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Family Recovery Garden
Type of project: Community-driven project
Collaborator: Odyssey House Christchurch
Sponsors/Funders: Christchurch City Council, Piko Wholefoods
Location: 254 Cambridge Terrace, Central Christchurch, NZ
Completed: April 2017.
Status: Active
The Family Recovery Garden Te Oranga Rā is a garden to bring public awareness to the family and community issue of addiction and recovery. Re-designed and built in collaboration with Odyssey House Christchurch, the garden opened in April 2017 and has been operated and maintained by the residents of the house. Prior to 2017 the space was known as Places of Tranquility.
The garden, with a large horse chestnut tree, berms of native plants and sweeping lawn, boasts strong landscape features and built elements, all carrying meaning for the journey of recovery. A large open air Whare (house) represents Te Whare Tapa Whā, the four pillars of Māori health which are carved into the four corner pou (posts). Inside the whare is a long table for sharing kai, perhaps cooked at the BBQ shed.. a fold down community BBQ and storage shed. A walkthrough pergola with stepping stones names 12 values of recovery with each step… nearby a circle of benches known as the ‘talking circle’ is regularly used by the residents and visiting groups. Raised garden beds are growing flowers, herbs and veggies as an offering, ‘giving back’ to the community, which is an important aspect of the garden and the recovery journey. At the entryway to Te Oranga Rā are mounds of riverstones, some are colourfully decorated with messages of hope. The high profile site on Cambridge Terrace is a tranquil juxtaposition to the popular Margaret Mahy Family Playground, just across the Otākaro River.
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Odyssey House Christchurch worked with The Green Lab in establishing The Family Recovery Garden. The project was a journey for Odyssey and our residents in developing the garden to reflect our work and create a space for families and community groups to enjoy. The Green Lab team, supported, mentored and gave us the confidence to take on the lease and commit to continuing the project as an organisation. The benefits are multiple, the residents from our men’s and women’s programme, give back to their community and our community has a green space to enjoy, a space of respite and quiet. We would not have embarked on this project or felt confident to continue without the support of The Green Lab.
