Learn. Cultivate. Eat.

Whakatō activates the concept of māra kai - gardening for food - providing a user-friendly system for use for primary school aged children.

In te reo Māori, Whakatō means planting, which connects to the ancient Māori tradition of māra kai gardening for food. The concept was developed to engage children with the food production cycle and teach early concepts of sustainability. Whakatō is driven by the belief that creating a foundation for a better planet starts with understanding that food is grown from the land beneath our feet. 

The central element of the Whakatō kit is the strong wool planting mat - made from felted dag wool measured at 161gsm the optimal density for weed suppression. Dagwool has limited commercial applications and low yield price for farmers. The mat, utilised in a gardening context breaks down naturally and fortifies the soil, whilst at the same time acting as a suppressor for weeds. The use of dag wool increases the ability for farmers to utilise their resource, particularly in recent yearswhere there has been lower demand for bales of dagwool.  The aim of this product is to provide certainty of demand,  pay a fair price to farmers, utilise a valuable local resource and to reduce potential waste of wool yields.