Saturday Morning: Mihirangarangi Forbes speaks to guerilla gardener Mark van Kaathoven

Mark van Kaathoven is a guerilla gardener who prevents green waste from going to the landfill. Instead, he uses it to make a vibrant sponge garden. He's only had four bags of green waste sent to the tip in the last 15 years.

[@murraydawson8407]

Well done, great to have this well-deserved recognition!

[@hailzmoon4659]

Love this interview, would have liked to see more of his garden tho.

[@andrewtreacher]

Would have. Liked to see a bit more of the garden to illustrate what he was saying

[@tracymichaelsen493]

Gardening is a big part of my life. It is so nice to create natural places of peace. Hard work to get a garden self sufficient where it basically looks after itself.

[@bridgetk.3795]

Loved this chat, thank you.

[@Outofitchic]

I love this idea

[@Rr-ri4oi]

This is great! I do this in a much smaller way so it doesn't have ALL the benefits, but it certainly cuts down on weeding for a start. Might be time to expand methinks?

[@BonesAndButtons]

Same here. "No weeds" sounds pretty darn good. Not to mention the draught/flood protection.

[@jeanrichardson2044]

We know that the felling of trees contributes to the loss of surface soil and drought and flooding. Concrete paths, driveways and courtyards contribute to flooding, because the rainwater has nowhere to go. He has the solution, we just need to act.

[@phil-mpmusic]

Would love to know how I can do something like that in my garden! Any tips on these techniques please Mark or RNZ?

[@gandalfandferg280]

It's only a natural space if you're planting native plants!! They've evolved alongside the birds and insects and you're adding habitat.

[@thinking102]

Now we just need ALL THE COUNCILS TO WAKE UP TO This OBVIOUS SOLUTION

[@paperprincess1050]

I rent a flat in an historic house in Dunedin on a large neglected property that I am trying to turn into a garden on my own, I am a pensioner. Any tips greatly accepted :)

[@Battlechaser]

pretty sure it's guerilla ;)

[@Moamanly]

Apart from not getting why he is called a "gorilla gardener" this all makes perfect sense to me.

[@theunknownunknowns5168]

Gorilla gardening is the term used when people turn unused public land into gardens without formal permission. Typically, food gardens on urban roadside curbs .

[@thinking102]

Great then i imagine your doing it or about to begin doing it...

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Because he's hideously hairy.

[@dinornis]

@@theunknownunknowns5168 Guerrilla gardening is the term used when people turn unused public land into gardens without formal permission. Gorilla gardening is a chaotic, hairy mess, often involving bananas 😊

[@lindamartin21]

I also do this in a small way ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JonTeriini]

ae, he seems pretty cool

[@davidfentonhancock6646]

I was just enjoying it and then....it had to come up "The Maori" 800 yrs of beatific living before colonialism......yea, yeah, yeah...the cheer squad again....let's all brainwash ourselves some more!!!!!!

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Perhaps he could learn how to shave next.

[@thinking102]

wow, really?? all that intellect, information, potential for us all and his grace sharing it from a man who clearly cares about the rapid decline of our environment and that WE ALL better lives AND ALL YOU CAN MUSTER UP WITH YOUR FEW BRAIN CELLS IS SOME garbled SHXT ABOUT HIS FACIAL HAIR and how YOU FEEL he should be wearing it???...you don't even have any idea how much your inane comment says about you do you??....

[@ladyjusticewarriorqueenz2005]

🤣✌️🌟⚖️🌿

[@brutallyremastered4255]

@@ladyjusticewarriorqueenz2005 ;)