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21 February 2026 · Bainham Hall, Aorere Valley
Seven community members gathered at Bainham Hall for our very first Practical Living Series session – and it was a wonderful start. Fresh herbs, ripe tomatoes and beautiful green kamokamo arrived from valley gardens, and together we turned them into jars of tomato sauce and kamokamo pickle to take home. There was plenty of laughter, good conversation and the satisfying clunk of sealed lids. It felt warm, connected and exactly what this series is meant to be.
What We Made
Two recipes were prepared together on the day — both are included in the Session 1 Recipe Booklet (see below).
- 🍅 Slow Cooked Tomato Sauce — fresh valley tomatoes, slow-cooked with garlic, onions and herbs into a rich, versatile sauce
- 🥒Kamokamo Pickle — golden bay’s beloved kamokamo (a Māori heirloom squash) transformed into a spiced, tangy relish
Session photos
Recipe Booklet
We’ve compiled all the recipes from Session 1 — including contributions from community members — into a downloadable recipe booklet. It features 8 recipes covering tomato sauces, relishes, fermented vegetables, Japanese-style pickles and a classic basil pesto.
What We Learned
A few key takeaways from the session:
- Sterilising jars properly is the single most important step in safe preserving
- Slow cooking without stirring or a lid is the secret to a rich, concentrated tomato sauce
- Kamokamo works beautifully as a pickle, similar to a relish, with a mild sweetness that takes spice well
- Fresh herbs added at the end of cooking preserve their colour and flavour far better than cooking them in from the start
About the Series
The Aorere Valley Practical Living Series runs on the 21st of every month, February to November, at Bainham Hall. Sessions run 10 am – 2 pm and are walk-in, walk-out; come for as long as suits you. All ages and genders welcome, no experience needed.
Hosted under the umbrella of Bainham Rural Women / Rural Women New Zealand.
Next Session
Session 2: Fruit Preserving 📅 Saturarday 21 March 2026, 10 am – 2 pm 📍 Bainham Hall
Koha: gold coin (members) / $5 (non-members)
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