ARCHIVE to end 2004
* Visitors welcome at all our functions. Come learn about Tree Cropping!
PLEASE respect our generous hosts' property and other visitors' peaceful attendance. Bring NO pets.
Beware of health and safety hazards which may exist - children must be supervised. Bring sturdy footwear and suitable clothing. Let's all enjoy our day!
November 2004
| When: | Sunday 28th November at 4pm |
| What: | End of Year Get together |
| Where: | Alan Hay & Kirsty's, Rae Road. It will be sign posted from S.H.2 intersection. |
| Bring: | meat for yourself, a salad and/or dessert to share and your own drinks.We will provide the BBQ, juice, and sausages. If you would like to stay until after dark bring a torch and good walking shoes and if it is fine we will go and see the glow worms. |
October 2004
| When: | Sunday 17th October, at 1pm |
| What: | Fruit Wines at Hickfords |
| Where: | Waimana |
| Details: |
Maurice and Christine Hickford have an innovative approach to wine making. They are using a huge range of fruits including some of the less common ones, like quince, that tree croppers tend to grow. In addition they are looking for reliable sources of these fruit for their operation, as they cannot grow enough themselves. Maybe there is some unusual fruit you grow particularly well, and by getting together with Maurice you could help him, and earn a useful secondary income. This fielday would be a good chance to sus that out. Directions; Celestial Wines is on Bells Rd, Waimana. Bells road is the road to Matahi and the Lion's Hut. Coming from Opotiki, we are 9km from the Wainui turn off going towards Taneatua State Highway 2. We are the second road from the Nukuhou North School on the left, Bells Road. We are the first on the right up Bells Road. Big Winery sign out front. Coming from Tauranga or Whakatane you come through Taneatua, Waimana Gorge, stay on State Highway 2 until you come to the Oasis's Store which is on your right. Bells Road is the first on the right past the Store. We are first on the right up Bells Road. Please note coming from Taneatua way there are two turn-offs into Waimana; do not take those turns. |
September 2004
| When: | Sunday 19th September |
| What: | EDIBLE GARDEN field day |
| Where: | Alison and Doug Macrae's, Matahiwi Road, Te Puna |
| Details: | Turn off main Tauranga - Katikati Highway into Snodgrass Road, then into Wallace Road, then into Matahiwi Road. Will be signposted. Alison and Doug have three quarters of an acre of entirely edible garden. They grow a little of everything - Pistachio, Limequat, Kaffir Lime, Lucuma, Uzu citrus, Poached egg plant, Apricot, Red banana, Damson, Pomelo, Hackberry, Pear, Plum, Nashi, Avocado, Custard apple, Pineapple, Raisin tree, Babaco, Sapote, Paw paw, Chinese quince, crab apples, berries plus too many more to mention. |
August 2004
| When: | Saturday 21st August |
| What: | Kay Baxter Seminar |
| Where: | John & Thelma Williams "Pottsbury Farm", Ongare Point |
| Details: |
11:00 a.m. Talk by Kay Baxter of Koanga Gardens - Subject: Heritage Fruit Trees 12:00 noon: Lunch break (Bring your own). Tea and coffee supplied 12:30 p.m. Question and answer time followed by garden ramble in Pottsbury Farm's organic orchard. Turn on to Kauri Point Rd at the top of the first big hill north of Katikati, then turn left on to Ongare Point Road. The seminar will start at 11am, followed by a fielday after lunch (byo,- tea and coffee provided). Kay will conduct a walk around the Williams' organic orchard further expounding her ideas. There will also be a plant auction, so bring along any of those unusual plants you grew too many of and could not bear to throw out. The money raised will go towards expenses, plus there will be a $10 charge for non-members, who of course will be welcome. Further details further on in this newsletter. This will be a Telford Rural Polytechnic Seminar. Telford is the only rural polytech. Tree Crops members free entry. $10.00 per person non Tree Crops members. Contact: Eunice Smith |
December 2003
| When: | Sunday 14th December 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | 'Ecoworks', Gail and Les's place, Work Rd, Aongatete |
| What: | End of Year Celebration - BBQ Bring food to share at BBQ. Sausages provided. We plan to start meal early (4ish onwards) for distant members. Look around woodland plantings, orchard and regenerating native bush. Some trees quite rare in NZ. |
November 2003
| When: | Sat 15th November, 1 pm |
| Where: | Lambert Rd, Kawerau |
| What: | Walnuts/Chestnuts/Processing - The Frahms have mature plantings of walnuts and chestnuts. They harvest both crops and are the main exporters of fresh chestnuts. A prime example of no nonsense tree cropping. |
October 2003
| When: | Sunday 12 October 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | Naturally Native Nursery, 30 Gamman Mill Road, Oropi |
| What: | Mark and Esme Dean's Native Plant Nursery - Here is the chance to see the range of native plants available to revegetate that awkward to maintain corner of your block. Put a name to a plant and find out which ones are suitable for stream banks, gullies, steep slopes etc. Benefit from Mark's extensive experience in revegetation projects. |
September 2003
| When: | Saturday 20th September, 1 pm |
| Where: | "B. & B. Paradiso", Athenree Road, Athenree. |
| What: | Subtropicals - The Blok's grow Avocado, Feijoas, Bananas, Pears, Plums, Cherimoya, Sapote, Citrus, Apples, Pears, Plums and other things! on a lifestyle block by the water. We will also visit an Olive grove, producing their own olive oil, right next door to Blok's place, Rob and Pixie McLarnon's place. |
August 2003
| When: | Sunday 3 August 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | Taupata Street, Paengaroa |
| What: | Stovold's Macadamia Orchard |
July 2003
| When: | Sunday 20 July 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | CANCELLED |
| What: | ! |
June 2003
| When: | Sunday 22 June 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | Pahoia |
| What: | Pahoia Estate - the McCabe's Olive Grove |
| See the Full Review: members only - OLIVE OIL AWARD | |
| See the Abridged Review - Want to know more? Join us... |
May 2003
| When: | Saturday 10 May 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | Nick Nelson Parkers Cheddar Valley Trees |
| What: | The walnuts should be still dropping, and there are many other tree crop species, many of them over 20 years old. Wear strong footwear. |
April 2003
| When: | Sunday 6 April 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | van Rijen's, Beach Road, Katikati. |
| What: | Grapes, Citrus, Almonds etc. Theo and Pauline have a kiwifruit orchard and as well have a wide range of fruit trees around the house. Theo has many varieties of grapes growing both outdoor and indoor, see how these are organised to produce good crops. There are Almonds, a range of Citrus, Persimmon, Macadamia, Asparagus and more. Plenty of ideas for all year round fruit and nuts. Field day will be interesting and we might even get to taste a few grapes. |
March 2003
| When: | Sunday 23 March 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | Conlons Orchard, Golf Road, Murupara |
| What: | Tree cropping in a harsh climate Britta and Bernard have 25 acres of mainly pasture that they are slowly trying to convert using permaculture and organic principles. There is an orchard of about a hundred fruit trees, mostly heritage varieties, including apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and figs which they are managing organically. They have mixed shelter belt plantings of varying maturity (ranging between 5 and 1 years old) which include eucalyptus, cryptomeria, cedars, tagasaste, alders and ashes, as well as natives. They also keep chooks and ducks, have a pond planted up with natives and bamboo and have a few nut trees. |
2003 February
| When: | Sunday 9th February 2003 |
| Where: | Uretara Domain, Katikati |
| What: | Katikati hosts the International Axeman's Carnival! Includes Mens and Womens teams from USA! Sideshows, stalls, and a sales table by Katikati Treecroppers. |
| When: | Sunday 9th February 2003, 11am |
| Where: | Walford Road (off Work Road), Aongatete, Katikati |
| What: | Pecans & AGM at Jan & Murray Burt's The Burt's have 200 pecans planted, 50 of which are grafted , plus numerous other trees. Bring your own lunch to eat during the AGM, which will be kept to a minimum, to allow plenty of time to look at trees! |
2003 January - field day
| When: | Saturday 18th January 2003, 1 pm |
| Where: | Hallets Road, Edgecumbe. |
| What: | Plums at Glenn Sutton's They have about 15 varieties of plums and plumcots, managed as a commercial orchard. Glenn's place is 800 metres along Hallets Road, on right. Sign at the gate says "Red Haven Sutton and Sons", and the road frontage is lined with a golden cypress hedge. |
2002 December - field day
| When: | Sunday 6 December 2002, 1 pm |
| What: | 1/ Subtropical Fielday followed by 2/ end-of-year BBQ |
| Where: | 1/ Bridgeman Lane, Katikati 2/ Canon Road, Katikati |
| Bring: | - your own food and drink. The Raes will provide the cooking facilities. |
2002 November - field day
| When: | Saturday 2 November 2002, 1 pm |
| Where: | Stanley Road, near Ohope |
| What: | Stanley road turns off the Whakatane to Opotiki coast road, a quarter of an hour past Ohope. Greg's place is 2.4 kms up Stanley Rd. Look for a wooden fence and gate on the seaward side of the road. Bring good footwear and sunglasses! This is a life_style property in the true meaning of the word. If you can tear yourself away from the 6 acres of virgin bush and the view, you will see Greg's olive plantings and "heritage orchard", plus numerous other trees. Saturday 2nd November is the biggest day for the famous Ohope craft market, which you can browse on the way. Make a day of it - Christmas shopping in the morning, and then restore your sanity at Greg's place in the afternoon. |
2002 October - No official field day, but consider these:
(Wouldn't you know it - both on the same day...)
| When: | Saturday 19 October 2002, 12:30pm |
| Where: | 814 Allport Road, Paengaroa |
| What: | Field day at Brann's, with Sustainable Growers group The Sustainable Growers group (formerly Permaculture BOP group) will be meeting at Geoff and Jill Brann's. It should be an exciting and educational day. The property is large (240Ha), and has been in their ownership for 35 years, so this will be a great opportunity to see established plantings. Allegedly this property was permacultural before the phrase was known. Extensive pine, cypress and euc plantings with logging experiences; trials included Douglas fir, various eucs...; wonderful stands of redwoods, native rehab areas, ongoing plantings - and advice on everything from weed control to farm trusts, if we are lucky. A tree-cropper's eye-popper. |
| When: | Saturday 19 October 2002, 10:30am |
| Where: | 335 Lees Rd, Hahei, Coromandel |
| What: | Cathedral Cove Macadamias field/open day From 10.30 am: Morning tea provided, and bring a picnic lunch to be enjoyed on the orchard or picnic by the sea, two minutes further on down Lees Rd. Orchard History: We have a 16 acre property with 1,000 macadamia nut trees, and also have over 80 citrus trees, an orchard with many varieties of fruit trees, vegetable gardens, wild turkeys, peacocks, quail, bees, sometimes sheep and free-range chooks, set amongst a picturesque pond and lots of native bush. We have just finished picking the macadamias and have 6 ton of nuts drying ready for cracking. We have also pruned, mulched and fertilised and the trees are in full blossom for next years crop. It is a wonderful time of year!!! We will also be hosting experts from the industry and Macadamia Society. So come and join in, on giving and sharing of ideas, so that we can grow together, to make the New Zealand Macadamias a unique product. Bring along any of your friends or family and have a fun day out. Look forward to seeing you. The Pilkington Family |
2002 September - Everything Organic
| When: | Sunday 22 September 2002, 1 pm |
| Where: | Old Coach Rd, Pongakawa 20 minutes south of Te Puke off the highway to Whakatane. Go past the Pukehina Beach Rd turn off and take the next right, Pukehina Station Road, over a black concrete bridge. 3 km on, take the first right into old Coach Road; Graeme's place is on the right, No 1494, has a Bio Gro sign by the entrance. |
| What: | The property is Bio Gro certified. He has a new block of tamarillos and passionfruit, established table grapes in a greenhouse, herbs growing under a cover of pawlownia, certified organic nursery growing to order, vermicast production and seaweed fertiliser products and is planning to produce compost teas for commercial production. |
2002 August - field day
| When: | Sunday 18 August, 1 pm |
| Where: | Crawford Road, R.D.1 Tauranga. |
| What: | We grow chestnuts - 1000 trees are 8 years old; macadamia - 500 are 7 years old; walnuts - 100 mostly three years old; avocados - 40 mature 80 new; cherimoya - 200 are 7 years old; also a few of every thing else, ie olives, almonds, hazel nuts, citrus, feijoas, quince, for home consumption. |
2002 July - field day
| When: | Sunday 14 July, 1 pm |
| Where: | Brawn's, Maketu Road, Te Puke |
| What: |
Chestnut trees which have all been pruned after comments at the Collicot's. Clear up is still in progress (the pruning was the quick, easy part!!). A new fence in progress so we can graze pigs under the chestnuts. Mandarins - two types, one in season now and easy to peel and one that's finished its season. We also have lots of mature trees including natives in what we call our Park. |
2002 June - Heritage Apple Trees - field day, tree auction
| When: | Sunday 9 June 2002, 1 pm |
| Where: | Tauranga |
| What: |
Lynette has a variety of trees including almonds, hazelnuts, and chestnuts, but her main interest at the moment is a collection of 29 heritage apple trees. See also miniature Dexter cattle which she is breeding up to pure-bred Dexters. Tree Auctions - Winter is the best time for tree planting, which means it is also the best time to have tree auctions at fieldays. So how about having one at the June fielday. They are a lot of fun, a good way to get hold of unusual plants, and raise money for the branch. So bring along those spare plants you have grown, and donate them to the tree auction. |
| See a review of this event: |
2002 May - An Author's Dream - field day
| When: | Sunday 12 May 2002, 1pm |
| Where: | Pahoia |
| What: |
60 acres and 4 lakes on a country block with kiwifruit and avocados. It has six different specialty timber tree crops, and ornamental plantings for birds and wildlife around the lakes. There are bush walks and an organic home orchard. Wear suitable footwear. Our special author will show us what she wrote about in her new book - see our February 'Te Tipuranga' newsletter. Featured in 'Growing Today' magazine! Jan's book on her experiences in developing this property will be available for purchase on the day. |
| See a review of this event: |
2002 April - Pioneers of Chestnuts - field day
| When: | Sunday 14 April 2002, 1 pm |
| Where: | Whakatane |
| What: |
The property is 20 acres on free draining, fossilised sand dunes. It is ex
dairy land and had zero trees on it when they moved on in 1987. They have
chestnuts (sativas), pigs, dairy beef, and a few other things happening on
the block. They are selling a chestnut and herb spread in the local
supermarkets. They try to grow with minimal inputs of labour, fertiliser
and no chemicals on the farm. Their philosophy is variety, and what grows
best is grown. The Collicots are among the original pioneers of the New Zealand chestnut industry. They have thought it through for themselves, and have come up with a different approach that works. They are among the few that are still in the industry and harvesting their nuts. Their website is well worth a look. |
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See Earlier Field Days...
About Us
The Bay of Plenty - plenty what? Plenty fast weed growth, you may soon observe. But Captain James Cook a few centuries ago noticed the area's growth was lush. Much more so than the drier regions he had just sailed from, beyond East Cape.
The BoP environment varies significantly; from sunny warm coastal areas, tending humid and cloudier closer to the hills, through to somewhat harsher more elevated inland conditions. The hilly topography forms many micro-climates, which tend to make a mockery of international climatic zoning.
The relatively-recent volcanic soils on most areas have developed only a thin topsoil; thus natural ground fertility is often referred to as being "nutrient-free".
See also the old Bay of Plenty Branch WEB SITE - 'a longer internet presence'