New Zealand Treecrops Association

 

This trial project could prove most important for treecrops, and planet Earth...

Introduction

In October 2000 Roger White presented a proposal to NZTCA Hawke's Bay Branch to embark on a "Tree Crops in Schools" project.

The Committee unanimously agreed to accept the proposal and proceeded with the necessary allocation of job functions.

The proposal was received with enthusiasm by five of the Hawke's Bay schools approached.

Spearheaded by Roger White with the assistance of a hard working committee, the school sites were surveyed and together with the staff, and respective School Boards, the choice of tree crops and planting time was planned.

The trees are now firmly established in the five schools and are being protected and cared for with pride and interest, with regular monitoring being undertaken by the assigned "Tree Crop Advisor".

The Proposal

Proposal:

That HBTCA donate 12 trees including establishment expenses to certain schools for field trials and educational use.

    School Criteria:
  1. Rural location (Space required)
  2. Primary school (ages 5 - 13 years)
  3. Proximity to TCA members
  4. Variety of climates and soil types

Schools approached:

Sherwood, Onga Onga, Argyll East, Sherenden (All Central Hawke's Bay) Rudolf Steiner Hastings and Havelock North

Educational Use:

  1. Botany with regard to Horticulture
  2. Marketing Principles

Management Assistance:

This requires that at least one HBTCA member be assigned to advise and assist at all stages up to and including marketing.

Species Choice:

School choice including Almond, Apricaot, Cherry, Citrus, Olive, Plum, Feijoa; all subject to climate and soil type.

Benefits:

  1. Produce and possible profit from sale to remain the property of schools concerned.
  2. Trial results.
  3. Potential future Tree Croppers.

List of Trees Planted at Schools:

  1. Onga Onga: 4 Feijoa, 4 Mandarin, 4 Citrus (2 Lemonade, 2 Meyer Lemon)
  2. Argyll: 6 Citrus (Lemonade), 6 Mandarin
  3. Sherwood: 2 Apricao, 2 Plum, 4 Olive (table), 6 Citrus (2 Lemonade, 2 Mandarin, 2 Tangelo). Paid for by school.
  4. Sherenden: 2 Fiejoa, 5 Citrus (3 Mandarin, 2 Lemon), 2 Apricot, 2 Olive, 1 Plum
  5. Rudolf Steiner: 1 Olive, 2 Almond, 2 Feijoa, 4 Citrus (2 Mandarin, 1 Lemon, 1 Orange), 2 Plum, 1 Pecan

Conclusion:

This project has provided a meaningful and ongoing interest for all concerned and has engendered very favourable publicity for Tree Croppers in this area.

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How about it? Well done, Hawke's Bay! Schools? Treecroppers?

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http://www.treecrops.org.nz/inschools/in02/intro.html
Created: Wednesday, 27 August 2003 - Updated: 2007 August 11