THE KERIKERI SHADEHOUSE VOLUNTEERS
The Shade House Volunteers is a self-funding volunteer community group. We are a social enterprise - that is - an organisation whose purpose is to fulfil a social or environmental purpose rather than creating profit for owners or shareholders. Our objective is to produce very inexpensive, high-quality native plants for habitat restoration for volunteer groups and trusts, which are usually struggling for funds.
OUR HISTORY
In May 2000, when Rod Brown (who is still the Shade House co-ordinator) started the Shade House with Jo Hill as the propagator. A group of about 10 people was formed and a learning process commenced. In our first year we only managed to distribute 3,700 plants. It is a team environment with the dedicated team members having a long-term commitment, many for more than 10 years.
OUR ENTERPRISE
In 2001 we produced only 3,700 plants. Now about 18,000 plants of 60 species are produced each year with about the same number of volunteers. As at August 2022, a total of 365,000 native plants have been grown and distributed. Typically our plants are distributed to about 40 habitat restoration projects in Northland each year.