Edible Campus
Food foraging at University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury Campus Map Tour
The UC Sustainability branch prides itself on embracing its contribution to New Zealand and global academic community. With expansive green spaces and gardens the University's campus Simply Built off of the natural beauty it is located within.
The Edible Campus project was brought to UC in the hopes to bring local fruit to the community while also providing a learning opportunity for those who want to get involved.
This Story Map brings locals and tourists along a tour through the beautiful campus of University of Canterbury highlighting the campus' edible flora and community gardens.
User Instructions
This tour will guide you through the campus along 13 stops. Scrolling down on the page will move the map accordingly to the next stop. Scrolling up will bring you back to the previous stop. If you find yourself lost on the map simply scroll to the next point to bring yourself back to the campus. You can also click on individual stops on the map to see information about the next plant. Mobile users can also allow location services and track their GPS location alongside the points. Simply select the location indicator in the top right of the map and make sure your location services are allowed for the page (mobile only). If you have any troubles with the map loading try refreshing the page or using a different browser. Lastly, at the end of the tour please reach out to our social media outlets to tell us what you think. New stops are always being added, so please show your support by sharing this page with others. Thanks!
Lemon/Rēmana (1)
Lemons grow in tropical and subtropical climates and cannot stand frosts or very cold temperatures.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Pear (2)
This is an ornamental pear tree.
Lime/Raima or Rēmana?(rough location) (3)
The lime season in New Zealand is from March to September. Unlike most other citrus fruits, limes are picked before they ripen to get the best flavour. Fruit that’s ready to be harvested should be juicy, and the skins will be lighter green than the younger fruit.
Chilean guava/NZ cranberry (4)
Chilean guava harvesting period is usually from March – April.
Feijoa/Kākāriki (5)
Feijoa fruit harvesting period is in March – June. Best picked from the ground.
Fig/Piki (6)
Figs have been cultivated by man since ancient times (4000 BC) and are well known throughout the world. The unusual fruit grows on a deciduous subtropical tree, native to Western Asia.
Figs may fruit twice, with both early season fruiting (Jan-Feb) and a later crop as well (April-May).
Harvest the figs when they soften and the skin changes colour. Ripe figs should be cut from the tree using secateurs or snips, keeping the stems intact.
Lemon/Rēmana (7)
Lemons grow in tropical and subtropical climates and cannot stand frosts or very cold temperatures.
As lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Apricot (8)
Peaches are native to China and were first cultivated there 2400 years ago. They were carried along the old silk routes to Persia (Iran). The Persians passed the peach to the Romans with cultivation eventually spreading to Europe and the American continent.
Apricots are stone fruit (drupes) like cherries and peaches and are related to almonds.
Peaches ripen and are ready to pick during December – April and their peak ripeness is in January – February.
Walnut/Wōnati (9)
The walnut tree is prized for its large and healthy nuts which grow year round. The walnut trees pitted shell encases a fibrous, leather sheath that splits as the nuts begin to ripen. These ripened fruits then drop the seeds on the ground but sometimes they stay attached to the tree. It is best to find nuts which have recently fallen or ones that show signs of being ready to fall.
Walnut fruit begin to ripen March and continues through to late April.
Fig/piki (10)
Figs have been cultivated by man since ancient times (4000 BC) and are well known throughout the world. The unusual fruit grows on a deciduous subtropical tree, native to Western Asia.
Figs may fruit twice, with both early season fruiting (Jan-Feb) and a later crop as well (April-May).
Harvest your figs when they soften and the skin changes colour. Ripe figs should be cut from the tree using secateurs or snips, keeping the stems intact.
Raspberry/Rāhipere (11)
Raspberries are mainly red in colour but have cousins that are yellow or black.
The high number of seeds give raspberries their high dietary fibre content.
In botanical terms, raspberries are not berries at all but are a bunch of numerous druplets (fleshy fruit around a seed).
Fruit ripens and is ready to pick during December – June and they are at their peak in February – April.
Raspberry/Rāhipere (12)
Raspberries are mainly red in colour but have cousins that are yellow or black.
The high number of seeds give raspberries their high dietary fibre content.
In botanical terms, raspberries are not berries at all but are a bunch of numerous druplets (fleshy fruit around a seed).
Fruit ripens and is ready to pick during December – June and they are at their peak in February – April.
Lemon/Rēmana (13)
Lemons grow in tropical and subtropical climates and cannot stand frosts or very cold temperatures.
As lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Blueberry/Rēua (14)
Blueberries are green and they ripen to a deep blue/purple colour.
The species of blueberry grown commercially requires a lot of winter chilling.
Around 80% of NZ blueberries are grown in the Waikato.
Blueberries ripen and are ready to pick during December – March. They are at their peak in January - February.
Lavender (15)
Walnut/Wōnati (16)
The walnut tree is prized for its large and healthy nuts which grow year round. The walnut trees pitted shell encases a fibrous, leather sheath that splits as the nuts begin to ripen. These ripened fruits then drop the seeds on the ground but sometimes they stay attached to the tree. It is best to find nuts which have recently fallen or ones that show signs of being ready to fall.
Walnuts begin to ripen in March and continues through to late April.
Waiutuutu community garden (17)
The Waiutuutu Community Garden was established in 2002 as an informal recreation and learning space for students, staff and anyone else associated with the University. It was originally named Okeover Community Garden, after the Okeover Stream. In 2018, Ngai Tahu gifted the name Te Ngaki o Waiutuutu (Waiutuutu Community Garden) in recognition of the stream's original name.
All interested people can come along and help out in the garden, learn new skills and meet new people. The entrance to Waiutuutu Community Garden entrance is via the walking path from Engineering Road beside Okeover Stream. Follow the sign for 'Cleaning Services'.
End of Tour
If you would like to visit more locations around campus you can follow the next stop. If you would like to conclude your tour, please visit the bottom of the page and leave a comment on our social media pages and please share this page with others. Thank you for partaking in our Edible Campus!
Plum
Depending on the variety, plums mature from Summer through to Autumn. When close to maturity, plums will be firm and brightly coloured. It is important to pick with care to prevent bruising and damage to fruit spurs.
The plums available on campus are Prunus Cerasifera, also known as Cherry Plums.
Lemon
As lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Lemon
As lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Rosemary
Snip off stems to use fresh, or hang them in the kitchen for dried rosemary. Harvest young stems and leaves for the freshest taste. Please only take what you need and allow the plant to replace its growth before taking more.
Lavender
Lavender has many uses. It can be used as a fresh garnish for salads, can be added to cake batter or sweet pastry before baking, can be infused into beverages and used to flavour roast lamb, chicken, or rabbit. Plus much more.
Lavender
Lavender has many uses. It can be used as a fresh garnish for salads, can be added to cake batter or sweet pastry before baking, can be infused into beverages and used to flavor roast lamb, chicken, or rabbit. Plus much more.
Ginkgo/ (rough location)
The Ginkgo tree is the oldest living tree in the world and the only surviving member of the Ginkgo family. Because of this the tree is referred to as a ‘living fossil’. It supposedly has been around since the time of the dinosaurs, and one tree in China is about 3,500 years old. The tree species is native to Southeast Asia, but was brought over to the US in 1784.
In New Zealand, ginko trees are harvested in May. The plump fruit falls to the ground and can be collected to ripen them for a few days.
Plum
Depending on the variety, plums mature from Summer through to Autumn. When close to maturity, plums will be firm and brightly coloured. It is important to pick with care to prevent bruising and damage to fruit spurs.
The plums available on campus are Prunus Cerasifera, also known as Cherry Plums.
Lemon/Rēmana (rough location)
Lemons grow in tropical and subtropical climates and cannot stand frosts or very cold temperatures.
As lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Lemon
Lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Pear
Pears are native to Europe and have been cultivated since ancient times. Modern varieties were developed from the European pear.
Like the apple, the pear is a "pome" fruit and also provides a good source of dietary fiber.
Fruit ripens and is ready to pick during February - July and they are at their peak in April - May.
Walnut
The walnut tree is prized for its large and healthy nuts which grow year round. The walnut trees pitted shell encases a fibrous, leather sheath that splits as the nuts begin to ripen. These ripened fruits then drop the seeds on the ground but sometimes they stay attached to the tree. It is best to find nuts which have recently fallen or ones that show signs of being ready to fall.
Walnuts begin to ripen in March and continues through to late April.
Walnut/Wōnati (rough location)
The walnut tree is prized for its large and healthy nuts which grow year round. The walnut trees pitted shell encases a fibrous, leather sheath that splits as the nuts begin to ripen. These ripened fruits then drop the seeds on the ground but sometimes they stay attached to the tree. It is best to find nuts which have recently fallen or ones that show signs of being ready to fall.
Walnuts begin to ripen in March and continues through to late April.
Chestnut
Chestnut season in New Zealand runs from mid March until May.
Chestnuts should be cooked before being consumed.
Olives??
Harvesting time for olives in New Zealand is in Autumn: March - May.
Acorn/Koura or ōki (rough location)
Acorn’s have a wide range of uses and are often roasted or dried and made into flour to use when baking. Acorns need to be leached to remove the tannins before being used for human consumption. Raw acorns contain high amounts of tannins — a chemical that makes them bitter and possibly unsafe to eat in large quantities.
Lemon
Lemon trees flower several times in a season, they can have several crops of different ages growing all at once.
Lemons ripen and are ready to pick during June – January and they are at their peak in July - August.
Ginkgo (rough location)
The Ginkgo tree is the oldest living tree in the world and the only surviving member of the Ginkgo family. Because of this the tree is referred to as a ‘living fossil’. It supposedly has been around since the time of the dinosaurs, and one tree in China is about 3,500 years old. The tree species is native to Southeast Asia, but was brought over to the US in 1784.
In New Zealand, ginko trees are harvested in May. The plump fruit falls to the ground and can be collected to ripen them for a few days.
Bunch of fruit trees!
UC Security
Emergency: Off campus or by Cell phone - 0800 823 637, On Campus - 92111, Police, Fire, Ambulance 111. General Security Contacts: Off Campus or by Cell phone - 03 369 2888, On Campus - 92888.
