Food Forest Talks

Kia Ora! My name is Deb Butterfield and I am the creator and kaitiaki (guardian) of the Tinui Food Forest.

I have over 20 years of being a food forester, and have provided guided walks around the Tinui Food Forest for many people. I also have the popular Love Food Forests Facebook site that has over 12000 followers and have written the "How To Start A Food Forest" eBook.  

My passion is spreading the word about why we need food forests, and encouraging anyone I can to start their own food forest! I also have provided talks to local community groups, schools, and conservation events.

I am happy to provide food forest talks to groups of people- gardening groups, schools, environmental and social groups- anyone who would like to learn more about food forests!

If you would like me to come and talk to your group or organisation I would be very happy to oblige. Contact me on debsbutterfield@live if you would like to discuss further.

Nga mihi nui

Deb 

Reference from Liz Barnes, President, Pahiatua & Districts Rebus Club:

"In September 2023 Debs from Tinui Food Forest talked to Pahiatua & Districts Rebus Club about the development of the Food Forest in Tinui over many years. Most of us didn’t even know what a food forest is, but supported by a lot of photos, she showed us how the land is reverting to nature, bringing with it a huge diversity of plants, insects and birds. A huge dump of silt over the property as a result of the February 2023 cyclone, and a large tree falling down have been dealt with in typical foo forest tradition – its being left to nature to heal the land. Our group thoroughly enjoyed Deb’s presentation, and many are keen now to attend a tour of the Forest in person.

I can thoroughly recommend Debs as a presenter, and also the Food Forest itself as a wonderful day out in the country, complete with the garden walk and meeting a menagerie of animals that co-habit on the property, having previously done a tour personally (before the cyclone). I am looking forward to seeing the changes that nature is undertaking in recovering after some major setbacks."