“When we have a community that’s saturated with lifelong gardeners, there’ll be seeds being swapped and food being shared over fences - beautiful, bountiful, nature-friendly backyards.” - Nick Kiddey

It’s Spring in Southland. The ground has softened, seedlings push their way towards the sky, and keen gardeners imagine what might grow in the months ahead. On October 4th and 5th, Riverton Environment Centre is bringing that spirit to life at Aparima College with Bountiful Backyards, a weekend of hands-on workshops designed to empower, inspire, and connect people through gardening.

For co-organiser Nick Kiddey, the kaupapa is simple: confidence, connection, and joy.

“It’s about scaffolding people to feel confident enough that they become lifelong gardeners,” Nick explains.

“Gardening boosts wellbeing, connects us with nature, and builds resilience. We want to help people feel equipped to give it a go and to keep going when things don’t work out perfectly.”

Seeds of Confidence

The workshops are intentionally designed to cater for everyone, from absolute beginners through to more seasoned growers. Saturday’s programme offers bite-sized, beginner-friendly sessions, including workshops for adults and tamariki.

“We respect children as much as adults,” says Nick.

“Saturday is about giving everyone equal access to skills and inspiration. Often parents and kids end up learning together.” Photo: Supplied

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Sunday steps things up a notch, with longer, more in-depth sessions for those ready to expand their skills.

Highlights across the weekend include:

• Soil health workshops - learning how to nurture the foundation of good kai.
• Seed sowing & propagation tips: simple, successful approaches.
• Backyard poultry with Dylan: chickens, ducks, quail, and practical know-how.
• Nature Investigators: Nick’s outdoor discovery session for kids and parents.
• Cooking with Evita Shen: This year includes Taiwanese-style tahini noodles.

“Evita’s workshops are always a hit,” Nick says.

“She shows people how to cook tasty, nourishing food with ingredients that are easy to find.” Photo: Supplied

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Accessible & Affordable

Thanks to support from the Southland District Council’s District Initiatives Fund and the Jenkins Foundation, ticket prices are deliberately low.

• Kids’ workshops: from $5
• Adults’ workshops: from $8 (sliding scale up to $15 - pay what you can)

This model means cost doesn’t need to be a barrier. “If enough people pay a little more, it helps us keep tickets accessible for everyone,” Nick says.

All tickets need to be pre-booked via the Riverton Environment Centre website. The sooner the better, with final cut-off on Thursday October 2.

Getting There

The weekend is hosted at Aparima College, Leader Street, Riverton, with plenty of off-street parking and easy access.

To make things even easier, super-cheap transport is available:

Invercargill shuttle: return seats for just $2 (leaving 9am, back mid-afternoon).

Western Southland shuttles: routes from Ōrawia, Tuatapere, Ōhai, Nightcaps, Otautau.

Bring a sunhat and a jersey. Workshops will run regardless of weather, with some outside if conditions allow. Simple kai will be available onsite, or you can bring lunch / pop out to a Riverton café.

Robert Guyton shares his knowledge with tamariki. Photo: Supplied

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Growing More than Food

For Nick and the team, Bountiful Backyards is about more than gardening. It’s about building resilience, connection, and wellbeing.

“If we face a flood, an earthquake, or even just rising costs, having a patch of greens out the back means you can still put a meal on the table. And beyond that, gardeners are just happier people,” Nick says with a smile.

The ripple effects are real. One family from Te Anau has attended every Bountiful Backyards. Their kids started in the children’s workshops, their parents learned side-by-side, and today their home garden grows bigger every year.

The long-term vision is to create a seasonal cycle – the spring workshops equipping people with skills and seeds, then supporting the Centre’s already established Harvest Festival in Autumn.

Take the Leap

Whether you’re a first-time gardener or an experienced grower looking to refine your skills, Bountiful Backyards offers an invitation: to learn, connect, and grow.