Whakatāne Herb Garden Growing Global Flavours and Local Curiosity

Locals are discovering new flavours and healthier habits at an international herb garden.

Gardeners involved in Whakatāne's international herb garden are encouraging people to use natural flavours in food to keep kai healthy. 

The garden was started last year in empty planter boxes in the Whakatāne Rose Garden, with the aim of planting herbs from around the world. 

Gardener Lynette Jones said she saw organiser Poppy Jansakul prepping the beds last year, and has been involved ever since. 

The revitalised garden has drawn attention from locals and visitors alike, Jones said. 

"A lot of people come when they've been staying at the holiday park, just walking through and are really interested that we have such a mixture of different herbs - some even I hadn't heard of."

She said dog walkers, and families often stop to talk when she is out watering the garden. 

Previously empty garden beds have been transformed into a thriving international patch. IMAGE: Supplied. 

Over the summer, a wide range of herbs from across several continents were gifted by locals and businesses. 

Alongside plants acclimatised to New Zealand like thyme and basil, there are more unusual varieties such as pineapple sage, yacon and tomatillos. 

Jones said it has been enjoyable learning how to care for each plant, as well as how to utilise them.  

"I didn't realise there's two different curry plants - there's a curry tree and a curry plant."

"For me, it's an education on broadening your horizon in cooking."

Jones has been eager to pass that knowledge onto the community, encouraging the use of herbs and spices over perservatives like salt.  

One plant in the garden is "a very sweet plant that tastes just like sugar and can be used as a replacement."

"The kids that stop by, if I'm there, I often show it and let them taste it."

"If their parent's there, it's even better because the parent will taste it and go, 'oh my gosh, it's just like a sweet'."

A group of devoted locals care for the community garden. Image: Supplied. 

As winter approaches, gardeners are planning what will happen to the beds. 

Jones said she expects many of the Northern American herbs to go to seed and regrow in summer. 

She said it will be another learning process as the seasons change and the needs of plants shift. 

"We might have a little meeting and just say, 'look, I'd like to know what we can do to keep it going in the winter?'"

Despite this, she encourages anyone interested to get in touch via the community Facebook page.