2012 May
Widening our horizons!
Field Day to the Hamilton Farmers Market plus
The Productive Collections at the Hamilton Gardens
Bountiful produce plus how to go about producing it! Sunday 20th May
We will meet at 10.00am at the Soggy Bottom stand at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market at 204 River Rd, Claudelands. Probably need to allow one and a half hours from Bombay to get there at that time. Check out www.waikatofarmersmarkets.co.nz to see what’s on offer plus see the location. Fruit, vegies, plants, cheeses, breads, pasties, salmon, wine, mushrooms and heaps of specialty products sounds great! Good place to pick up a scrummy picnic lunch!
From there we’ll go four kilometres or so to the Hamilton Gardens (on State Highway 1 just south of central Hamilton) and plan to meet up at 12 o'clock at Turtle Lake. We’ll concentrate on the Productive Collections which are the Kitchen Garden, the Sustainable Backyard and the Herb Garden. See www.hamiltongardens.co.nz
Up to you how long you stay! Whatever suits you and your carload. But there’d certainly be no trouble spending a full day in the Hamilton Gardens and their lovely setting on the riverside! They are amazing and if you’ve got the time you may want to wander through some of the other impressive sections like the Italian Renaissance Garden or the Chinese Scholar’s Garden.
Bring or buy a picnic. If you would like to carpool or share a ride ring Vicky or Raewyn or Val.
2012 April
Field Day Saturday 21st April - unusual plantings
First at 1.30pm.
Meet at the end of Edgewater Parade in Waiuku and we'll walk down to the reserve planted by Franklin Tree Croppers about 20 years ago.
Includes pine nut, carob tree, walnuts and macadamias.
Then on to Hull Rd. Waiuku at about 2.15pm.
Property of Jim and Christine - boutique growers.
Jim is an enthusiast for anything unusual.
He has build up an small orchard of cocktail kiwifruit and sapotes and he sells the fruit at the Clevedon market.
There are also many other interesting trees.
He has pawpaws and lychees in a glass house.
Come and be inspired.
2012 March
National TCA Conference in Nelson 30 March - 1 April 2012
Registrations close on 23 March to allow time for catering requirements.
Avocados galore! – Organic, sustainable living
1.30pm on Saturday, 17th March 2012 at Buchanan Rd, Kingseat
Franklin branch members, Fiona and David, are again hosting a field day. Last time we visited was in May 2007 and their avocado trees were still quite small and their home orchard was under development. For those who were on that field trip you'll see what a difference five years makes!
For first timers there's a lot to see and learn. Come and listen as Fiona and David tell us about their philosophy and the way they care for their avocados plus their numerous fruit trees for home supply.
Wear good walking shoes and bring a mug for tea/coffee. If you have any concerns about the weather on the day, call.
2012 February
Plum Budding Day
8am Saturday, 25 February 2012, at Ian's, Hunter Road, Patumahoe.
Over the last few years we have gained valuable experience in grafting of apple trees, following on from the apple project we are now focusing on plums and propagation by a different technique known as “T Budding”. “T Budding” is undertaken during the early spring or late summer.
Do come along and have a go, while it is a new technique for most of us, we have experienced people to teach us and will be having a demonstration and practice session in the shed before we head down to the paddock to our peach seedlings.
Please bring the following items with you if you can:
- A budding knife, sharp pocket knife or craft knife with new blades
- Something to kneel on in the paddock
- Morning tea – the usual shared table
- Mug for tea or coffee
Note this is weather dependent and if you are unsure please contact Raewyn or Ian prior to 9pm the night before. As a backup we will hold the workshop on Sunday the 26th.
AGM plus field day
It will be at 1.30pm on Sunday 12th February 2012 at Margaret and Janet's place, McGregor Rd, Clevedon.