COVID-19 Vaccine Policy for Kelmarna Gardens Community Farm
To keep people safe and our farm open, we have introduced a COVID-19 vaccination policy regarding roles related to our site and operations.
To keep people safe and our farm open, we have introduced a COVID-19 vaccination policy regarding roles related to our site and operations.
Purpose of the vaccination policy
The policy provides people with greater certainty when working, visiting, and participating on our site and ensures that the majority of our programmes and activities will remain open and operational.
It was put in place after our team undertook a COVID-19 risk assessment for each of the many roles related to our farm and is based on the findings regarding risks for individuals engaged in those roles and the people they interact with.
Vaccination provides a higher level of protection against COVID-19, reduces the risk of the infection spreading, and lowers the chance of people suffering serious illness. Where required, vaccination is regarding eligible people aged 12 years and three months or older.
A core part of our work at Kelmarna Gardens is to provide horticultural therapy for people affected by mental health conditions and intellectual disability, who have been shown to be at significantly higher risk from COVID-19.
On top of this, we have large numbers of people using the site in many different ways every week, including school and other groups of under 12s who are currently unable to be protected by vaccines themselves.
The decision to enact this policy has been made following significant thought and discussion, as we are aware that it will mean that some members of our community will not be in a position to participate as they would like to at Kelmarna, for the time being.
Our primary responsibility is to protect our staff, volunteers, and the many vulnerable people for whom Kelmarna is a safe haven, and we are confident that this is the best approach to keep them safe at this moment in time.
The policy provides people with greater certainty when working, visiting, and participating on our site and ensures that the majority of our programmes and activities will remain open and operational.
It was put in place after our team undertook a COVID-19 risk assessment for each of the many roles related to our farm and is based on the findings regarding risks for individuals engaged in those roles and the people they interact with.
Vaccination provides a higher level of protection against COVID-19, reduces the risk of the infection spreading, and lowers the chance of people suffering serious illness. Where required, vaccination is regarding eligible people aged 12 years and three months or older.
A core part of our work at Kelmarna Gardens is to provide horticultural therapy for people affected by mental health conditions and intellectual disability, who have been shown to be at significantly higher risk from COVID-19.
On top of this, we have large numbers of people using the site in many different ways every week, including school and other groups of under 12s who are currently unable to be protected by vaccines themselves.
The decision to enact this policy has been made following significant thought and discussion, as we are aware that it will mean that some members of our community will not be in a position to participate as they would like to at Kelmarna, for the time being.
Our primary responsibility is to protect our staff, volunteers, and the many vulnerable people for whom Kelmarna is a safe haven, and we are confident that this is the best approach to keep them safe at this moment in time.
Roles where My Vaccine Pass verification is required
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Staff & Contractors
All staff and contractors working at Kelmarna Gardens must either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have had their first vaccine dose by 11:59 Thursday 2 December 2021, with the second dose to follow within 6 weeks. |
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Volunteers
All volunteers, including therapeutic gardeners, Farmhands participants, shop volunteers, education volunteers, and Soil Factory volunteers, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof of vaccination with a valid My Vaccine Pass in order to take part in farm operations and programmes at Kelmarna Gardens. |
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Workshop Facilitators & Participants
All workshop facilitators and participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof of vaccination with a valid My Vaccine Pass in order to host, purchase tickets for, or take part in workshop sessions at Kelmarna Gardens. |
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Organised Visits, Garden Tours & Venue Hires
Anyone visiting Kelmarna Gardens with an organised group, for a garden tour, or as part of a venue hire arrangement must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof of vaccination with a valid My Vaccine Pass in order to use or hire any part of our site. |
Roles where My Vaccine Pass verification is not required
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Farm Shop & Soil Factory Customers
People visiting Kelmarna Gardens to shop at our Farm Shop or to drop off food scraps at Soil Factory are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or to have proof of vaccination. However, the Farm Shop and Soil Factory drop-off area will continue to be managed with precautions, including mandatory face coverings, scanning or signing in, an indoor capacity limit for the shop, drop off recording, and 1m distancing. |
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Casual Visitors
People visiting Kelmarna Gardens to enjoy the space as casual visitors are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or to have proof of vaccination. However, our site as a whole will continue to be managed with precautions, including mandatory face coverings, scanning in, and 1m distancing. Casual visitors may not enter any indoor areas other than to shop at the Farm Shop or to use the toilet block as an essential amenity, and they must follow all of the relevant precautions in every area. |
How Kelmarna will enforce this policy
Signs are posted across our site, reminding people of the precautions in place and making our site QR code as accessible as possible.
All staff, contractors, and volunteers are vetted and managed in compliance with this policy in order to undertake their roles.
Our bookings terms and conditions are updated for workshops, organised visits, garden tours, and venue hire arrangements, with a requirement to declare that every eligible person in a booking is fully vaccinated and can show valid proof on the day.
Educational visits are planned carefully in close collaboration with all school, kura, or other groups to ensure that accurate risk assessments are undertaken and all health and safety concerns are addressed.
Farm Shop staff will be reminding shoppers to scan in, keep face coverings on, and help stick to the capacity limit for the total number of people allowed in the shop at any one time.
Soil Factory customers will have the option of online contactless drop-off recording as well as a physical log book for drop-off recording on site.
Casual visitors will remain free to enjoy our site and will be monitored with regard to observing proper precautions and to avoid interacting with facilities where vaccination requirements are in place.
Kelmarna Gardens will refer serious infringements (i.e. threats to staff and visitor safety) to the NZ Police. We will also monitor the level of compliance to assess whether any activities need to cease or facilities be closed if significant health risks arise.
Signs are posted across our site, reminding people of the precautions in place and making our site QR code as accessible as possible.
All staff, contractors, and volunteers are vetted and managed in compliance with this policy in order to undertake their roles.
Our bookings terms and conditions are updated for workshops, organised visits, garden tours, and venue hire arrangements, with a requirement to declare that every eligible person in a booking is fully vaccinated and can show valid proof on the day.
Educational visits are planned carefully in close collaboration with all school, kura, or other groups to ensure that accurate risk assessments are undertaken and all health and safety concerns are addressed.
Farm Shop staff will be reminding shoppers to scan in, keep face coverings on, and help stick to the capacity limit for the total number of people allowed in the shop at any one time.
Soil Factory customers will have the option of online contactless drop-off recording as well as a physical log book for drop-off recording on site.
Casual visitors will remain free to enjoy our site and will be monitored with regard to observing proper precautions and to avoid interacting with facilities where vaccination requirements are in place.
Kelmarna Gardens will refer serious infringements (i.e. threats to staff and visitor safety) to the NZ Police. We will also monitor the level of compliance to assess whether any activities need to cease or facilities be closed if significant health risks arise.
