Kakanoa Cafe serves customers fresh produce from its own garden (Emma Cropper)
In amongst the rubble and rebuild, Christchurch has a hidden treasure of greens growing.
An urban garden right in the city centre has been open for 12 weeks now, with all the produce picked daily and used in Kakanoa cafe.
There's more than 70 different kinds of vegetables -- from kale and potatoes, to silverbeet and edible flowers -- in over 280sqm of garden.
The garden's owner Jade Temepara says it teaches the community about sustainability and eating healthier.
"We realised that people [wanted] access to fresh and healthy food but they also want the skills to be able to learn how to do that in their own home environment or at school or wherever they are," she says.
"It's a real living and breathing garden and learning and teaching garden as well."
Tourists stop to admire the garden and take photos, while locals dine on the deck to taste the fresh produce. Where it grows is within eyesight, where it ends up -- in front of them on their plates.
Ms Temepara says the goal is to have a strong community presence and to help showcase Christchurch as a real edible city.
"We've just got such an opportunity right here, right now."
Local Helen Ross was at the cafe; eating a big bowl of mixed salad. She says the garden has popped up quickly.
"I think it's great...much healthier, and better for the planet, no food miles," she says.
The Kakanoa Cafe and Cookery School, on Peterborough St, is one of around 35 eateries in Christchurch which boasts a garden.
Further along the street, urban garden Cultivate Christchurch is flourishing. Here at-risk youths help maintain and grow the vegetables, before selling them to restaurants around the city, including Town Tonic and The Exchange in Woolston.
Cultivate Christchurch works with at-risk youths to help maintain the garden (Emma Cropper)
In February, a $5 million urban garden project called Otakaro Orchard was announced. The joint venture between 30 organisations will feature a community garden, information centre and cafe on Cambridge Terrace. A Givealittle page has been set up to help fund the venture.
An artist impression of Otakaro Orchard on Cambridge Terrace (Otakaro Orchard)
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