Cultivating Communities explores how sustainable local food systems can be integrated into modern retirement living to enhance wellbeing, connection, and environmental stewardship. Centered in Franklin, a region with a strong agricultural heritage, this project proposes Taste Together: A Shared Table Market for A Taste of Community, a cooperative market model that reimagines the traditional farmers market.
Guided by regenerative and co-design principles, the project investigates how partnerships, spatial design, and community systems can foster social, cultural, and environmental impact. Grounded in the values of Connection, Co-creation, and Cultural Exchange, Taste Together aligns with Oceania’s Green Star goals by promoting sustainability, community wellbeing, and local identity.
Connection is cultivated through shared experiences that bring together residents, local growers, and the wider Franklin community, strengthening relationships and reducing isolation. Co-creation ensures that the market reflects the needs and values of all stakeholders through collaborative design and participation. Cultural Exchange is encouraged through storytelling and shared table experiences that celebrate diverse traditions and foster understanding across generations and cultures.
Key features of the design include a rotational seasonal market structure, locally sourced produce, and a waste minimisation system that supports composting and circular practices. While offering local produce and goods, Taste Together introduces communal tables where residents, farmers, and community members can share food, stories, and knowledge.
More than just a marketplace, Taste Together creates a living platform for intergenerational and intercultural connection, strengthening community ties, supporting sustainable practice, and redefining what collective wellbeing can look like in Aotearoa’s retirement living communities.
