NZTCA Franklin Branch Newsletter 2017 6 12

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION FRANKLIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER

In this edition...

Volume 38, Issue 2 - June, 2017

Waiuku Mudlarks...

Forthcoming events...

Saturday 25th June 2017 Workshop: propagating Apple Rootstock from root cuttings

Saturday 22nd July 2017 Workshop: Annual Franklin deciduous fruit tree pruning

Sunday 20th August 2017 Workshop: Franklin Annual Grafting Workshop

Kids in the Food Forest

Functional garden art in the ‘Naki

Propagating Apple Rootstock from root cuttings Saturday June 25th 2017, 1.30 - 3:30 pm at the Franklin Food Forest, Pukekohe High School orchard (entry off Glasgow Road).

Propagation of fruit trees from root cuttings is not a method we commonly use - it is so much easier to purchase bare-rooted root stock from a supplier. One of the functions of the Franklin Food Forest is to generate our own scion wood for grafting on to rootstock, so why would we not also create our own rootstock? Here is a method to do exactly that.

Reminder All TCA members are welcome at other meetings so look at the web site to see Events coming up www.treecrops.org.nz Articles appearing in this newsletter may be reproduced in whole or in part provided that credit is given to the Franklin Branch of the NZ Tree Crops Association and the Author.

TCA Branch Newsletters

Each area Newsletter Editor receives a copy of the other branches Newsletters by email. If you are interested in getting these forwarded to you, please let me know at franklin@treecrops.org.nz

Welcome to New Members:

Deciduous Fruit Tree Pruning & Training

Saturday 22nd July 2017, 1:30 to 3:30 pm Graham and Jill Wheeler’s property at 33 Needham Road, Pukekohe.

Try again we will, to run our annual pruning workshop at Graham Wheeler’s orchard in Pukekohe. This field trip was cancelled last year because of heavy run.

Please bring pruning shears/loppers. Like last year, this event is subject to weather that is suitable for pruning - dry weather for the following day or two. Our fingers are crossed Graham.

Franklin Annual Grafting Workshop

Sunday 20th August 2017, 9:30 am to 12 noon at Ian Laing’s barn, Hunter Road, Patumahoe.

MM6 rootstock and pear interstock will again be available at cost this year. This is your chance to learn to graft with expert assistance and then take home and plant your new trees.

Please bring scion wood for the tree you are wanting to grow - save the wood of the same thickness from any prunings in July. We will have some donated scion wood but varieties won’t be known until closer to the date.

We will also have a selection of apricot trees grafted on Peach Golden Queen rootstock for sale. Those who contributed to the grafting effort last year will get first dibs on the limited number of trees that are available.

The Yacon harvest, Franklin Food Forest

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

Letter from the auto Chair

We’ve had a couple of changes to the Branch committee this month past - two changes to key positions that leaves the functioning of your committee a little short.

Membership secretary and field trip convener Steph Coles has taken a leave of absence and Heather Douglas stepped down from the role of Branch Chairperson. We will miss these two long-serving committee members and replacing them will not be easy.

Raewyn has stepped back up to be the Chair and, responding to the request, John Allen has returned as newsletter editor and also taken up the role of membership convener.

2 June, 2017

Which still leaves the functioning of the Branch a little exposed on those occasions when not everyone is available to attend a committee meeting. So if you can assist the Branch by joining the committee, please let Raewyn know contact details for the committee are listed on page 7.

Experienced in alternative buildings?

‘Tis time to progress the construction of a work shelter at the Franklin Food Forest. The original plans called for a container to provide a secure storage area, plus a plastic quonset type shelter (around 50 sq m) for our work area.

Perhaps we have matured a little since the plans were first set, or perhaps we have turned a bright shade of green, but a container is no longer desirable so alternative constructions we are looking at.

If you have experience in earth-bag construction or regular timber-framed buildings and are happy advise us novices on the path we may now take, or to lend us a hand, we would love to hear from you.

Field day report: Chestnut Charlies Branch AGM - 12th Feb. 2017

Twenty years ago, Denis & Denise Dare planted grafted chestnut trees on their property. Originally with 5 x 5 spacings which proved too close, they were culled to 7 x 7, but were still too close.

A 20 x 20 m spacing for mature trees is best.

The chestnuts are planted in 2 main areas, on a slope and on the flat. The ones on the flat suffer from being too wet in the winter and too dry in the summer and do not grow as well as the trees planted on the slope.

They have planted 3 varieties: 1005 (a bigger Japanese hybrid); 1015 (which produces well in NZ’s climate); and 1002.

Chestnuts do not produce very well on the shaded side of a tree, so as trees get big and start shading neighbouring trees, Denis cuts them back to let in the light in again.

There have been many chestnut groups in NZ but none have proved very successful as they get very disjointed over the years.

Still a lot of small operators making flour and by products. Originally Denis & Denise were harvesting chestnuts, shelling them from their spiky outer cover and freezing the nut which they then sent to Japan. This went very well until the exchange rate changed and the venture became less economically sustainable. The Dare’s now sell their chestnuts on a pick-your-own basis which works very well for them. Trees are producing approximately 20/30 tonne per year.

A second, more recent venture for them is strawberries. They do ‘pick your own’ and also have a small shop on site for ready picked and strawberry ice-creams. They planted 85,000 plants (Camarosa variety) the first year which proved to be too many. The next year they planted 50,000 and only just kept up with the demand so next season (their 3rd) they are planting 70,000 plants. They plant out in May, start picking in mid-October and carry on thru to midJanuary.

RJ

NZ Tree Crops Assoc 2017 Conference & AGM New Plymouth – New Horizons

If he achieves his goal, it will be quite spectacular, but it will require ongoing weeding to keep the plantings separate.

One of his visions was a ford where the boundaries were indicated by bird boxes set up for blue teal – despite no blue teal living there. And will they really nest in these boxes?

A talk by Dr Sue Gardiner on breeding apples was fascinating. See Tree Cropper issue 90, June 2017, p8 for more details. My takehome message was that the research on apples is being streamlined through her genetic screening, meaning that we get apples with resistance to diseases much faster. Also, they can select plants with two different resistances to the same pest which means that the resistance is longer lasting and more durable. She can also test kiwifruit seedlings for sex, instead of waiting for flowering.

Dr Jim Walker spoke about integrated pest management (IPM), again focusing on apples. Apple exports rose from $340M in 2012 to $740 in 2016 – nearly double in 4 years. He said that ‘soft’ selec-

On the second day we went to Waiongana, a 4 hectare garden with intriguing elements including some captivating firewood walls. Developed as a labour of love, it is increasingly being used as a wedding venue.

We finished up at River Valley Farm avocados, intrigued to see their sorting machine. Most of their produce is sold through gate sales. We got to hear about pruning techniques and fertilizing. It’s always useful to listen to the questions others think to ask, and to hear the answers from those doing it full time.

There were 9 other properties I didn’t manage to visit as options for the field trips.

Each one gives me further ideas for my own property, including what not to do!

Planning is underway for next year’s conference in the Bay of Plenty – Tauranga. This is close to Franklin, only a 2 hour drive, and the growing conditions are similar enough for us to copy their ideas!

So put the dates in your diary now – 6 – 8 April 2018, and plan to be there.

Joan Leitch

June, 2017

Then we were off to Matthews NZ Tree Park. I must admit I misread this on the selection options, and thought we were going to another nursery. It is a 45 hectare property, where the owner has a unique vision of mass planting native trees in single species blocks.

As tree croppers, we were generally disbelieving of this effort. He doesn’t appear to be a plantsman, insisting on planting for effect rather than to suit the requirements of a tree.

Dr Walker warned about the spotted winged drosophila, which invaded Europe and California in 2010, and infects unripe fruit. Another threat is the marmorated stink bug, in North America from 1997 and Europe from 2004. Last year 500 were intercepted on our borders, including in suitcases. It is larger than our regular stink bug. If you think you see something – Catch it, Snap it, Report it.

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I don’t have much appreciation of conifers, but Pip McVicar was a young, energetic speaker talking about setting up her own nursery and her grafting techniques. On Saturday I was lucky enough to visit her nursery and see demonstrations on grafting. There were lots of questions and discussion. Pip produces cutting grown cryptomeria japonica ‘Egmont’ for hedging, which is fast growing, predictable and doesn’t have problems with dieback.

tive pesticides which interrupt mating are now common, as is biological control such as parasitic wasps.

TCA Franklin newsletter

The term conference sounds so dry and boring. Try instead weekend-long field trip with a few engaging speakers and the chance to learn from others.

Many of those who attend conference are dedicated life-long enthusiasts of tree cropping. You can get to rub shoulders with them, learn from them, and save yourself some time-consuming effort and heartache.

Franklin TreeCroppers

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

Field trip report Franklin Treecropper Tony Ogilvie was talking with an Auckland Council Park Ranger about the Mudlarks’ Mangrove removal project in Waiuku, and mentioned the Tree Crops orchard located at Edgewater Parade reserve.

Unaware of the history of these now mature trees, the ranger expressed support for a project to clean the site up.

Not being too happy about the use of RoundupTM for weed control, mulch was offered for putting around the trees.

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From that comment-in-passing, a 10 cubic metre heap of mulch appeared on site and feeling a bit daunted around the prospect of spreading it, our Chair organised a working bee. Late in March a team of 18 people turned up with shovels, barrows, trailers, and even a quad bike with trailer.

June, 2017

Thanks to all who came along that day, and made easy a big job. The mulch will be great cover for the spring and summer, and trees will be so appreciative.

Tony Ogilvie

Franklin Food Forest Updates in pictures

Progress at the food forest is best shown in pictures rather than words, so here goes:

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter 5

The 2017 Harvest Festival was celebrated in May with some locally grown produce and home-brewed drinks. Very tasty.

June, 2017

ary ITO

Help

Prim am from the here’s the te s rm fo y came in man

Graham Wheeler’s harvest loaf was admired by many.

Comfrey being harvested from the biomass belt with some help...

The childcare Bird boxes and insect hotels

- encouraging biodiversity.

centre planti

ng a crop of

annual vegg ies...

Franklin TreeCroppers

Field Day driving directions.

Propagating Apple Rootstock Saturday 25th June, 1.30 pm Franklin Food Forest. Pukekohe High School orchard

TCA Franklin newsletter

Franklin Branch Committee Queen Bee: Raewyn Jarkiewicz 09 292 5051 Email rjarkie@gmail.com Honey Bee Secretary Dianne Smith dismith@xtra.co.nz 09 238 7996 Worker Bee Treasurer: Graham Wheeler 09 239 1177 graham@thewheelers.co.nz

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Bee Chatter Editor & Hive Convener John Allen 09 238 1357 Email John@wJohnAllen.nz

June, 2017

Honey Bee Field Operations Greg Quaife 022 310 2807 greggobro@gmail.com

Deciduous Fruit Tree Pruning & Training

Saturday 22nd July 2017, 1:30 to 3:30 pm Graham and Jill Wheeler’s property at 33 Needham Road, Pukekohe.

The date on your NZTCA newsletter label shows the renewal date of your membership.

To log on to the membership section of the web site http://treecrops.org.nz, use the current password published on the inside front cover of the Tree Cropper magazine.

Franklin Annual Grafting Workshop

SAFETY DECLARATION. For the purpose of Field Days, the properties we visit are designated as work places. As there are multiple hazards, please take particular care.

Parents are responsible for their children.

Sunday 20th August 2017, 9:30 am to 12 noon at Ian Laing’s barn, Hunter Road, Patumahoe.

Fr a n k l i n T r ee C rop p ers Not ic e s Can you help?

Buy Se ll & Swap

Franklin TreeCroppers To ad ve rt is e h er e, fr ee to m em b er C o n ta ct Jo s, h n A ll en at fr an kl in @ tr ee cr o p s. o rg .n

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We are planning a couple of small scale permaculture projects to complement the food forest areas. They will be part of the learning and demonstration features.

TCA Franklin newsletter

z WANTED - co ncrete block s 400 x 200 be used to b x 190 mm to uild raised g arden beds lin Food Fore at the Frankst.

One is a herb spiral.

The other is a keyhole garden

If you have some stone (Auckland bluestone would be great) or scoria, please call John on 021 46 36 86 or email franklin@treecrops.org.nz.

Many thanks.

Member web sites:

Do you have a Web site that we can put a link to on the Newsletter? Please email us and we can add it on the next Newsletter. Include a short note on what the web site is about. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/treescrops/ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/FranklinFoodForest/ RuralConnect.org.nz Assisting rural people and businesses in the broadband society

June, 2017

These use quarry rock to create the form which will cover an area of around 10 square metres.

In this edition...

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS

Field reports on:

FRANKLIN BRANCH

Franklin Branch AGM NZTCA 2017 Conference and AGM Waiuku Field trip Upcoming workshops propagating Apple Rootstock from root cuttings deciduous fruit tree pruning and training Franklin Annual Grafting Workshop

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION FRANKLIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER Secretary: P O Box 1200, Pukekohe 2340