magazine header art

"TreeCropper" is the NZTCA national magazine, our flagship publication, and the communications backbone of our organisation.

It is included in your annual membership fee, and is delivered quarterly, to all members.

 

Recent editions - contents:
Photo during Mandeville Meander, Conference 2010

photo montage from Conference 2010, details below

TreeCropper Issue 62 - June 2010

Front cover:
The Mandeville Meander 2010 Conference field visit took NZTCA members to the blackwood woodlot and sawmill of John and Robyn Fairweather - see more photos on page 32. Photo by David Colley.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  3President's MessageMurray Redpath
  4Granny Louisa apple Mary Browne
  6Planting in clayReg Lewthwaite
  8Trees for a wet spot
  9Apricots in AucklandViv FitzPatrick
10RhubarbFiona Boylan
12Soap nutsAmanda Sloane and Dunja Balmer
14Northern Fruit Trees Charitable TrustGordon Lees
18GinkgoJenny Horne
26Conference 2010
      26     Pre-conference Lincoln UniversityKathrina Muller
      29     Waipara WanderHilary and Andrew Fenamor
      32     Mandeville MeanderPhots by David Colley
33Dr Don McKenzie Award - Dr Gordon Lees
34Perry pearsRoy Hart
37Book review - The Fruit Manual
38Gift membership
39pips & pieces
40Membership form, Committee contacts

Back cover:
Scenes from NZTCA National Conference 2010, held in Christchurch 25-28 March.
Clockwise from top left;
Southern Woods Nursery's display of hedgerow plants.
Lunch at the Brew Moon brewery and cafe in Amberley during a field trip.
The Waipara Wander field trip bus, parked outside a massive gum tree at the gate of Limestone Hills. Note Cordane Precious Peggotty (Peg), the truffle-sniffing dog in the foreground.
During the pre-conference tour to Lincoln University, international guest speaker Professor David McNeil (far left, front) discusses the Rex Baker Mermorial Walnut Trial, established in 1985.
Gareth Renowden shows off his producing hazelnut tree, a seven-year-old seedling now supplying him with Perigord black truffles.
 

photo of a nut harvesting idea being demonstrated

TreeCropper Issue 61 - March 2010

Front cover:
Fred Davey demonstrates 'Lady Muck' during a NZTCA Conference 2009 field trip to Cobtree Farm. Originally designed as a alpaca and horse poo collector, it also picks up olives, and in this case, hazels. See other members' harvesting ideas on pages 32-37.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2President's MessageMurray Redpath
  3Notices, Your letters - 1080 consequences
  4Conference 2010
  6Orton Bradley ParkMike Caldwell
10Myoga GingerSheryn Clothier
13Rejuvenating apple treesSheryn Clothier
14The ideal apple crotchSheryn Clothier
16For the love of applesClare Buckner
17MineralsDave Martin
23Frost ProtectionSheryn Clothier
24Creating $ ValueJackie Bedford
28TerraquacultureHaikai Tane
32Harvesting:
      32     NutHarvesterAlan Rosling
      33     Keeping walnutsBill Rae
      34     Fruit pickerSheryn Clothier
      35     Harvesting systemNick Nelson-Parker
38Cape GooseberryFiona Boylan
40Taste of timber - Chestnut animal feedSheryn Clothier
41Bed swap / Park over
42Book reviews
44Obituary - Jim DunckleyAndy Barratt
46Gift membership
47pips & pieces
48Membership form, Committee contacts
photo of macadamia flowering

photo of lightning track down tree trunk

TreeCropper Issue 60 - December 2009

Front cover:
Macadamia A4 in full flower at Torere Macadamias. Read Vanessa Hayes' update on the New Zealand Macadamia Industry on page 14.

  1Editor's opinion - Poisoning Paradise with 1080Sheryn Clothier
  3President's MessageMurray Redpath
  4Your letters - organics or mainstream reply; forest symbiotics and multi-tier farming
  6Cider makingEric Wilson
12Microclimate manipulationWendy Evans
Macadamias:
14Overview of NZ industryVanessa Hayes
18Southernmost orchardSue Gallagher
 
21Graft compatibilityMaurice Denton
22Conference 2010
28Book reviews
30Chestnuts - making them payAustralian Nutgrower Sept 2009
31Tropical ApricotRussell Fransham
34PomegranateFiona Boylan
35Schizophrenic appleThe Telegraph
36Hawkes Bay Branch renaissancePhillipa Page
38Guthrie Smith Arboretum field tripJenny Horne
41A Growing RetirementBarry Quinn
42TreeCropper articles index to issues 51-59
47Pips and pieces
48Subscription form; Committee contacts

Back cover: Shown during a Conference 2009 field trip to Hanui, the property of Don and Louis Mclntyre, was a pine tree that had been struck by lightning. Instead of being rent asunder, a scar showed how this tree earthed the power of the heavens. (photo cropped for website)
 

photo of hazelnut flowers

photo of pinenut tree

TreeCropper Issue 59 - September 2009

Front cover:
Flowers of the hazelnut, Tonda di Giffoni, encased in ice. It was midday in Clyde (June 2009) when this picture was taken, and still -2°C. But the styles can still be receptive - see page 24.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2President's MessageMurray Redpath
  3Your letters - animals in organic farming systems, using photosynthesis to store carbon in wood that is then buried as a permanent carbon-sink
  4Codling mothJohn Clearwater
  8Pepinoincredible edibles
10Pinenut ExtractionRosy Laing
15KudzuGail Newcomb
18Conference 2010Early-bird bookings open!
24Hazel nut floweringMurray Redpath
29BOP Bee GroupBill Rae and Rosemary Balu
30CoppicingEric Cairnes
32Firewood and moreEric Cairnes
35Afforestation Grant SchemeCashing Up the Carbon Credits
36Branch Innovations FundNZTCA Fund for Branch Projects
38Book review - Discovering Vegetables Herbs and Spices by Dr Susanna Lyle
39Pips and pieces - Organic Hazelnuts and Cherries for sale
40Subscription form

Back cover: Sunlight shining onto one of Rosy Laing's producing pinenut trees.
Presumed to be Pinus pinea, eight of these trees are keeping Rosy and family supplied year-round with pine nuts - see page 10.



TreeCropper Issue 58 - June 2009

Front cover:
Trevor Byron (front), Bruce Christensen (center using draw knife and shaving horse) and Eric Cairns (rear - foot operated lathe) demonstrate green wood-working techniques at NZTCA Conference 2009.
Tool, chair, hurdle and trug making were just some of the skills demonstrated. The emphasis was for using local material and improvising on design. The splitting (riving) of green logs using a maul, wedges and froe allowed rapid conversion of round wood to useable furniture components. Green wood is much easier to work with than seasoned dry wood, when simple hand tools are used.
Trevor displayed and used his large collection of home made woodworking tools for making a hurdle.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  3Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath
  4Letters to the editor - varroa mite, Doug Davies, walnut blight, hazelnut harvester, Bacon avocado
  6Conference 2009Delgates' impressions
 10Nick Nelson-Parker - Dr Don McKenzie AwardWaikato Branch citation
 12MushroomsTim Thornewell of Mushroom Gourmet
 14Conference 2010Tree Crops 2010
- a healthy future
 18Management Committee meeting notes
 19ClimateExplorer subscription
 20PistachioSheryn Clothier, Roy Hart, Darrell and Karen Johnston, Dhana Pillai, Jonathan Hooker
 30European Barberry searchMark McKibben
 32Strawberriesincredible edibles
 35Dick Roberts - obituaryMargot Syms
 37Book reviewsEdible, Photographic Guide to Mushrooms...
 38Pips and piecesMonty's Surprises, nut shelling, pongas wanted, NZTCA publications
 39Upcoming Eventsincluding some NZTCA events
 40Subscription form

Back cover: from top left: Members catch-up before the AGM starts. Mark Christensen gets friendly with alpacas at Cobtree Farm. Saturday's dinner tables were decorated with a fantastic variety of tree crops. Jean Hollis describes the properties of various figs grown on their Te Horo orchard. Christine Soong gets some products from Stanmore Farms. Young grapevines are inspected at Stanmore Nursery. Brenda Farrell talks about processing hazelnuts.

Photo - full bunches of bananas on tree

 

 

Conference 2009 - Photograph of Kapiti Coast by Grant Baxter of Ocean Retreat homestay

TreeCropper Issue 57 - March 2009

Front cover:
A banana plant growing in an unheated greenhouse.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath
  3Letters to the editor - Politics unavoidable, needless instrumentation, pine nut cracker?
  4Conference 2009Kapiti Coast
  7Walnut blightNick Nelson Parker
  9BananasRoger and Janet Bodle, Sheryn Clothier
14Persimmonsincredible edibles
17Timber for toolsWendy Evans
18Olives - first harvestSonja Matla
20BiocharRaewyn Johnston, Sheryn Clothier
22HortResearch reformSheryn Clothier
21Chestnut - nut rotSheryn Clothier
24Hazelnut researchMaurice Deton & Jim Hammonds
25Filbert worm (hazelnut)Watch out for this pest
26Big pine conesSheryn Clothier
28Eucalypts for postEric Cairnes
30Hazelnut harvestersPeter Syms, Maurice Denton
34Vanilla in NZSheryn Clothier
36Natives for beesTree list, and varroa hint
37Book reviewsContinuous Cover Forestry
38Pips and piecesOlive trees, Event signs, GT mags, NZTCA books
39Upcoming EventsNZTCA Conference and more
40Membership application
Inside back coverSuppliers' indexplan and order for winter planting

Back cover: Conference 2009 notice: Register before 15 March 2009!
Photograph by Grant Baxter of Ocean Retreat homestay.

Photo - selection of pine cones with edible nuts

 

Conference 2009 - Photograph of Kapiti Coast by Grant Baxter of Ocean Retreat homestay

TreeCropper Issue 56 - December 2008

Front cover:
Selection of pine cones with edible nuts. Photograph by Eric Cairns.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath
  3Letters to the editor - Avocados and browsing, asimoyas, politics, avocado 'Bacon'
  5Pine nutsincredible edibles
  6Edible pinesLouis Trap, updated by Eric Cairnes
11Dwarfing trees by bark inversionGail Newcomb
12The Great NZ Bean HuntA Mark Christensen project
13Fruit Driller Caterpillar updateGordon Lees
14Conference 2009 - details 
20Conference 2009 registration 
26Biological AgricultureSheryn Clothier
28Index to TreeCropper back issuesGail Newcomb
38Pips and pieces - olive trees for saleMembers' buy, sell and exchange column
39Membership application

Back cover: Conference 2009 notice.
Photograph by Grant Baxter of Ocean Retreat homestay.

 


Front cover photo of pale-yellow fleshed asimoya

 

TreeCropper Issue 55 - September 2008

Front cover:
The fruit and seeds of a New Zealand-grown asimoya. Photo by Roy Hart. See article on page 20.

1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath
3Letters to the editor, Management Committee notes
4Message board - Wanted: Recipes, lawyer, photographs; Bed Swap
5Diana Loader - life membership 
6Leaf curl - curesYour suggestions for Taphrina deformans
8Copper levelsGordon Lees
10Decision making - choosing a cropSheryn Clothier
13Dr Don McKenziecompiled by Sheryn Clothier
18Ice Cream Bean - Inga edulisincredible edibles
20Asimoya - Asimina trilobaRoy Hart, Nelson Branch trial
22AvocadosNot for stock fodder
23OaksDon Hamilton
25Hackfalls ArboretumJohn Dean
26Propagating tips - Trees for freeWendy Evans
28Political party policies re climate change, research, biosecurityHon David Carter, Shane Adern, Jim Anderton, Dr Russel Norman
32Seasoning woodAnn and Bob Phillips
35Japanese Raisin Tree - Hovenia dulcisi/ Gail Newcomb; ii/ incredible edibles
38Almond - cultivar trial updateBob and Ann Phillips
40NutcrackerAnn and Bob Phillips
41Tree planting thoughtsPeter Fraser
42Northern Region - branch profileColleen Brown
45Permanent collection initiativeGordon Lees
48Conference 2009Ray Hollis
52“Managing pests and diseases”; Rob Lucas - book review by Sheryn Clothier
54pips & pieces - classified advertising: cherries, realty, publications, contributions…
56Contact details, Membership application

Back cover: Conference 2009 notice.
Photograph by Grant Baxter of Ocean Retreat homestay.

Front cover photo of red-fleshed apple Tropicana

 

Rear cover notice for Conference 2009

TreeCropper Issue 54 - June 2008

Front cover:
Tropicana, a red-fleshed apple. See page 23 for details. Photograph by Sarah Macmillan.

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath
  3Message boardBed Swap, Recipes wanted, Photographs needed, Artist required
  4 Letters to the editor 
  NZTCA Conference 2008:
    5 Jenny Lawrence wins Dr Don Mckenzie Award
    6 National team members
    8 Speakers
  11 Field trips
18 Apples - identification Jim Dunkley
20 Trees on farms Peter Frazer
23 Apple - red-fleshed Tropicana Mark Christensen
24 Karaka - research update David Klinac
26 Fruit driller caterpillar Gordon Lees and John Clearwater
30 Guavas incredible edibles
32 Processing facility - nuts (and fruit) David Klinac
34 Fruit manufacturing Edited by Sheryn Clothier
38 Nursery Register - book review Sheryn Clothier
39 Publications, Membership application
40 Membership application, Contact details

Back cover: Conference 2009 notice.
Photograph by Grant Baxter of Ocean Retreat homestay.


Front cover photo

 

Rear cover photo

TreeCropper Issue 53 - March 2008
 

Front and back cover:
The Dragon Fruit or pitaya - see story page 14
 

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2Message from the presidentJohn Dean
  3Message boardConference 2008, Eastwoodhill trip, Bed Swap
  4Walnuts - converting to cashby Jenny and Malcolm Lawrence
  7Walnuts - today's marketJenny Lawrence
  8Phytolacca acinosa - the world's most useless treeHeather Dean tells of its many uses
10Taming the Truffle - book by Ian Hall et alreview by Sheryn Clothier
11Grapes for any occasionincredible edibles
14Pitaya, aka Dragon FruitSheryn Clothier
15Nutty namesPeter Fraser
16Commercial citrus propagationElizabeth Rae, visiting Copperfield Nursery
18Apple variety reference siteNev Dawkins
21Gift an NZTCA membershipJust $40 could change someone's life
22Pesky pukekosSheryn Clothier
24Cheating the Cold - frost factorsSheryn Clothier
26Pollinisers for Whiteheart HazelnutsMurray Redpath
32Membership application & Contacts 
Front cover photo of cracked walnuts

 

Rear cover photo of a heritage apple tree discovered on a farm

TreeCropper Issue 52 - December 2007

Front cover:
Photograph by Stephen Goodenough courtesy of 'A Cracker of a Nut'

  1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
  2Message from the presidentJohn Dean
  3Message board 
  4Inbox 
  5Cropping carbonSheryn Clothier asks Larry Burrows
  8Emissions Trading SchemeWebEd, from MAF information
10Simple beesAlfred Harris, Waikato Branch
13Almond - trial reportAnn Phillips
16Blueberriesincredible edibles®
19Ex BlueberriesJennifer Hutson
20Conference 2008 
27EastwoodhillHeather Dean
28Central Districts Branch report:Diana Loader
29   Charitable research trustMark Christensen
30   Apples - cancer prevention researchMark Christensen
31   Tomatoes - cancer and nutritionMark Christensen
32   Huntington's disease researchMark Christensen
34   Blackboy peaches projectMark Christensen
 Walnuts: 
36   Waikato blight trialNick Nelson Parker
41   big wigs - Walnut Industry GroupShery Clothier asks Ralph Brown
44   NZWIG research overviewDr Heather North
46   New varietiesDiana Loader
48Membership application & contacts
Inside back cover - Guy Goldsbrough - obituary 

Back cover:
A photo of an original apple tree in what remains of the first orchard created by Sir William Fox at 'Westoe' in Marlon.
The variety is known currently as 'Jim's Favourite' after the current owner, Jim Howard's, Uncle Jim.
This is an example of heritage fruit trees being found on properties around New Zealand. We were able to obtain grafting wood and graft a number of these trees at NZTCA Central Districts Branch's latest grafting day to preserve this variety.
One day, we may be able to determine its original name.
- Mark Christensen

 

TreeCropper Issue 51 - September 2007

Front cover:
As seen during an NZTCA 2007 Conference field trip to the West Auckland property of Wade and Jenny Cornell, a banana flower setting fruit.
The type of banana is generally called a "sugar-type banana" as compared with the tropical commercial "Cavendish type banana".
The variety is either Misi, Luki or Hamoa, there is no observable difference.
The sugar-type bananas have much more flavour and are more rich and creamy. They are not used commercially in the tropics as their production is less per hectare.
They ripen more easily in subtropical conditions whereas the Cavendish require more tropical conditions.

Front cover photo

 


Rear cover photo
1 editor's opinionSheryn Clothier
2 message from the presidentJohn Dean
3 2008 conference
 Eastwoodhill trip
 tree crop bed swap
4 two ways to get a new avocado cultivarDr Robert Mann
8 pecanPaul Dodgshun
9 reviewsJohn Dean, Sheryn Clothier
10 tamarillo tangoTMincredible edibles®
12 pollinationNick Milne
14 growing timberWade Cornell
16 Nelson branch profilePeter Syms
20 commercialising murtilla in ChileAndy Barratt
24 Campomanesia lineatifoliaJohn Prince
26 weta motelsCraig Bleakley, Ian Stringer
28 say it with...er...nuts - heartnutsAlfred Harris
30 gevuina - research co-ordinator's reportMurray Redpath
34 gevuina - field notes from ChilePaul Kennel and Joanna Scott-Kennel
35 selective sheep - ShropshireLorne Kuehn
 WebAppendix - rennaissance for the Shropshire sheep breed
 Shropshires for weed-control in Christmas Tree plantations
36 gift memberships
37 quick plumb cake recipeMarilyn Lees
38 Graham Harris - obituary
39 pips & pieces - property for sale
40 Membership application, Contacts
Inside back cover: TreeCropper suppliers

Back cover:
More scenes from Conference 2007.

Front cover photo, Issue 50

 


Rear cover, Issue 50

TreeCropper Issue 50 - June 2007

Front cover:
Peter Robinson walks the Waikato and Thames-Coromandel Branch through his chestnut crop in Hamilton.

 2   President's report
 3   National Committee
 4   Mailbox / Tree Crop Bed Swap
 5   Tree crops - back to the future
 8   Feijoas
11   Book reviews
12   Chestnuts -
      13   importing in NZ
      19   in USA
      20   growing organically
      24   commercial reality
      25   consuming
26   Apple facts
27   Codlin moth trap
28   Fig research
32   Grazers or browsers
34   Edible oaks
37   Conference 2007 field trips
44   Dr Don McKenzie Award
45   NZTCA research
46   Food Competition
47   Pips and pieces
48   Membership applicationContacts
Inside back cover - planning for 2008:
      National Conference
      Eastwoodhill road trip

Back cover:
Scenes from Conference 2007.

Photo of Editor SherynOpen Opinion graphic

 

" You don't join Tree Crops to learn what to do," said NZTCA Northern Region and Conference 2007 Committee chairman Derek Craig.
"You join to listen to others to learn what not to do."
And this summed up my experience of Conference 2007.
Don't get me wrong, it was definitely not a showcase of errors. Rather, it showed me, who had joined NZTCA looking for answers, the truth of the old cliche - the more we learn the more we realise what we do not know.
We heard from scientists who have studied and analysed one aspect of one disease as it affects one species.
But Mother Nature is a complex web of interactions and consequences - how do we hope to identify, let alone understand, them all?
We listened to a speaker who totally contradicted everything we have previously read about pruning; who unashamedly told us to burn our books and backed up his arguments with a logic that demanded consideration.
We visited a teacher, a guru worshipped for her expertise. We saw her successes, but realised that, like the rest of us, even she has learnt from mistakes.
I guess, like many others, I joined NZTCA with the selfish expectations that I would pick the brains of those who knew - but I realise that, instead, I have just joined the ranks of those who ask the questions.

Sheryn Clothier -
Front cover photo, Issue 49

 


Rear cover, Issue 49

TreeCropper Issue 49 - March 2007

Front cover:
The abundant fruit of the attractive mulberry tree are a favourite of NZTCA president John Dean. Find out more on page 26.

 1   open opinion guest editorial - Tom Dinning
 2   President's report
 3   South Island Vice-President's report
 4   North Island Vice-President's report
 5   Conference 2007 update
 6   Cynthia Lund profile
 7   The olive industry in New Zealand
10  NZTCA olive research
11  Olive NZ profile
12  Pickling olives
15  Growing olives in New Zealand
16  Joining an olive co-op
17  Benefits of NZ olive oil
18  Managing your orchard floor with sheep
23  Orchard mowing and spraying equipment
26  Mulberries
18  Japanese Apricot
31  Karaka update
32  Setting up self-sufficiency
34  Our place in the future (eco-food)
36  Sub-tropicals in the Auckland Domain
38  Growing mangoes in New Zealand
40  Book reviews
42  Spreading the word about NZTCA
44  Walnut blight trials
46  Pips and pieces (members' buy, sell and exchange column) - fig book, hazel advice, flail mower, back blade
47  In brief - new processing factory in Hamilton, NZTCA publications, statistics
48  Membership application and Contacts

Back cover:
Top: A mango flower raceme, with a small fruit seemingly setting.
Bottom: A mangolette! As at time of printing this fruitlet has held on for five or six weeks - still a long way from success but promising. See article page 38.

 

Go to Earlier editions of "TreeCropper"

 

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Catalogs of magazine Articles

 
Title of magazine and Period Access
"NZTCA Journals" from 1975 All
"Growing Today" to April 1992 Members
"The Tree Cropper" from 1994 All


The above 3 Catalogs list articles from the beginning of NZTCA.

(Catalogs are large - each may take some moments to download)

TreeCropper articles from 2003 to present have yet to be catalogued alphabetically...


" The Tree Cropper" - our Official Journal's journey

 

Journals - oldest numbers, entire, viewable on-line

The richness and depth of knowledge in these documents is simply awesome...
[the first few pages (photocopies) could take a few seconds to download]

Volume & Number Dated Version accessible
Volume 1, Number 1 July 1975 Full All
Volume 1, Number 2 March 1976 Full Members
 
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