New Zealand Treecrops Association

Conference 2002

Bringing Home the Walnut

The recent conference involved walnut cropping in many ways. We found them growing by the astonishing Whanganui river, where long narrow strips of riverbank land in this steep-sided valley once supported a dense maori and european immigrant population. To see these old trees as evidence of earlier dwellers made the locality seem to ooze of soul.

The walnut has featured in tree crops in recent years as the result of substantial research which culminated in our association formally naming some distinct varieties - see the treecrops web page, under Research.

There were other interesting tours at this conference. These included visits to early trial blocks of walnuts, among other species. These tours may appear on the web page too.

The conference dinners rated highly not just for the excellent food and surprises such as potent fruit wines. Speeches, presentations and the tree auction were executed in jovial fashion. Even the AGM ran only slightly over time. It was particularly pleasing to have some of the back-room workers of our association singled out for praise. For instance, Judy Bool.

Who is Judy Bool? Judy has operated our tree crops publications and mail order business for years, and helped by excellent product and publicity, excellent sales have been very helpful to your association of late. One of the recently significant publications on sale is the new Green Guide "Tree Cropping in New Zealand - a guide to over 65 crops" compiled by our Bay of Plenty Branch's own Gail Newcomb.
[Judy has since had to hand over the Publications service, but it is in good hands...]

Gail was awarded the association's major annual prize, the coveted Dr Don McKenzie Award. It was for her efforts as Technical Editor, re-vitalising the crop 'fact sheets' among other publications, and culminating in publishing the Green Guide. The trophy is small, has a wooden base with plaques upon which are engraved the names of the award's winners over the preceding years. On the base sits a small cube of transparent epoxy resin, within which is cast a blackened but unmistakable object - a walnut kernel.

The walnut was given to our late "Dr Don" by German researchers in awe of his research efforts, notably in apple varieties. You can read more about this on the web page or in your tree crops membership papers. But when comparing our association's successes in pursuit of walnut cropping, and aged walnut trees like those by the Whanganui river - and then the award walnut, I for one feel very humble about our recent efforts. That could be because this fossilised walnut in the trophy has been dated at over 8 million years old...

Yes, I am proud for Gail, bringing her home - and Bringing Home the Walnut. It is very special, and it has its first female custodian. And the other backroom females (in a manner of speaking) who contributed to this achievement, include the fore-mentioned Judy and the better-known Mary Banks. And there is the support of the ladies of the Bay of Plenty Branch (and fellas). Little did Gail and I know when we escaped our city cells to share the country life some nine years ago that we would be enjoying such a tree-cropping experience, as relative newbies too. But that could be another story...

Thanks go to many other people, tree croppers even, for helping Gail with her research-gathering exercises. A special thought to the late Gordon Atkinson (a great sharer of knowledge and earlier winner of this award) for bringing us into the fold. Special thanks also to those who, till this day, have not even replied to Gail's many requests for your knowledge - you got her dander up, enough to research the subject for herself. The opportunity is still open - Gail has agreed to stay on as Technical Editor for another year, and we have a web page repository too.
[Gail has since begun a Historian role, archiving our Tree Crops Association history.]

You can share any of your knowledge which gets past the discerning gaze of our Research Officers. The knowledge does not have to be perfect - if you feel less than confident about some aspects of your topic, just say so; don't hold it ALL back - please offer to SHARE IT. Share to conserve your knowledge and collected plant material - you can't take it with you!


The association has an awesome inheritance of member's work over the years, and it seems a shame that only one person wins the top award each year. The list of nominees and their achievements is awe-inspiring, and there is a growing school of thought that these nominees should be honoured - much as oscar and other nominees are. How about a Roll of Honour to help preserve these people's names and achievements as part of our tree crops heritage?

Walnuts can be controversial. What is the weed variety causing concern along the Whanganui river? And why do Forest and Bird want to ban all plantings of some walnuts, which has happened in parts of the Bay of Plenty? Will the authorities deal to the acres of tree-smothering Kudzu (mile-a-minute vine) recently discovered in the Bay of Plenty? As speedily as they DIDN'T deal with the Guava Moth Fruit Driller and Painted Apple Moth? There is much to be done, still.

But if you are passing Aongatete during daylight hours, chance a call on us for a cuppa (its advisable to BYO milk) - you will see many walnut trees, and prior to April 2003 you would have been lucky enough to catch a close look at The Walnut.

Les Gruebner, 19 May 2002
"Ecoworks" (Gail Newcomb and Les Gruebner)
Aongatete
Bay of Plenty

http://www.treecrops.org.nz/bydate/conf02/homeward/homewal.html
Created: Friday, 21 March 2003 - Updated: 2007 August 10