Thanks, Rainer. Seems we weren’t the only people who had disrupted sleep last night after what felt like a mean spirited attack on the efforts of quite a few to get the garden(s) ready for the Opening and also for planting. Donald has put in countless hours of work and he was deeply affected by these remarks.

So was I – I found it hard to keep writing the notes as I struggled to absorb what felt like an assault and felt my energy for this community ebbing away…

So here’s my bit to add to Rainer’s email:

‘ Since Nov, 2020, a number of D unit owners have made it clear that a big drawcard for them around this project is the creation of gardens that will delight and also feed those who wish to participate. Donald and Miriam have led this effort, along with others. They have also put in a massive number of hours readying the property for the Open day – efforts that may well have gone over Alex’s head, as he was out of town during this process, as was Anne, who had chosen the date.( That’s life, but it doesn’t make it OK to overlook what was done during this absence and since).

Tim has also made it clear that if the available space in the ‘designated’ garden area isn’t sufficient, we can move out onto the lawn.

Gardens are a living thing: we expect that they may grow and shrink, depending on the number of folk who want to put in the effort to grow vegetables in particular.

Halting this progress on the cusp of spring is daft. Why spoil this momentum? And for what??

Thanks for hearing the impact of this on the ‘spirits’ of a number of us.

Regards,

Marianne

Marianne Quinn

Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist

Level 3, 115 Stuart Street, Dunedin

P.O. Box 20, Dunedin 9054

ph +6434773115 or 0211612050