Talking Taiao

Join Sophie and Elric as they discuss their best tips and ideas of positive gifts supporting local shops, people and our beautiful taiao (environment)! From where to shop to what to offer, there are a LOT of options you should consider this year! For more ideas visit our website: www.sustainabletaranaki.org.nz

Do you feel a bit overwhelmed by too many negative stories around you? Whether it is online, in the news, or discussing with friends and family, Sophie and Elric are sharing tips to bring positive stories back to the front! Where to read news, what local activities to do to meet great (positive!) people and how to navigate tricky discussions! Visit our website to sign up to our monthly positive pānui (newsletter) and see what events are happening around you: www.sustainabletaranaki.org.nz

Today, Jen is discussing with us all the events you should NOT miss during the Sustainable Backyards, Builds & Farm Trails! This year there are SO many tips to reduce your bills. Energy, supermarket, garden centre, pharmacy: our 2026 hosts have a lot to share with you! Visit www.sustainablebackyards.org.nz to explore all the events and properties!

Being able to make our own food was not only cheap but also SO empowering that it would change your life, people's lives around you and the world? In this episode we meet with Franziska, sourdough bread and kombucha maker, from the now famous Bumblebee Bakery. Learn more on www.bumblebeebakery.co.nz and you can book tickets for her two events (and more!) on explore.sustainabletrails.org.nz

What makes a landscape healing, and a home healthy? Sophie talks with Bena Denton of Greenbridge (www.greenbridge.co.nz/) about her journey into ecological landscape design and the philosophy behind creating regenerative landscapes and healthy homes. There's also a korero about events being held at Greenbridge during the 2026 Taranaki Sustainable Trails (30 October - 15 November). These include building living soil and growing abundant fruit trees with Kath Irvine, to sustainable renovations and healthy building with Dan Woolley. Discover practical ideas to help us create places that nurture whānau, support te taiao and tread a little more lightly on the land. www.sustainabletrails.org.nz/

Get ready for Taranaki Sustainable Trails 2026! (30 October - 15 November). Sophie chats with co-coordinator Suzy Randall about some of this year's exciting new and standout hosts, the stories behind their properties, and what not to miss. Check out the programme, download the app and start planning your sustainable adventure! www.sustainabletrails.org.nz

Behind every garden is a person, a journey and a reason for growing. In this episode, Sophie talks with two of our Taranaki Sustainable Trails garden hosts Mary Mattock of Bluebells and Beetroot and Emma Boyd of Wild Table. Together they share their journey to becoming hosts, the lessons the whenua has taught them, plus the practical skills and sustainable gardening tips they’re sharing with visitors. A kōrero about growing, learning and finding ways to live more lightly with te taiao. Find out more about the sustainable trails at www.sustainabletrails.org.nz 🌿🌱🪏

What happens when a lifelong passion for te taiao becomes a career in waste minimisation, sustainability and environmental science? This week Sophie chats with Taranaki environmental champion Kimberly Hope, a trustee of Sustainable Taranaki. Kimberly shares her journey from a deep-rooted love of the environment to working in local government and consultancy, the lessons she’s learned about creating real change in our communities, and what inspired her to join the board of Sustainable Taranaki. We’ll also dig into some of the success stories and surprising moments from her mahi.

Carl has been teaching horticulture for five years at WITT. He is looking back on his journey, all the way from Australia to the beautiful Taranaki soil! Dig in this episode to learn about the different Horticulture programmes at WITT, but also why (and how) assessing your soil is key in growing food and all plants! Carl will be running a workshop during the 2026 Sustainable Trails: "Soil Health: Know What You Need" on Saturday 7 November. Visit WITT's website to learn more about the Horticulture programmes and www.sustainabletrails.org.nz to book your spot at Carl's workshop!

This week Sophie chats with Sustainable Coastlines co-founder Sam Judd ahead of the Hirepool Big Clean Taranaki, happening across the region from 14–20 September. Sam has spent years bringing people together to tackle plastic pollution and care for our coastlines, from community clean-ups here in Aotearoa to working internationally on solutions to marine litter. Together, Sophie and Sam explore why getting people out onto the whenua and moana can create genuine behaviour change, build stronger communities and help people see themselves as kaitiaki of the places they love. Register your group here: https://app.sustainablecoastlines.org/big-clean-taranaki ♻️🤲🌊