Cromwell has opened an edible garden in the heart of the mall, and a host of new projects are getting underway. 

The flurry of summer activity has ushered Connect Cromwell community facilitator Tania Partridge into her new role.

The organisation is co-hosting a community Christmas party, starting an edible garden in the Mall helping with the Cromwell Crop Swap, new Community Plan and Operation Cromwell Harvest - a project aimed at welcoming and retaining horticulture workers.

“It’s an exciting time to be starting with this community-led development group as the new projects are being launched, as well as continuing others that have been ongoing,” she said.

Tania has wide experience in events and promotions, most recently with Central Otago Wine. 

“I see this as a great opportunity to connect with the many different groups and projects that are happening in Cromwell and bring them together, as well as providing support for the smaller groups that need it.”  

She said keen gardeners were being sought to help with the town’s first public edible garden in the mall. 

Connect Cromwell hopes keen gardeners and those in the mall will lend a hand to the edible garden project and benefit from it. 

Connect Cromwell ran a survey in July, which found Cromwellians were strongly in favour of having a community garden where anyone could pick herbs, take a few veggies and be part of a small group caring for it.

The Mall plots are managed by the Central Otago District Council who last month agreed to hand one over to Connect Cromwell for the community to use.  

“We’ll be making a start on it soon and need donations of plants, ideas and a few helpers. 

“They can join the young people from Cromwell Youth Trust who have already offered to lend a hand. We are grateful to have Jo Wakelin from Otago Polytechnic as our unofficial advisor too, as she has amazing Central Otago-specific gardening knowledge.”

The group hopes business people will also lend a hand to the project and benefit from it. 

Along with culinary garden pursuits, Tania has been busy organising the Christmas Carols in the Park event happening on December 20, alongside the Cromwell & Districts Promotion Group, with support and sponsorship from Highlands Motorsport Park.  

Another favourite from the survey, a community Christmas party, was seen to be even more needed this year after the disruption and stress caused to many local people by the pandemic. 

Connect Cromwell works in partnership with the Cromwell & Districts Community Trust and Department of Internal Affairs in strengthening the community and helping groups achieve their goals.  

The volunteer Steering Group meets monthly and anyone is welcome and encouraged to come along, group member Daniel Scheibmair said. 

Future projects will include an open spaces enhancement plan, which will take in many areas in and around Cromwell.

Photos courtesy Connect Cromwell.