* 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!
Newsletter Editors and compilers - Important note:
[Go to Current Events]
2006 Branch Events and Earlier - Archive
2006 November
- When:
- Sun 26, 9am
- What:
- Green Woodworking Day in Upper Hutt - hosts Eric & Annette
- Where:
- Mangaroa Valley Road, Upper Hutt - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Field day -
Activities
Following on from some popular workshops at Forest Lakes (with Tom Prince and Warren Baillie), this is the first of 3 or so events per year planned to support a green woodworkers group. At this stage, the intention is for the group to operate under the umbrella of the Wellington Woodworkers Guild, but to extend invitations to other interested people including TCA and FFA members. Trevor Byron, Eric and Jack Fry ran a stand at the September Woodcraft show.
As this group is just starting off, participants will construct basic equipment such as pole lathes and shaving horses that can be used at future meetings. If you want to use material provided by Eric, what you build will need to be available to future workshops (but you get to store it). If you bring your own construction materials, there are no obligations.
We have a good amount of rustic construction materials to build shaving horses, but would need to buy in some supplies for pole lathes.
Please register your interest (and preferred project) with Eric as soon as possible. For reasons of safety and working space, numbers are limited. There will be limited equipment and facilities for making other things on the day. Lots of poplar, willow and eucalypt is on site for spindle turning, spoon or bowl carving.
Other workshop facilities such as a bench saw, drill press and lathe will be available for use under supervision.
Health and safety
The hand tools are sharp so closed-in sturdy footwear is mandatory. Power tool access, if required, will be supervised. Safety glasses are needed for power tool operations.
Catering
Hot drinks and light snacks provided. Bring your own lunch.
Wet weather options
Some covered space available, depending on the wind direction. The event will be held wet or fine.
Observers are welcome, but you may have to self-guide around the property if you want to check out the arboretum, woodlots or orchards. If you have your own draw knives or turning gouges, please bring them.
Organiser: Eric Cairns
Eric's pole lathe demonstration at Woodcraft mid September prompted an invitation to attend the Rudolph Steiner School fair in November. The interest shown by our members in green woodworking last year has prompted Eric to plan a green woodworking weekend for late November.
Eric and Trevor are now both members of the Wellington Woodworkers Guild and intend to operate a green woodworking group under that umbrella. The first workshop would involve projects making shaving horses, lathes, brakes, benches and other specialist equipment. Tree Crops members and their friends are invited to take part. Later workshops will be held to explore specific projects on chair making, tool making, spoon carving and similar. A lot of our members have wood suitable for green woodworking, and enjoy mastering the skills needed in making things for themselves.
What is green woodworking?
Prior to World War II, wood workers in many countries utilised hewn green wood for chair making, household equipment such as buckets and barrels, spoons, clothes pegs and baskets. These crafts had evolved from traditions going back thousands of years. They utilised simple metal and wooden hand tools. Modern machinery, new materials and mass production have largely displaced these ancient traditions. In parts of Asia, electric machinery is expensive and woodworking is still largely done using hand tools and traditional methods.
Today most woodworkers start with sawn and seasoned timber and use power tools. Green woodworking uses rived green timber, which is easier to work and shape using simple hand tools. It is a lot stronger and can be split in a way that enables it to season without cracking. However, often the component parts of items are dried before assembling.
The traditions of coppice management of deciduous hardwoods in Britain and Europe are complimentary to craft industries utilising the produce. Coppiced woodlots yield large amounts of small diameter wood, although longer rotations can be used to produce larger piece sizes. The British Windsor chair industry relied on beech and elm from these managed woodlots. The Quakers took that tradition to North America, and today there is renewed interest in the simple functional Shaker furniture and Windsor chairs.
- When:
- Sunday 5 November
- What:
- Walnut Workshop in Wairarapa
- Where:
- Norfolk Road, Carterton - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Field day - A visit has been arranged with the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay and Central Districts Branches to visit the walnut orchard of Ad & Alma. This orchard is part of the National NZTCA Walnut Trial. In early November there still should be a few flowers left on the trees, and by then the fruit set should be evident.
Walnut workshops are a relatively rare event locally, so if you know of local walnut growers who are not Tree Crops members, please invite them to this day.
Ad and Alma have recently made submissions to the Carterton District Council relating to applications for rural subdivision below the presently permitted minimum zone size. An excerpt from a letter that NZTCA wrote to council pointing out the importance of our national walnut trial follows.
This is an opportunity for walnut growers (and would be growers) to meet and discuss the latest developments in this exciting industry. Speakers at the field day will include our host Ad, Wally Dyson (who helped set up the trial) and Dianna Loader (nut grower and immediate Past President). Organiser: Eric Cairns.“This trial was set up in 1998, but is only now just starting to bear a crop. The trial, within a larger production block of walnuts, comprises 16 varieties. Some of the best American and European cultivars are being tested against New Zealand selections for their quality, productivity and growth rates. Very little is known about some of the new selections.
This trial is the only one of its type remaining in the North Island, and the only one with this range of cultivars. Previous trials set up by DSIR/HortResearch have been destroyed before useful information could be obtained. The older Canterbury trials cover a different range of cultivars and are in a significantly different climate zone. NZTCA (and associated Southern Nut Growers) are the only research group working with walnuts in New Zealand.
The nature of the crop is such that the trial needs to be long term, and useful research information could be obtained for at least another 10 years and possibly much longer. A walnut orchard could be productive for over 100 years.
The Wairarapa has been identified as having a very good climate and well-drained soils that would support walnut production. A successful trial here would inevitably lead to larger scale production. This would be a good land use for the region because it is environmentally friendly (minimal use of pesticides and fungicides) and once established, needs little irrigation. Walnuts are regarded as high health food and there is a significant shortage of supply locally and in the southern hemisphere.
Whilst walnuts are a moderately high value crop, they still need economies of scale, and long-term land tenure. It is unlikely that a walnut industry could compete against urban land prices. The industry scale sits comfortably with minimum subdivision areas of 3-4ha or larger.
We would ask that Council acknowledge the importance of establishing new horticultural industries such as this in your region and hope that Council land-use policies will support this type of innovation.”
Walnuts - A Health Food
The walnut is an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a special type of protective fat the body cannot manufacture. Walnuts' concentration of omega-3s (a quarter-cup provides 90.8% of the daily value for these essential fats) has many potential health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, to the promotion of better cognitive function, to anti-inflammatory benefits helpful in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anti-cancer properties.
Walnuts are a also very good source of manganese and a good source of copper, two minerals that are essential cofactors in a number of enzymes important in antioxidant defences.
Types
While there are numerous species of walnut trees, three of the main types of walnuts consumed are the English (or Persian) walnut, Juglans regia; the Black walnut, Juglans nigra; and the White (or butternut) walnut, Juglans cinerea. The English walnut is the most popular type in the United States and features a thinner shell that is easily broken with a nutcracker. The Black walnut has thicker shells that are harder to crack and a much more pungent distinctive flavour. The White walnut features a sweeter and oilier taste than the other two types, although it is not as widely available and therefore may be more difficult to find in the marketplace.
History
While walnut trees have been cultivated for thousands of years, the different types have varying origins. The English walnut originated in India and the regions surrounding the Caspian Sea, hence it is known also as the Persian walnut. In the 4th century AD, the ancient Romans introduced the walnut into many European countries where it has been grown since. Throughout its history, the walnut tree has been highly revered; not only does it have a life span that is several times that of humans, but its uses include, but are not limited to, food, medicine, shelter, dye and lamp oil. It is thought that the walnuts grown in North America gained the moniker “English walnuts”, since they were introduced into America via English merchant ships.
Black walnuts and white walnuts are native to North America, specifically the Central Mississippi Valley and Appalachian area. They played an important role in the diets and lifestyles of both the Native American Indians and the early colonial settlers. Today, the leading commercial producers of walnuts are the United States, Turkey, China, Iran, France and Romania.
If you would like to know more about the health benefits of walnuts check out the American web site
www.whfoods.com
These two New Zealand sites have information on the benefits of nuts in general
www.vegan.org.nz
www.diabetes.org.nz
2006 October
- When:
- Saturday 14 October 2006, 1:30 pm
- What:
- Bees and Heirloom Fruit Trees in Levin
- Where:
- Whelans Road - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Field day -
Mike grows lots of heirloom plum and apple varieties plus a wide range of soft fruits. Frances is a beekeeper so this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about these fascinating and very necessary insects. Both Mike and Frances are experts in their fields and very generous about passing on their knowledge and expertise. Their property is run on organic lines.
Mike and Frances are members of the Central Districts branch of NZTCA. This field day has been organised by the group Farmers Unlimited Incorporated and we have been invited to join in.
From SH 1 just south of the main town centre of Levin turn West into Hokio Beach Road. From Hokio Beach Road take the second left turning into CD Farm Road, then first right into Whelans Road. Mike and Frances' place is about half way down. Please park on the roadside.
2006 August
- What:
- A bulb farm in Levin
- When:
- Sunday 27 August 2006, from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm (10.15 am for a cuppa)
- Where:
- Wallace Loop Road - will be signs posted.
- Details:
-
Field day -
Our second outing in August is just after Daffodil Day. One of the growing sites for the spring blooms is Wilf Hall's bulb farm in Levin. Wilf is a bulb breeder who shows his flowers and judges shows around New Zealand. Come along and listen to a talk by an expert on the 13 different types of daffodils, and how to spot their differences. Wilf is very knowledgeable about breeding techniques and is developing some new hybrid varieties. He also has quite an extensive orchard where he grows an interesting collection of plum trees and heritage apples.
Wallace Road runs off SH 57 opposite the Ihakara Hall just north of Levin. Turn east into Wallace Road (there are turning lanes at the intersection) and drive along Wallace Road to a one-lane bridge. Shortly after the bridge turn left into Wallace Loop run and go up the hill. The property is just over 1 km up the road, after some new cattle yards. There is a Leyland Cypress hedge in front of the house. There is some parking round the house (use the letterbox entrance) but limited parking on the roadside. If the ground isn't too soggy, park on the lawn immediately past the cattle yards. The day will be held wet or fine - we tree croppers are a tough lot!
There'll be a cuppa at 10.15 am, and Wilf will start his talk at 10.30 am. Bring your lunch and a mug, drinks provided. Friends and family welcome - especially those friends who are keen gardeners. Gumboots would be advisable, whatever the weather.
Report on Daffodil Field Day 27 August
The day was fine and almost 30 members visited the thousands of daffodils at Wilf Hall's place in Levin.
Although many flowers had been picked the previous week for the Cancer Society appeal the masses still in the beds and the sheer number of different varieties were a sight to see.
Wilf was a great host and his talk was really informative and interesting.
Varieties of daffodils come in 13 different categories, which are all very clearly defined. For a list of the categories with diagrams and specifications check out the web site for The Royal Horticultural Society System of Classification:
www.stldaffodilclub.org/hortclass.htm
The wide range of colours now available as well as the many different shapes was an eye-opener.
Much to the surprise of many of us all of the flowers we have thought of as jonquils are in fact daffodils. Jonquils are very small insignificant flowers with round leaves like reeds, and not at all common in flower shops and gardens.
The tricks of the trade in competitive daffodil showing and judging as explained by Wilf were entertaining. It was good to hear of his successes at the Otaki Daffodil Show the following weekend.
Here is a quote from Jennifer Hutson on the visit:
“The main reason I keep going to Tree Crops Field days is to experience the enthusiasm of all who both attend and who offer to host the day on their property. We are all just following our hobby but there is an optimism about planting trees or grafting different varieties whether for fruit or ornament. Wilf Hall described his "Eureka" day when his unique daffodil flowered. How privileged we were to hear him talk about it.”
Whole hearted agreement from Carol Dixon, pictured right with Wilf.
Isomate Pheromone Mating Disrupters
Isomate mating disruption dispensers are an environmentally friendly method of insect pest management for use in organic and integrated orchards. In New Zealand these are mainly used against Codlin Moth in apple orchards, and for Oriental Fruit Moth control in summer fruit crops. They can also be used against Light Brown Apple Moth a leaf roller pest of most fruit crops.
Isomate pheromone mating disrupters are a controlled release formulation containing a synthetic pheromone that is chemically identical to the natural pheromone of the insect pest.
Each dispenser consists of a twist tie with two parallel joined plastic tubes. One tube contains a wire to provide stiffness; the other is filled with pheromone and sealed.
How do they work?
Male and female moths find each other through a chemical “perfume”, or sex pheromone released by the female. The pheromone for each species is a distinct blend of chemicals. Each Isomate dispenser releases pheromone at a rate 10 000 times higher than a female moth.
Dispensers work in two ways:
Firstly - by overloading the male's antennal receptors so its brain no longer responds to signals, though the male moth's antennae quickly recover once outside the mating disruption area.
Secondly - by having many disrupters in the orchard a “pheromone fog” is produced and males have no clearly defined chemical trails to follow to find females.
Placing disrupters
For best results disrupters need to be put in apple trees just before the first moths emerge, usually just before full bloom. Bend the dispenser round each branch and twist once to loosely attach it. Don't fasten twisty too tightly or you will damage the branch. Place each disrupter round a branch in the top 20% of the tree. Use one per tree if trees are widely spaced. If trees are closer together use approximately one for each 10 square metres. Placing the dispenser on the shadier side of trees helps prevent the pheromone evaporating two quickly and will extend the effective life of the disrupter. If your site is windy space more closely, and put on exposed sides of trees.
A supplier of Isomate pheromone mating disrupters in our area is Suzanne Tomkies.
- What:
- Field day and plant auction at Otaki
- When:
- Sunday 6 August
- Where:
- Otaki Gorge Road - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Carla and Andy have agreed to host a field day and plant auction for us on their Otaki Gorge Road property.
Carla and Andy have been there for 7 years and have just harvested their first walnut crop. They also have olives (frantoio), almonds, hazel and macadamia nuts.
For the plant auction, please bring plants or produce that you think is saleable. Either donate proceeds to branch Research and Development funds or pay a commission on sales. This is usually a chance to obtain collectables that are hard to source form mainstream commercial outlets - for example heritage varieties of fruit trees.
Arthur Hall will be our auctioneer, and if past auctions are anything to go by the day will be loads of fun and a chance to pick up some unusual bargains.
Meet at 11.00 am. Tour their 4.86 hectare (12 acre) property then have lunch. The auction will start at 1.00 pm. Bring your own food and a mug, Drinks will be provided. Friends and families welcome.
Report on Tree Auction and Field Day at Boags
In spite of the relentless rain we had a good turn out of over 50 hardy souls for the field day and plant auction on Sunday 6 August. Andy and Carla's attractive property is flat and planted with olives, almonds and walnuts, all quite young trees. It was too wet to take the long tour, or to have practical pruning demonstrations - too many mould spores in the air - but we did get some expert advice on how to prune walnuts and almonds for wind resistance and fruit yield.
Those who did come were delighted with the excellent selection of trees, both fruit trees and ornamentals, plants, cuttings and seeds for sale, including many unusual varieties. Thanks to all those who came and made the day a success, especially those who so generously donated material for sale, providing all the great bargains on offer. The branch uses the profits from the yearly auction for research and development, from which we all benefit.
Special thanks to our hosts, their large dry tractor shed was much appreciated.
2006 June
- What:
- Mid-winter pot luck dinner
- When:
- Saturday 24 June 2006, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
- Where:
- Matai Road, Raumati
- Hosts:
- Your committee
- Details:
- We are holding a pot-luck dinner this year as our June event. So come along bringing some food to share. If your surname is in the A-L half of this list savoury dishes, if your surname is in the M-Z group something for afters please. There will be charge of $5.00 per person to cover the hall and heating costs. Wally is keen to talk to us (health permitting) about livestock and trees on farms. No doubt we will hear about his "self shearing sheep" (Wiltshire) and Dexter cattle. Wally is an expert in both livestock and trees. In the event that Wally's health is not good enough, Eric will present his talk to National Conference on Integrated Use of Trees on Farms (slide show), or some of the fig conference presentations. It's a good chance to socialise with other members and mark the passing of the shortest day. Crockery, cutlery and drinks provided. Friends and family welcome.
Our Mid-winter Dinner and Social Evening
We held this on 24 June in Raumati. It was a highly successful evening thoroughly enjoyed by the fifty or so people who braved the cold weather to come. The food was marvellous, lots of varied dishes many of them from our own produce. The mulled wine was warming and delicious. Special thanks to Jennifer, both Annettes, Irene and the rest of the committee who worked so hard to make the evening a success.
It was a great chance to get to know members better. Often at field days there is a lot to do and see and we don't always get the chance to socialise.
Wally Dyson did a sterling job as the after dinner speaker. He was informative and very entertaining. I know that from now on I'll think of Wally and remember his special inflection on the word “interesting” as he recalled incidents from his long and varied career.
Wally was at the leading edge of technological advances in animal breeding and importing stock for new ventures in New Zealand during his years at Flock House. He managed the Horticultural Research Centre at Levin during a crucial phase in its development enabling it to make huge contributions to the market gardening and soft fruit growing industries.
He had the knack of cutting through bureaucratic red tape (and occasionally electrical and telephone cables) to get the job done.
In Wally's experience many of the animals imported into New Zealand have not done particularly well here. Some sheep and goat breeds, especially those from South Africa, have trouble with their feet in our wetter climate. Some of the goat breeds he described as “a disaster waiting to happen”, and suggested helpfully that “putting them in a supermarket trolley and wheeling them round” would save a lot of problems.
Our branch is lucky to have in Wally such a valuable source of information and expertise, and one who is so willing to share the results of his knowledge. If you are interested in finding out more about his breeding techniques for his “self shearing” Wiltshire sheep, or the small Dexter cattle breed, contact Wally. These are ideal animals for small block owners.
The anecdotes about Wally's experiences in Australia were hilarious - ask him about the parrot some time!
Our sincere thanks Wally for your contribution to our evening. It was much appreciated.
WALLY'S BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Some books that Wally has found invaluable resources over the years.
Trees for the New Zealand Countryside - a Planter's Guide
John and Bunny Mortimer
Taitua Books, Hamilton, New Zealand 1984. Reprinted 1987, 1990, 1993
IBSN 0-908706-00-6
The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping - home landscaping with food bearing plants and resource-saving techniques
Rosalind Creasy
Sierra Club Books, San Francisco. 1982
IBSN 0-87156-249-9
Out of print - try Touchwood Books
Home Fruit Growing In New Zealand
Dale Williams
Government Print, Wellington New Zealand 1985
IBSN 0-477-01321-X
Successful Small Farming
Malcolm Blackie
Methuen, New Zealand 1981
SBN 456 028501
Homesteading - a practical guide to living off the land
Patricia Crawford
Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc New York 1975
IBSN 0-02-528790-2
Keeping Livestock Healthy - a veterinary guide
N Bruce Haynes, D.V.M.
Zgarden Way Publishing, Charlotte, Vermont 1978
IBSN 0-88266-135-3
Animal Nutrition
P McDonald, R A Edwards and J F D Greenhalgh
Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, 1966. Some reprints since
IBSN 05 002133 8
The New Zealand Farmer's Veterinary Guide
Authors - a team of New Zealand Veterinary Surgeons
The New Zealand Dairy Exporter, Wellington. Various reprints
Predict Weather - almanac and isobaric maps 2006
Ken Ring
Random House 2005
ISBN 1-86941-739-9
Recipe for Mulled Wine served at the social evening - it's yummy!
For each bottle of red wine you need
A cinnamon stick
A few whole cloves
One cup (250 ml) of water
Half a cup of sugar
Slices of oranges and lemons
Put all ingredients except the wine into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the bottle of wine and heat for about ten minutes to let the flavours fuse. Try to avoid boiling the brew. A cheap red wine form the supermarket is
fine such as something spicy like a Shiraz.
Ancient and valuable trees
Recently I was given a tube of aromatic body lotion made in Italy. It was perfumed with an intense and enduring fragrance I had not come across before. The Italian information listed the perfume as Mirra, which translates to Myrrh, of Biblical fame. Both Myrrh, Commiphora guidotii, and Frankincense Boswellia papyrifer, were two of the most valuable commodities which travelled along the ancient Incense Road. Many modern historians agree that the valuable resins called “tears” were harvested in the then fertile lands on the southern shores of the Arabian peninsula and transported westward to the Gulf of Aden. The immense caravans, made possible by the domestication of the one humped camel around 5000 years ago and carrying all kinds of aromatics, spices and trade goods, travelled up through the mountains and along the western seaboard of the Arabian Peninsula to the Gulf of Aqaba. There the traffic split with routes going to Egypt and to the ancient cities of Gaza and Jerusalem. Another branch took perfumes and spices eastward towards India.
Today the Commiphora species of small evergreen trees and shrubs grow mostly in Africa and the Middle East and are still known primarily for their aromatic oils and medicinal uses. The Myrrh from the ancient world is most likely to have been Commiphora guidotii, or Commiphora myrrha. It was considered a gift to the gods and was used for perfumes, incense and as an aphrodisiac. It has long been a component in cosmetics and was essential ingredient in the Ancient Egyptian mummification process. Myrrh is mentioned in The Song of Songs and is forever associated with Solomon and Sheba, as well as being one of the gifts of the Magi.
Commiphora guidotii is a small tree with large sharp spines and resin packed with fungicides and bactericides to deter grazing animals. It has been a valuable tree crop for many thousands of years. Humans gash the stems and harvest the dried beads of resin, the “tears”, which ooze from the cuts. The tree does not grow easily from seed or under cultivation in the impoverished soils of Ethiopia and Somalia today. Much of the land where the best wild trees have traditionally been found has been cleared for stock grazing, and the wood harvested for fuel. Wild stocks are diminishing. The powdered resin, taken internally, is extensively used in Ethiopia and Eritrea as a medicinal treatment for diarrhoea. External use is widespread as an antiseptic lotion in the region. Small quantities of Myrrh are exported to Europe for use in the perfume trade, and to China for medicines and incense.
Frankincense, Boswellia papyrifera or Boswellia saccra is a deciduous gum producing tree growing today in Northeast Africa, Oman and the Yemen. The resin burns more easily than Myrrh resin, so it too has been and still is widely used as incense. It also has antiseptic and medicinal properties being widely used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Almost all of the harvested resin today is used in the Middle East. As with Myrrh, regeneration of trees is a problem, though some effort is being made to grow Boswelia papyrifera as a plantation crop in Eritrea.
The intensity of the fragrance in both Myrrh and Frankincense is affected by humidity. The resins exude a much stronger perfume in hot dry air. Both species grow in fairly dry areas with an annual seasonal rainfall between 400 to 700mm. They seem to grow best at an altitude of 800 to 1700 m, with a minimum annual growth period of as little as 50 days though they appreciate more.
In New Zealand both Myrrh and Frankincense are commercially available though fairly expensive.
They are imported as essential oils compounded from the resins. As far as making money by growing Myrrh or Frankincense in New Zealand goes, you are probably better off looking for Gold.
2006 May
Small Farmers’ Field Day at Otaki Racecourse on Saturday 27 May 2006
Our branch has a stand at this event. If you have plant or produce to bring, or if you can help by manning the stand for a couple of hours on the day please contact Eric Cairns or a committee member.
2006 April
- When:
- Saturday 29 April 2006, 11.00 am
- What:
- Olives, figs, feijoas and passionfruit
- Where:
- Te Waka Road, Otaki - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Field day - hosts Ray and Jean
Ray and Jean run a fully commercial organic property. They will be harvesting figs, feijoas and passionfruit at the end of April. The olives will still be on the trees. They bottle and sell organic olive oil and are now processing and selling olive leaf as a new venture. Ray and Jean have a lot of machinery designed to simplify labour and make it easier to enjoy their time on the land, and are happy to demonstrate and talk about their methods. There’ll be an opportunity to taste various products, and if you’d like to bring your special produce or processed goods to share and/or sell please feel welcome.
Bring your lunch and a mug. Friends and family welcome.
Report on field day at Otaki on Saturday 29 April
A good crowd of 50 or so turned up for an excellent event. Ray and Jean grow organic feijoas, passionfruit, limes, tamarillos, figs and olives commercially. It was interesting and very helpful to hear how they manage their crops and shelter belts. Both Ray and Jean explained clearly and fully the techniques they use managing their 5.6 ha property. They told us of the problems they have overcome and changes of direction they have made in the 13 years they have owned the land. Their property now provides a good income for them, and a lifestyle they enjoy.
Lately Ray has invested in some second hand equipment, to try and cut down the workload required in managing their property. He has found "Trade Me" a useful sources of equipment for growers and small holders. This year he has bought a larger tractor and two new mowers.
The first (on the tractor) is a mulching mower, which mows the grass and at the same time mulches all the tree clippings and prunings as they lie on the ground. This is a huge saving in time and energy as the cut material no longer has to be collected up, taken to a mulcher, fed through it and then re-spread around the crops to put the nutrients back into the ground.
The second mower (on the ground) is an hydraulic swing arm mower, which mows between and around the tree trunks. There is no spraying with weed killer around trees on this organic property, so a close mower cuts out time and labour spent hand weeding. Both mowers can be connected to the tractor and used simultaneously.
A hedging cutter with an angled blade is useful for trimming shelter belts, which are regularly trimmed every two years.
We were all very impressed at the size of the feijoas we sampled from the 940 trees they have. Around half the trees are in full production and the crop was around 10 tonnes - a good growing season. Half are sold directly to retailers as fresh fruit, and half sold for juice, so none of the crop is wasted.
Three varieties are grown, Unique, Apollo and Triumph. The last is a new cultivar and ripens later than the others so it extends the marketing period. The recently purchased spraying unit, which holds 500 litres of liquid fertiliser and
foliar feed spray, has helped produce bumper crops.
Pruning is done regularly to open up trees to light and air and to allow bird penetration for pollination.
The feijoa crop is "touch picked" daily. Fallen or marked fruit is collected for juice. Colour-coded polythene buckets allow some grading to be done during fruit gathering. A brush unit buffs the fruit to give it an attractive sheen and spreads the fruit to allow faster grading for quality and sorting for size.
Lately the olive harvest from their 600 trees has not been as good as a few seasons ago, due to the vagaries of the climate in our area. They expect 200 to 300 kg of olives for oil and processing this year. Koronekei and Leccino seem to be the best oil producers, with Sourani showing promise. The crop does need netting to keep the birds off. Picking is done with hand rakes dropping the olives on to ground sheets for collection. There is a good demand for certified organic olive oil.
As with feijoas, olives trees are pruned for light and air. Young trees are well irrigated (well established trees don't seem to require watering) and all trees are fertilised with seaweed based liquid soil drench. The soil is tested regularly around all their crops and nutrients added as required. This last season saw boron and phosphate added to the soil, but no lime. Ray and Jean are now buying in organic compost, rather than making their own.
Recently Ray and Jean have moved into marketing olive leaf for the organic health product market. This has been a successful diversification. Their less productive olive trees are now pruned right back, or coppiced for maximum leaf yield. This is quite a different pruning strategy than pruning for fruit production. The olive leaf then needs shredding and drying. The newly built Quaker style barn with its hot dry loft has proved ideal for quickly drying trays of olive leaf.
Jean has just started marketing figs this season. She has a number of different types in a trial grove. We were lucky to be able to graze tree ripened figs, comparing the properties of different types. It was very hard not to over indulge!
We enjoyed a session of tasting over lunch as well, with Jean's processed olives and figs and some of Nanette's Amaranth bread, as well as other products brought along by members.
Thank you Ray and Jean for hosting such an excellent field day.
2006 Annual Conference of NZ Tree Crops Association
'Cultivating Biodiversity', Masterton, Wairarapa, 2006 April 7-9
Report from Arthur Hall our branch delegate to the recent NZTCA conference
All the delegates introduced themselves and gave a brief resume of their branch activities. Diana Loader asked pertinent questions of every delegate. Some interesting topics came out of the questions.
These included
- How to recruit and keep new members
- Franklin Branch has produced a booklet on "How to set up new properties"
- The need for research co-ordinators for specific crops
- The need for a Public Relations person on the committee - perhaps a P.R. student
- Put out our NZTCA pamphlets in libraries and shops etc
- Have a reporter from farming magazines at our field visits
The most important topic for me was how to get and retain new members, especially younger members. Arthur Hall April 2006
Report on the 2006 Fig Workshop after Conference, April 10 - News
2006 March
- When:
- Sunday 26 March 2006, 10.30 am
- What:
- New hill property at at Waikanae
- Where:
- Hadfield Road, Awatea South - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Field day - hosts Trevor and Nanette Wright
The Wrights have 6 Hectares (15 acres) of very exposed hillside - there should be something of interest for everyone. They have planted over 3500 trees and shrubs. Using a three stage plan they have established a native bush area, a woodlot, an orchard which includes almonds, citrus and many other fruit and nut varieties and a large garden containing many unusual species. Trevor and Nanette are happy to share their experiences on dealing with wind, drought and pests. They follow organic principles in managing their land.
Bring stout walking shoes and your favourite walking stick to enjoy magnificent views from the top of the hill after a walk through the developing native bush. There's plenty of room for picnic lunching, so bring your lunch and a drink. Everyone is welcome.
Report on field day visit to the Wright's new hill property at Waikanae on 26 March
by Dianne Edyvane, newsletter editor, Wellington - Horowhenua Branch April/May newsletter.
Around 35 people from our branch had a delightful visit to Trevor and Nanette's property on a fine sunny day in Waikanae. It's a lovely site, sheltered and sunny with stunning views. The soil however is another matter. Basically it is the "rotten rock" characteristic of so much of the Wellington region. Digging fence posts is back-breaking work. Trevor and Nanette have worked hard to improve the soil in their terraced vegetable garden where they grow a variety of interesting herbs and vegetables. Nanette uses amaranth seeds and dried flower heads in her home-made bread. Amaranth, an ancient grain of the Aztecs, is an attractive crimson plant which added a real splash of colour to the garden. The Wrights eat a variety of unusual vegetable salad greens, including some classified as weeds, such as chickweed, dandelion and nettle all grown organically in their garden.
Although they have not yet built their house, the property is partially landscaped with most shelter well established. Trevor's method of "planting" a rail fence certainly saved a lot of digging effort.
The poplar trees were cut off about a metre above the ground when the trunk size was around 8 cm in diameter, at 4 -5 years old, depending on growing conditions. The cuts were sealed with paint and discarded sections of trunk were trimmed to make horizontal top rails. Extra stability was achieved by angled planting of the trees.
The almonds (left) from the almond orchard were mostly finished fruiting. They grow well on a sunny slope with good drainage round the roots.
The citrus trees, including limes, lemons, mandarins, limequats and yuzu (Japanese citrus) are thriving in spite of the dry summer.
The climb through the bush to the top of the hill was well worth it for the stunning view.
The only native bush established on the property when they bought it was a small remnant of 22 trees. They were very damaged by wind, stock and possums. The bush is now doing well thanks to Trevor's on-going war against possums, the removal of cattle and planting of windbreaks.
Over the last six years they have planted over three thousand native trees and shrubs which are becoming well established.
Like many of us the Wrights find that controlling pests is a never ending task. As soon as a patch is cleared, more possums move in.
This has also been a bad year for rabbit damage.
Trevor gave a very entertaining and informative talk on pest control. As it's his job he knows what he is talking about.
Here's some of his advice.
Possum Eradication
Cage traps are a very effective way to eradicate possums.
-
Advantages:
- Safe to use by the handler
- Easy to set and bait
- Relatively low cost
- Possums are less likely to become bait shy
- Do not harm other animal species
-
Disadvantages:
- Can be set off by other animal species
- Can be difficult to remove the Possum
When purchasing, ensure the cage is of sturdy construction. The ideal trap dimensions are 300mm x 300mm x 600mm. When set the trap needs to be stable and robust.
Some commercial designs on the market I feel are very light and the dimensions are too small.
I recently trialled a commercial trap, smaller than the above dimensions and found large mature adult male and female animals were not caught - only small and juvenile animals. Some of the possums I have caught with the larger trap had body weights of 4kg which are very large possums. They would not fit into the smaller trap without a squash. If the cage is too small the possum may set it off with the possibility of becoming trap shy.
I have found in my situation the cage traps are more effective and have caught more possums than the Timms traps even when they are both baited with the same bait in the same area.
Possums could be said to be lazy, as they usually take the most direct route. Traps that a possum can walk into are more successful than ones where a possum has to crouch or bend to enter. Some Timms traps (the yellow plastic ones which kill the animal) have quite small entrances.
Possums aren't very bright. So if you set a trap one side of a tree for a time until no more possums are being caught, then reset the trap on the other side of the tree, you may catch another one or two.
I have two different cage traps. One is a commercial trap which I have used continuously for over 30 years (right). This is larger than the commercial one I trialled recently.
The other trap I made from reinforcing steel (below).
When comparing the two traps the commercial trap has one disadvantage. The possums are difficult to remove as there are more bars for the possum to cling to when you are trying to get it out.
The trap made from reinforcing steel is much easier. When the possum's tail is grabbed the possum shoves its head through one of the holes making its head an easy target for the dongyknocker*. Its disadvantage is that black birds and small hedgehogs will set it off before escaping.
*The dongyknocker is a bent piece of
steel pipe, with a long side for a handle.
Possums have thick skulls so you need something easy to handle which can deliver a solid blow at the back of the head to kill the
possum instantly. Trevor's design is tried and true.
Nanette told us of a plant she uses on her skin to remove "sunspots" - those brown marks that seem to get more prevalent with age. The plant used is Euphorbia peplus also known as milkweed or petty spurge. Before using it one must identify it correctly - as with all plants used on or taken into the body.
When using milkweed on the skin you must be careful to put the sap only on to the spot, not on to the surrounding healthy skin. The area may become red, raised and angry looking before forming a scab which will dry and fall off taking the 'spot' with it. Take care until the new skin hardens.
Thanks to Trevor and Nanette for hosting such an excellent field day.
2006 February
- When:
- Sunday 19 February 2006, 10.30 am
- What:
- Summer pruning and restoration work
- Where:
- Roslyn Road, Levin - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Field day - hosts Fred Cockram and Dianne Edyvane
The heavy winds coupled with a very dry season in Levin this year has meant that a lot of our fruit trees have been damaged. As many of you know this is the property where the winter pruning demonstrations have been held in the last few years. This year, in conjunction with Central Districts Branch we are having a summer pruning workshop. Colin Spicer, Eric Cairns and other experts will be on hand to explain what to do with wind blown trees and how to get them in good shape to withstand any autumn gales we may get. Late February is a good time to prune stonefruit and to remove any cicada damage.
Roslyn Road is in the north eastern corner of Levin. Coming from the south turn east into SH 57 just south of Levin, continue on SH 57 for about 7.5 km then turn west into Roslyn Road. The property will be sign posted. Bring your lunch and your swimming gear if you feel like indulging in a summer pastime. Hot and cold drinks provided. It's an informal event, and at short notice. As usual, you are welcome to bring friends and family.
2006 January
- When:
- Sunday 22 January 2006, 11:00am
- Where:
- The Adam property, then the Soong property - will be signs posted.
- Details:
- Meet at Bruce and Pam Adams' property, Moores Valley Road, Wainuiomata at 11.00 am for a short tour and BYO lunch. They are next to Brookfield Scout camp and have a mixture of woodlots and established and regenerating native bush. One of the interesting features of their place is the alternative energy supplies to the house, such as photovoltaic and wind turbine generation, plus a small hydro scheme that Bruce built. Bruce and Pam make things from their own timber and he has a variety of chainsaw milling equipment. Bruce is also a new enthusiast for green woodworking, so the pole lathe and shaving horse and hand tools will be on display.
1.30 pm: Go down the road to Christine and Raymond Soong's at 347 Moores Valley Road for the AGM and afternoon tea and a brief tour. Christine and Raymond have a greenhouse with lemon grass, a stream bank recently planted with native trees according to the Greater Wellington riparian management scheme, and a very attractive garden landscaped to display to perfection Raymond's red goldfish. They have about 45 sheep on their 10 acre block, Suffolk and Taxdale/Romney mixed breeds.
We are holding our AGM in January this year as this will give us time to get any remits into the Executive team before the NZTCA conference to be held in the Wairarapa in March 2006. If you have any issues you would like to raise come along to the field day and AGM on 22 January 2006 and have your say. Alternatively contact Linda our branch chair.
Report on the Moores Valley field day visits 22 January 2006
Bruce and Pam Adams' property right at the far end of Moore's Valley was something very different to most of us. They are almost self sufficient in terms of services and energy, not even being connected to the main power grid. A diesel generator is maintained as a back-up system and Bruce, a marine engineer by trade, has turned his hand to creating a range of other ways to generate power. The windmill by the house was working hard when we were there, thanks to some generous breezes. He has an array of photovoltaic cells (solar panels) many recycled form North American sites, and a small hydro scheme in development. The house now uses all mainstream electrical equipment, though Pam tends to vacuum the house only when the wind blows, in spite of Bruce's assurances that they can store enough power to run all the appliances for four days with no sun or wind, and without using the generator. They have solar water heating as well as an efficient wood-burner for cooking and for house and water heating.
Pam is a Californian city person by birth and upbringing so coming to such an isolated farm surrounded by bush where no other house is even visible was a real change for her. She loves the life however, and has taken to growing organic vegetables and running free range organically fed hens for egg production with energy and enjoyment.
The Adams have a mixture of woodlots and established and regenerating native bush on their 150 ha property. We enjoyed walking through the bush, seeing the old stand of beech trees and hearing the history of the valley and how it was extensively logged and stripped of bush cover early in the 1900s. Bruce had found remains of the old hauling mechanism and the wooden railway system used in the area, while replacing fencing.
The Adams run cattle and sheep on the property and make things from their own timber. Bruce is also a new enthusiast for green woodworking, so the pole lathe and shaving horse and hand tools were demonstrated. Trevor Henderson had brought along some of the woodworking tools he had designed and made to use on his projects.
After lunch we went back to a less isolated part of the valley to Christine and Raymond Soong's property. Christine and Raymond have a greenhouse with Lemongrass and some Gotu Cola growing. The double skinned greenhouse is highly automated with sophisticated temperature controls and watering systems. It was being repaired when we were there (thanks to excessive winds a few months ago). Fortunately it happened in summer so they didn't lose the crop. Christine showed us how she cuts the Lemongrass and packages it for supermarket sales. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is cut off near the base for harvesting. The stiff stalks are used in Asian and West Indian cooking, while the grass blade tops of the plants are used as flavourings in teas and drinks.
The Gotu Cola is a herb many of us had not come across before. It is considered something of a universal cure-all by many Sri Lankans, especially in staving off arthritis.
In the magazine Grass Roots No 168 April/May 2005 there is an article on page 9 "The Astonishing Gotu Cola" written by Bob Rankin, Samoa. At the end of the article it also says "For more information on Gotu Cola (Centella asiatica) also known as pennywort, see Grass Roots 102".
The Soongs had had some trouble with stream banks eroding after heavy rain, and poor storm water run-off management upstream. The council has planted some flax bushes on the banks, but most of us felt that more intense planting is needed to hold the banks. If you have any flax, or suitable native seedlings or plants to spare, think about passing them on to Christine and Ray who could make good use of them. There's a pond in a paddock with geese and ducks, and sheep graze other paddocks on the 10 acre block.
Ray's garden was a delight. Designed on an Oriental theme there are lots of private corners - always somewhere to sit out of the wind. The scarlet goldfish look lovely in the ornamental ponds. Sadly a heron had discovered the Soongs as a handy fast food outlet so Ray has had to net the ponds. Now that the landscaping and planting is done the garden is easy to maintain, with lots of mulch round shrubs and ground cover plants and trees. Ornamental maple trees and twisted miniature pines are placed to highlight the rocks and contours of the garden.
After the AGM Christine gave us a sumptuous afternoon tea. We sampled Lemongrass tea and found it enjoyable and refreshing in the hot weather. Boiling water is poured on the grass leaves and left to steep for a few minutes. It has a stronger citrus tang than lemon verbena tea. Christine's tip for a warming winter drink is to add a slice or two of ginger root to Lemongrass tea.
Our sincere thanks to the Adams and the Soongs for their hospitality.
2005 Branch Events
2005 November
- When:
- Sunday 20 November, 9.30 am
- What:
- Wellington Botanical Gardens
- Where:
- Meet at The Tree House (educational centre) in middle of gardens.
- Details:
- Field day -
host David Sole, the curator
David Sole the curator of Wellington Botanical Gardens will personally host a field day for us at the gardens.
We'll meet in The Tree House at 9.30 am then at 9.45 am or so he will give us a "class room" talk. Topics will include pest management, storm damage management and other interesting stuff, including good nurseries and best nursery practice. It promises to be a very informative and interesting time. If anyone has any special requests, please let Linda our chairperson know so she can pass them on to David. Speak up or we won't know the topics you are interested in. Seating is provided for the talk.
After that we will have a tour of specialised collections. Bring a picnic lunch so that you can then wander round individually to visit your favourite places. The Gardens are one of Wellington's treasures and this is a great opportunity for you to get an inside look at the management systems, and hear from an expert. Friends and family welcome as usual.
September 2005
| When: | Sunday 4 September, 10am |
| What: | Espaliered apples and Angora Goats |
| Where: | Paekakariki Hill Road - Pauahatanui side of hill - plenty of on site parking |
| Details: |
Ration Creek Orchard was bought by the Reidys twelve and a half years ago. It's a 13 acre (5.3 ha) property,
4 acres of which is an apple orchard. The trees are all espaliered and include most of the main commercial varieties. Janet and Phillip grow their apples in the most environmentally friendly way by spraying as little as possible (they have moved rapidly to less aggressive chemicals) and have just invested in a pruning mulcher, which will save them burning the pruning debris which they see as a huge environmental plus. The property is fairly sheltered but does get some salt laden winds from the Pauahatanui inlet and more importantly from the north. Janet reckons this makes the Granny Smith apples taste sweeter. Apparently old cookery books recommend cooking Granny Smith apples with a pinch of salt and no sugar. Janet agrees but says their apples come with the salt already provided. then . . . Drive over to the Hutsons at Moonshine Road for lunch and a tour of Jennifer and Andy's hillside property. There's plenty of parking and a new extension to the kitchen living room adjoining an outside area to congregate in for lunch, just in case the weather is as bad as it was two years ago. This is a 10.6 ha (26 acre) block which was all in grazing when the Hutsons moved there four years ago. At the top of the property there is an established area of native bush which Jennifer and Andy intend to have fenced off from stock in the future. The property has lots of streams, and a pond, to help control water flow when it rains heavily. Jennifer and Andy are developing their site with habitat plantings, exotics, shelter and fruit trees. They have some angora goats (incredibly cute), coopworth sheep and run some cattle. Day ends at 3.00 pm |
The field day [above] at the Reidys' Ration Creek Orchard and at the Hutsons' property was a success with a good turn out of members. It was great to have a fine warm day.
The Ration Creek Orchard has to be one of the smallest apple orchards in NZ in terms of area. Espaliered trees mean that a remarkable number of trees can be grown on a small size property. The trees are quite small although they are fully mature and excellent croppers. They are set about 1.5 m apart and supported on posts and wires set in narrowly spaced rows. The trees are layered into three tiers, all easily accessed from ground level which makes picking and crop management very easy. Members went away quite keen to try training some of their own apple trees.
A group of large and attractive Melia azedarach (Persian Lilac, Indian Bead or White Cedar) trees on the lawn were much admired. Thanks to the Reidys for hosting the event.
Members were impressed at the enormous amount of work the Hutsons have put into their property in the four years they have owned it. The pond is turning into a striking feature and the thousands of trees Jennifer and Andy have planted, although still small, show clearly the potential attractiveness of this property. Cutting down the old pines in front of the house has opened up another area for planting with trees to attract birds and provide a great outlook from the house. In addition to all the work they have done on the land, the Hutsons have also undertaken major house renovations.
Our grateful thanks and sincere sympathy to Jennifer and Andrew who hosted this afternoon session in spite of the very recent death of their daughter Jane.
July 2005
| When: | Sunday 24 July - bring your lunch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What: | The Big Day Out - Pruning, Tree Auction and Heritage Apples | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where: | Roslyn Road, Levin (turn west off SH 57 just north of Levin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Details: |
This is our annual combined field day with the Central Districts branch. Colin Spicer will demonstrate pruning techniques on a number of fruit trees. Eric Cairns will show us how to prune pine nut trees and Ray Hollis the olive trees. The event will be held wet or fine. As usual pruned material from trees is free if you want to take it for cuttings. After lunch Ray Hollis will put on his auctioneer's hat and auction other trees, shrubs, plants and produce. Tree auction This year we are widening the auction to include all items tree croppers are interested in. Anything that grows - produce - books you no longer need on crops or tree management - seed trays - pots - etc, etc. You can either donate material to the branch for the auction or sell on commission, just tell Ray as you put the items in the garage. This is a chance for you to share your favourite plants with others, and to pick up some wonderful bargains. It's always a lot of fun, so come along and make your bids. This is the main fund raising event of the year for our branch. We need you to come along and help support our local fig research project. Leaving your car (and your bargains) stroll over the road to see the Dixon's young fig trees, planted September 2004 which are part of our branch trials. The trees will be be pruned in various ways to compare fruiting yields and ripening times. The Dixons also have some old cider apple trees on their property. We'll finish our Big Day Out with a social afternoon tea provided at the Dixons, where there'll be an opportunity to taste Japonica apple jelly and other tree croppers' goodies. It's a chance to meet and chat with the Central Districts members. Then collect your heritage apple trees from Mark and Maurice back at 217 Roslyn Road, load up the car and drive home safely. To order your Heritage Apple Trees Ring Mark Christensen or email him, to place your order for heritage apple trees. They are $10 each. Numbers for sale, where more than one, are shown in brackets alongside variety. Apples for sale in 2005 from Maurice Dellow and Mark Christensen:
The semi dwarf rootstock is most probably EM9. It has a slight tendency toward a woolly aphid infestation. The tree is smaller than a MM106 and requires staking all its life. Monty's Surprise (55) Monty's Surprise is the cultivar which did so well in the cancer trials. As there are only 55 of them for sale get your order in soon. Orders will be dealt with on a first come basis, and although Mark will try to allocate a Monty's Surprise to everyone who wants one, some scaling may be required. Wooden Seed Trays Wally Dyson is giving away wood for seed trays. The wood is seasoned and cut to size. All you need to do is knock in a few nails and you can have your own sturdy seed trays. Give Wally a call, or have a chat with him at the next field day. Wood available Stewart Dixon has some cabbage tree wood available. If interested contact him. |
Good news from our pruning field day and tree auction [above]. We had a magnificent turn out, and it was good to see so many members from our branch and from Central Districts. Thanks to Mark Christensen for the Monty's Surprise apple trees. Mine is looking healthy with lots of new growth appearing daily. I hope those and all the other purchases made on the day are thriving. The branch made around $1400 with Ray Hollis doing a splendid job as auctioneer:
June 2005
| When: | Sunday 26 June, 10am |
| What: | Earth building and permaculture |
| Where: | North Manakau Road - entrance marked by Guy's stone structures |
| Details: |
Guy and Christine are organic growers of blueberries and other crops and are also keen earth builders. Richard Morrison of the Earthbuilding Assocation will give a short illustrated talk and show videos. Bring a folding chair if you'd like to watch these in comfort. Those who wish can continue watching these fascinating videos while Guy and Richard give a talk and demonstration on making mud bricks, followed by an opportunity for true enthusiasts to "have a go". then . . . Lunch break at the Bremfords at South Manakau Road, just south of Pukehou Nurseries and Geerling's Dried Flowers. Turn east towards the hills, TCA sign on gate. Hot water for coffee and toilet facilities will be available before going "next door" to visit the permaculture property of Emily and Gary Williams for a 1.30 - 3.00 pm tour. Gary and Emily are leaders in permaculture design. They have developed their property on organic and bio-dynamic principles. Their property is notable for its diversity and the interrelations between various elements: the mixed orchard, vegetable garden, pasture, animals and the house itself which makes use of passive energy, solar heating and thermal mass walls. Not to be missed are the free-flow forms that create a unique swimming pool. TCA last visited this property in 2001 and many environmental changes have occurred since then. |
March 2003
| When: | Saturday 15 March 2003 |
| 10.00-12.00: | Visit the property of Yvonne and Maurice Dellow at 110 Waitohu Valley Road, Otaki. This is the third road on the right past the roundabout, on the main road out of Otaki. Look for Tree Crop Association signs. On their 1.5 hectare property, the Dellows grow a range of citrus, some pears, persimmons, guavas, olives, macadamias, chestnuts, walnuts, stone fruit and an extensive collection of apples, initially common commercial varieties but more recently an increasing range of heritage and cider apples. All this plus sour cherries and some mixed variety woodlots. |
| 12.00-12.45pm: | Byo lunch at Dellows. |
| 1.00-2.30pm: | Visit the property of Brenda Farrell, 156 Ringawhati Road, Otaki. Brenda grows mainly hazels, along with chestnuts, pecans and gevuinas. Alpacas and ducks also feature on this property. Turn right at the roundabout on the main road out of Otaki. TCA signposted. |
January 2003
Not the Sugar-plum Fairy but Plums, Plums and more Plums
| When: | Sunday 26 January 2003 |
| 10.00-11.45am: | Visit the property of Mike Beech and his wife at 35 Whelan's Road, Levin. They grow almost 60 varieties of plums and many rare varieties of apples. The Beech's are participating in local Tree Crops plum trials and have lots of useful information about the best varieties to grow for your area, so come and learn about these delectable fruits. Early varieties will be finishing and late plums maturing on the trees. Turn left into Buller Road, just past Ohau and before Levin. Turn right into Farm Road and left into Whelan Road. Look for Tree Crop Association signs. |
| 12.15 pm: | Byo lunch at Brian and Pauline Allen's commercial organic plum orchard at School Road, Te Horo. From the main highway north, turn right into the road signposted for the Lavender farm. The Allen's are also substantially involved in TCA plum trials and are able to provide new growers with many insights into the marketing of produce. Look for Tree Crop Association signs. |
| 1.00-2.30pm: |
AGM, followed by a tour of Allen's property. This is your chance to have some input into our large and fast-growing branch. Are you getting the type of Field Trip you want? Are you getting the information you need? Is there a remit you'd like put to the National Conference? Come and have your say at the AGM. Our branch has many new members with a wide range of interests and properties. Help us to cater for them all. As always, new committee members are most welcome. A few hours of your time during the year is all that is asked of you - and the benefits are many. For further details, contact Brenda Farrell, Secretary. |
October 2002
| When: | Saturday 5 October |
| Where: |
am: Studds, Akatarawa Road (10 km from Waikanae) pm: Mrs McKinnons (nearby) |
| What: |
Long-term Tree Croppers will be delighted to hear that return visits have been organised to the properties of (1) Jenny and Bill Studd, and (2) Mrs McKinnon (Forester/Manager Gunter Mobius) in Akatarawa Hill Road. Earlier visits in 1996 and 1997 showed us their vision - now everyone is invited to see some substantial and frankly inspirational results. Look for the TCA direction signs. 10.30am: On 60 acres, see flourishing Douglas fir, hardwoods, macrocarpa, radiata plus many varied "amenity" trees. See what careful planting can do on steep land. BYO lunch and drinks, and enjoy the glorius views. Toilet facilities provided. 1:00-3:00 pm: Meet at Mrs McKinnon's 200-acre property and see the work of European-trained forester/manager Gunter Mobius. Marvel at more than 3,000 variety oak trees (possibly the largest plantation in New Zealand), many hectares of Acer pseudoplatanus (common sycamore) being grown commercially for toy making for perhaps the first time in NZ, Cedrus deodara (Himalayan cedar), Prunus avium cherry, Racosperma melanoxylon blackwood, Juglan nigra (black walnut) and many, many more. |
August 2002
| When: | Saturday 17 August - 11am to 3pm |
| Where: | Otaki Memorial Hall, Main Street, Otaki |
| What: |
Look & Learn! Members will display products and recipes from their Tree Crop growing activities - ranging from oils to chutneys and dried figs to wine, using hazels, feijoas, plums, chestnuts, olives, walnuts and figs and much, much more. Come and see, taste, question and learn what added value can be gained by processing your crop. Free entry. Any interested member of the public will be welcome. Some produce may be purchased.
|