christchurch was more like a community garden. 

His visionary nature is likely in his blood, he reckons. "I have a long history of agriculture with my family, who were farmers, millers, church builders, and known for their especially radical views."

While the pair have their eyes ultimately on the city's extensive Red Zone for farms, they have a three-year contract on a 1.7-hectare site in a new subdivision in Halswell in the southwest of the city, where most of the produce is grown. They are also working with the subdivision's developer on obtaining the contract to maintain the area's greenspace and establishing a community garden.  

As well, they have recently partnered with the Canterbury District Health Board to use the old propagation unit and glasshouses at Hillmorten Hospital, formerly Sunnyside. Fiona takes particular delight that the historic buildings are once again to be used for what they had originally been created for: growing food.

As far as the couple is concerned, the world is their oyster. "More staff and more land, that's our aim," says Bailey with a wide grin. 

"And more young people," adds Fiona. 

“A plant will always strive to be the best version of itself. Our role as farmers and gardeners is to create the conditions that allow that to happen. The same goes for nurturing people.”

Looking round at the well-oiled machine that is rumbling along in the heart of Christchurch, you kind of know the pair will achieve it. 

Follow Healthy Families Christchurch on facebook - 
https://www.facebook.com/HealthyFamiliesChristchurch/ 

Follow Cultivate Christchurch on facebook -
 https://www.facebook.com/CultivateChCh/

Read more about Cultivate Christchurch -
 

"Growing Both Veggies and Opportunities"

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/100854875/can-vegetable-gardening-help-atrisk-youth

"Urban Farms Helping At Risk Youth" 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/100854875/can-vegetable-gardening-help-atrisk-youth