TOGETHER, we grow
The fertile floodplains of the Hutt River are just 20 km from Wellington; not so long ago it was the region’s food bowl. The Hutt Valley is blessed with some of the most fertile soils in Aotearoa and used to be covered in market gardens.
“Today, some of our [country’s] hungriest children call it home,” says Common Unity founder Julia Milne.
Gardener, mother, cook, cancer survivor, daughter of a prison officer, educated by nuns, gently spoken firebrand: Julia Milne is a fascinating woman on a remarkable journey. Her vision and energy has catalysed a cascade of projects in the disadvantaged heart of the Hutt Valley that don’t just seek to feed those vulnerable children. They’re creating income and employment opportunities for parents, empowering children with skills and a sense of self-worth, rehabilitating prisoners and weaving together parts of the Hutt’s diverse community
