Garden Life

Garden Life September

Tuesday 2nd 6pm & Wednesday 3rd 1pm
Main Speaker: Peter Langlands
Foraging Ōtautahi

Peter Langlands is one of Aotearoa’s most respected foraging experts—an "accidental botanist" with a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Based in Christchurch, he studied natural sciences and zoology at Canterbury University, then worked as a fisheries observer and fly-fishing guide, gaining deep insights into freshwater and marine ecosystems .

He’s become a licensed professional forager, sourcing wild produce for top New Zealand chefs like those at Amisfield, and compiling one of the country’s largest databases of wild edible plants—now with over 250 species documented in his new book Foraging New Zealand. His work also includes workshops, guided tours across diverse regions (alpine, coastal, and river environments), and online webinars teaching safe and sustainable foraging.

Mini Speaker - Hayley Guglietta

Hayley is a passionate Christchurch-based community leader with a proven track record of transforming urban landscapes for environmental and social wellbeing. As Network Manager at the Avon Ōtākaro Network (AvON), she spearheads strategic river corridor restoration, forging effective co-governance frameworks alongside mana whenua and local councils.

She also chairs the Richmond Community Garden Trust and drives the Riverlution collective—leading food forests, sustainability events (including Matariki celebrations), and education programs in Christchurch’s red zone. Under her leadership, AvON has revitalized community green spaces, built sustainable infrastructure, and nurtured partnerships to secure funding and stewardship of public land.

Garden Life October

Tuesday 7th 6pm & Wednesday 8th 1pm

Paul Hooper – Intelligro

Paul Hooper is the Research and Development Technical Advisor at Intelligro, where he shares his expertise with both customers and staff. With a lifelong passion for horticulture, Paul retrained at Lincoln University in 2014 and has since worked across nurseries in Selwyn and Christchurch. For the past four years, he has been at Intelligro, helping gardeners and professionals get the most from their soils and growing media.

In his talk, Paul will cover:

• What certified organic compost means in New Zealand
• The benefits of organic compost – and why not all composts are equal
• The circular economy and its impact on compost
• Potting mixes – their components, how they’re made, and their purposes
• Why sourcing direct from a manufacturer has advantages
• Common problems and questions around composts, mixes, and soils

Bring along your questions—Paul will be happy to share his practical advice and insights.

Mini Speaker - Yvette Edwards - Floral Arranging