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All Membership Enquiries - see Joining information
Field Days & Meetings
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!
Typical Events
This sample of events is typical of what you can attend to learn about tree cropping.
Events are announced by your local branch newsletter, included in your membership fee.
Organisers and Editors please note -
Events will be outlined in Activities - Nationwide if newsletters are posted in good time.
We regret that event details won't make it here unless emailed in advance to the web site maintainer.
Branch Meetings: 4th Tuesday each month except December & January, at the Auckland Horticultural Centre, 990 Great North Road, Western Springs.
Cup of tea or coffee at 7:15pm before meeting commences at 7:30pm
Friends and visitors always welcome. |
| Meetings and Field Trips - refer to Activities - Nationwide |
March 2004
| When: | Tuesday 23 March 2004 at 7.15pm |
| Where: | see Branch Meetings above |
| What: | AGM and Kay Baxter. Kay needs no introduction as a pioneer in collecting heritage species of fruit trees and seeds and saving them from loss due to land development. Kay will talk on some aspects of her work but the topics will be chosen on the night from what the audience wants to hear. |
April 2003
| When: | Tuesday 22 April 2003 at 7.30pm |
| Where: | Horticultural Centre, Great North Road |
| What: | Meeting
Wade Connell will talk on the integration of forestry with treecrops. Wade is an expert forester as those who have visited
his property will testify. He is also very interested in treecrops and is one of our members. |
| When: | Sunday 13 April 2003 at 1.30pm, or noon with lunch |
| Where: | Quintal Road, Matakana |
| What: | Field day
The Dawsons' are growing olives (20 varieties) and are pressing and bottling
their own oil (around 40 litres last year) under the Jayshill brand. If
members are interested, they may do a demonstration olive pressing. They
also have an olive propagation unit and are about to graft their own trees.
There are a number of other fruit trees on the property. For those who
wish, we can meet for lunch (BYO) at around 12 noon. BBQ facilities, tea
and coffee will be available. The tour proper will start at 1.30 pm. If
damp bring gumboots.
Directions. At Warkworth turn off onto the Leigh/Matakana road. Go through
Matakana and Quintal Rd is on the right after crossing a little bridge, 2 km
past the Omaha turnoff (3.5 km from Matakana). The Dawsons are 0.5 km up
the road - property signposted with their name and Jayshill Olives.
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March 2002
| When: | Saturday 22 March 2003 at 1.30pm |
| Where: | Matua Valley Winery at Waimauku |
| What: | Field day - Mr Bill
Abercromby, one of our members, is the head gardener there and will describe the
ideas behind arrangements while we view the results. There will also be a tour
of the winery which will be in full production mode. The restaurant, Hunter's
Lodge is attached to the winery so those that want to make a full day of it
could eat there in the evening (or at a number of other restaurants in the
area).
Matua Valley is signposted from Highway 16 at Waimauku. Coming from
Auckland, turn right and pass through Waimauku village and over Kumeu river into
Waikaukau Valley Rd. Matua Valley is on the left just before you reach Old
North Rd (a T intersection). From the North go down Peak Rd and turn left into
Old North Rd. The vineyards are about 2 km down this road. |
| When: | Saturday & Sunday 8-9th March 2003, 9am
- 4.30pm |
| Where: | Kumeu Show |
| What: | Publicity Stall - one of the countries biggest A&P shows. We will
be highlighting the activities of the branch and the NZTCA; and selling some of
the trees grafted at our grafting field day last year and anything else we can
get our hands on. Some donations have come in and more promised. We will even
consider selling your stuff on commission.
Come and help, either on the
Saturday or Sunday or with making up the displays beforehand. Please let one of
the committee know at what times you could help. |
February 2003
| When: | Tuesday 25 February 2003 at 7.30pm |
| Where: | Horticultural Centre, Great North Road |
| What: | Meeting - Viv Milne will talk on running a small organic orchard. If you are thinking of trying to make a living from your block this will be invaluable.
Viv and Nancy have been through the whole works from paying off a mortgage on a block and setting up an orchard from scratch. |
| When: | Sunday 2nd February 2003, midday onwards |
| Where: | Keith and Marita's place at 497 Tara Road, Mangawai |
| What: | Field trip - All roads lead to Mangawhai!... Part III
Social get together & barbeque (BYO). Chestnuts plus a collection of all sorts for those who are interested. Swimming at Mangawai Heads or in the estuary (or in the river!) for those who are hot. Children & dogs welcome. From Mangawhai Village head towards Kaiwaka. Tara road is on the right approx 700m from the village. 497 is 5k along Tara road on the left (last 2k unsealed). Beware long driveway - don't leave your car on the road!
NB. Mangawhai village is approximately 4k south of Mangawhai Heads.
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January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
| When: | Tuesday 26 November 2002 at 7:30pm |
| Where: | Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd. |
| What: | Meeting - End of year pot luck dinner.
Chris Lovegrove will give us a short talk on home brewing/wine making after dinner. Chris plans to meld his brewing/vinting with tree crops on a small block of land on the Kaipara Harbour past Kaiwaka. Last meeting of the year so cook up your favourite tree crop recipe and come along for a social night out. Refreshments provided, BYO homebrew! |
| When: | Sunday 24 November 2002, 10am |
| Where: | Jaraho Gardens at Mangawai |
| What: | Field trip - All roads lead to Mangawhai!... Part II
Is it possible to get meaningful returns from a small block? Jan and Ray Holland are doing their best to find out on their property just outside Mangawhai. From Proteas to hydroponics, from citrus to bananas, plus a range of other crops. The results they have achieved in just a few years are quite amazing. Travelling from Mangawhai Village towards Kaiwaka, Jaraho Gardens is on the right approximately 2k from Mangawhai. Park on side of road.
NB. Mangawhai village is approximately 4km south of Mangawhai Heads.
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| When: | Saturday 16 November 2002, from 10.00am |
| Where: | Mangawhai Recreation Centre, Insley Street. On right, 200m from village centre towards Te Hana. |
| What: | Field trip - All roads lead to Mangawhai!... Part I
Oliveti Northland Incorporated has an annual Trade Day where actual and potential olive growers can visit the stands of exhibitors/merchants selling trees, fertilisers, plantation vehicles, spray gear, pruning gear, harvest gear, books - you name it: there will be about 40 exhibitors and we expect about 300 to 400 visitors on the day. |
October 2002
| When: | Tuesday 22 October 2002 at 7:30pm |
| Where: | Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd. |
| What: | Meeting - Ian Gordon on cherimoyas, there are some new varieties out there. |
| When: | Sunday 6 October 2002 at 10am |
| Where: | Old North Rd, Helensville (half way between Waimauku and Helensville) |
| What: | Field day - Meet at the Lees to learn techniques for grafting of fruit and nut trees.
We will have the experts on hand to guide us (and to apply bandaids for when the knives slip?). We have a supply of scion wood and we are hoping to get some rootstacks to practice on. You are welcome to bring along any material of your own, be it scion wood or rootstacks Bring a sharp craft knife or similar if possible. Hot drinks available, BYO lunch or bring something to share.
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September 2002
| When: | Tuesday 24 September 2002 at 7:30pm |
| Where: | Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd. |
| What: | Meeting - Mr Murray Faulkner of Albany Nurseries will talk on shelter belts and native trees. Maybe some of his trees for sale as well.
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August 2002
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When:
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Tuesday August 27th 2002 at 7.30pm
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Where:
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Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd.
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What:
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Meeting -
Mr Lanigan from Occupational Health and Safety will discuss
issues involving keeping workers and visitors safe on your properties and
your responsibilities for them. There will also be a display by commercial
firm(s) of tools and other equipment used for treecropping activities.
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July 2002
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When:
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Sunday July 14th, 1pm
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Where:
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Top Notch Macadamia orchard and café at Patetonga
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What:
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Field day - To a macadamia orchard and factory in Patetonga.
The orchard is ½ km down Top Rd and has high density
blocks of macadamias, including Beaumonts as well as the newer dropping
varieties of A4 and A16. Sheep are allowed to graze under the trees to cut
down on mowing costs. The orchard also has chestnuts and hazels. There
should also be a video on another macadamia orchard at Glenbrook. A $7
charge (cash, no EFTPOS machine available) has been requested which will
include tea/coffee and macadamia goodies.
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When:
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Tuesday July 23rd 2002 at 7.30pm
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Where:
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Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd.
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What:
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Meeting -
Dr. John Clearwater. "Helping our little friends". John is an
independent consultant, mainly to the organic fruit growing industry, and
has advised on biological control strategies to the grape, pipfruit and
kiwifruit industries. He is an expert on pheromone control methods for
insect pests and has been involved in identifying the pheromones in the
painted apple moth, of Auckland notoriety.
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June 2002
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When:
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Saturday June 22nd
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Where:
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Brown´s place, at 86 Pipitiwai Drive, Helensville
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What:
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Field day - Hands on demonstration of pruning techniques by Reg Lewthwaite.
Reg is a lecturer at
Unitech and a previous MAF advisor to the apple growers. He talked to us
last year on pruning techniques, which are at variance with much of the
traditional ones we are used to. Come and get your hands dirty and get
first hand experience of these pruning methods. Bring loppers and saws,
(secateurs also if you want but these will be confiscated!). These
techniques have led to markedly increased crop yields. $2 donation to
defray Reg's expenses.
If time, continuing at the Lees, 1274 Old North Rd, Waimauku.
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When:
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Tues 25 June 2002 at 7.30pm
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Where:
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Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd.
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What:
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Meeting -
Dr Ross Ferguson on kiwifruit. Dr Ferguson is with Hort
Research at Mt Albert were one of his main projects has been on the
nutrition of kiwifruit. His talk will also deal with nutrition of fruit
trees. This meeting will also be our annual midwinter supper, so please
come with a plate of something edible, preferably with a fruit or nut
ingredient. I have been promised some fruit trees for sale at this meeting
so plenty of interest for everyone.
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May 2002
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When:
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Tues 28 May 2002 at 7.30pm
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Where:
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Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd.
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What:
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Meeting - Bernard King.
Bernard runs a small exotic tree nursery in
Northcote from which many of you will have purchased trees (unwittingly
perhaps) at our monthly meetings. He has recently been to Tonga on the
lookout for unusual plant material. There will be trees for sale from his
nursery at this meeting.
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April 2002
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When:
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Tues 23 April 2002 at 7.30pm
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Where:
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Auckland Horticultural Centre 990 Great North Rd.
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What:
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Richard Barge will talk on hemp growing in NZ. He is one of the
authorized growers and will be able to tell us about the pros and cons of
hemp growing - is it suitable as a cash crop for treecroppers before fruit
production comes on line?
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About Us
The Northern Region Branch of New Zealand Tree Crops Association covers the region from greater Auckland north to Cape Reinga.
Meetings: 4th Tuesday each month (February to November) 7.30 pm Auckland
Horticultural Centre, 990 Great North Rd.
http://www.treecrops.org.nz/bracts/bract04/bract04nor.html
Created: 22 Feb 2002 - Updated: 2008 July 11
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