NZ Tree Crops Franklin Branch newsletter 2017 9 15

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION FRANKLIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER

In this edition...

Volume 38, Issue 3 - October, 2017

October workshop

Forthcoming events...

Sunday 29th October 2017 Workshop: Carbon Farming and Biochar

Saturday 25th November 2017 Franklin Branch Christmas Do at the Franklin Food Forest

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.

Apple root stock trial

Tools of the trade at our grafting workshop

Carbon Farming and Biochar Sunday October 29th 2017, 1.30 - 3:30 pm at John and Lois Allen’s, 192 Cameron Town Road, Pukekohe.

What do you do with your fruit tree prunings? Letting them decay in the open returns 100% of their carbon back to the atmosphere, adding to the drivers of climate change. Or do you burn them to ash? That too returns near 100% of their carbon back to the atmosphere and wastes a valuable resource.

Here’s an alternative to consider.

Turn those prunings in to biochar and make yourself a great soil amendment as well as helping to save the Earth by sequestering a little bit of atmospheric carbon in the soil.

This workshop will be a practical demonstration of biochar manufacturing processes that you could do at home. A short discussion on carbon farming will precede the practical part of the workshop.

Franklin Branch Christmas Do

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: Michael and Bev Oomen, Drury Lynette and William Smith, Auckland

Saturday 25th November 2017, 1:30 to 3:30 pm At the Franklin Food Forest. Bring something to eat and drink and a story to share.

A gift for the future from Ian Laing

Following on from our grafting workshop in August, Ian Laing has kindly donated his bench-mounted grafting tool to the Branch. Many thanks Ian.

Seville Oranges make wonderful marmalade

Following the NZTCA Conference last year hosted by Franklin Branch, I had a jar of Marmalade made by John and Bron Fergusson from their seville oranges. Delicious it was. John and Bron have offered fruit from this year’s crop to treecroppers - pick your own, free, Mexted Road area. Interested? Call Bron on 021 207 6450.

Apple tree seedling grown from seed

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

What do you think is the cause?

Franklin Tree Cropper Dianne Smith wonders what is going on with this damage to apple trees in the Franklin Food Forest.

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Sections of bark on small branches high up in the tree are being chewed.

October, 2017

Dianne’s enquiry to the Tree Crops Facebook page indicated the possibility of bird damage (Rosella ?).

This damage is on a Royal Gala apple.

Field day report: Propagating Apple Rootstock from cuttings and root prunings

Saturday June 25th 2017, 1.30 - 3:30 pm at the Franklin Food Forest

Who knows what a rootstock is? Most of you I would think!

Those that attended the grafting workshop will have grafted on to rootstock that may be shooting forth buds at this very moment.

As part of our commitment to providing resources to Tree Crop members through the Franklin Food Forest, we have initiated a programme of rootstock propagation with the aim of future fund raising and resource provision for member education.

The unsold rootstock from the grafting workshop has been grafted and planted out see pic below). Apple and trifoliata citrus rootstock cuttings have been taken and planted using various rootpromoting treatments#. We hope to ascertain the efficacy of each.

We have also root-pruned and layered two year old mm106 rootstock to produce multiple rootstock plants.

So plenty to see when we have our Christmas get together this December. c u there.

Greg Quaiffe. # The commercial rooting hormone, honey, aspirin and willow water solutions are each labelled.

But a Granny Smith next door to it has not been touched.

Dianne wonders if the sap is rising earlier on the Gala, thus it getting chewed.

Have you liked https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/treescrops/ ?

Rootstock for next year’s grafting workshop planted behind a wind shelter.

Field day report: Franklin 2017 Grafting Workshop Sunday August 20th 2017, 9.30 am - 12 noon

Franklin TreeCroppers

A huge range of psion wood was on offer, much of it supplied by our expert grafter and tutor Sandy Cooper (pictured between the branches in the picture below).

I have attended many grafting workshops now with Sandy demonstrating his skills, and every time, I have learned something new.

Pictures courtesy of David Whyte.

TCA Franklin newsletter

Always well attended , this year’s grafting workshop made MM6 rootstock and pear interstock available to members at cost again.

3 October, 2017

Field day report: Deciduous Fruit Tree Pruning & Training

Saturday 22nd July 2017, 1:30 to 3:30 pm Graham and Jill Wheeler’s property

Graham and Jill have not had a lot of luck from the weather gods with our pruning workshops at their place.

Last year’s event was cancelled due to the weather and, if we were consistent, this year’s would have been cancelled too.

But we persisted and had a very enjoyable and informative session, dodging rain showers to explore their garden area.

Graham’s orchard is quite new, with many trees being only 2-3 years old. Which gave us the opportunity to focus on training trees as much as on pruning them. As Stefan Sobkowiak advocated in his 2014 video “The Permaculture Orchard : Beyond Organic”, train the trees in the early years, and the need for annual pruning is diminished.

John Allen

Franklin TreeCroppers Funny the people you meet....

TCA Franklin newsletter

I was at a funeral a few weeks ago and happened to get talking as you do, to the minister who took the service.

Apart from the usual words of condolence and sympathy, we covered subjects such as organic goat husbandry, homeopathy and biodynamic farming practises.

Margaret knew lots about these things. To me however, biodynamic meant dancing naked under a full moon while splashing wet earthy stuff about the place.

Intrigued as I was to learn more, I invited myself to visit. Oh, did I mention a full moon wasn’t far away?

4 October, 2017

We arrived a week later in the early afternoon amidst a wet southerly blowing through their property just off State Highway 2. A walk thru the orchard in between showers revealed a well kept mix of healthy three year old fruit trees, plums in full bloom. Apples starting to bud as were

most of the trees.

The chooks had free rein of the orchard and the rooster, we were warned, owned it - so eye contact comes at your own peril.

The first sign of anything airy fairy were the two smallish drums sitting under one of the trees. Very smelly stuff apparently. I took Margaret’s word on that. Something to do with fish guts and seaweed.

So where’s your Stonehenge , your pile of rocks, your altar to the gods I asked, immediately wondering what conflict with religious deities I might have inflamed. Oh we don’t do that Margaret said we buy it already hokey pokeyed in the bottle, and just have to water it down and splash it around three times a year. So we don’t get to take our clothes off and run around I asked. Of course you can if you like but watch the rooster she said as she turned to walk back to the house. Cup of tea when you’re ready she called back.

Tea and a chat always a nice end to the day, and the story’s of laden fruit trees leads me to believe anybody can do this biodynamic thing no matter your religious bent.

Our goodbyes were laced with an invitation to come back around February to witness the fruits of biodynamic magic.

Thanks Margaret. See you then.

By Greg Quaiffe

Franklin Food Forest Updates in pictures

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter October, 2017

Rootstock for next year’s grafting workshop planted behind a wind shelter.

The biomass belt, weeded and with comfrey growing strongly after the winter

Apple Rootstock Trial

The surplus apple psion wood from our grafting workshop was put to good use in an informal trial that explores the effect of different apple rootstocks on the fruiting tree.

Five rootstocks were planted: Northern Spy (thank you David Whyte and Waikato Branch for making some available to us); M.793 ; M.9 ; M.26 ; MM.106 in each of three bays (15 altogether). Three different psion woods were grafted on to the rootstock to set the trial up.

The first of the grafts done on 23rd August are sprouting on the rootstock trial.

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Our new plastic house, providing shelter and a work space in the interim

How will the rootstock determine the fruit tree growth characteristics? We’ll let you know next year. In the mean time, a chart on the Notice Board (page 7) describes each of the rootstocks we used.

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

Franklin Branch Committee Queen Bee: Raewyn Jarkiewicz 09 292 5051 Email rjarkie@gmail.com

Field Day driving directions.

Carbon Farming and Biochar Sunday 29th October 2017, 1:30 to 3:30 pm Lois and John’s property, 192 Cameron Town Road.

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

October, 2017

Honey Bee Field Operations Greg Quaife 022 310 2807 greggobro@gmail.com Worker Bee Cathy Kenkel 021 120 8710 cathy@kenkel.co.nz 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.

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.

Franklin Branch Christmas Do Saturday 25th November 2017, 1.30 pm Franklin Food Forest. Pukekohe High School orchard

Fr a n k l i n T r ee C rop p ers Not ic e s Buy Se ll & Swap

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

TCA Franklin newsletter

z WANTED - co ncrete block s 40 be used to b 0 x 200 x 19 uild raised g 0 mm to arden beds lin Food Fore at the Frankst.

Franklin TreeCroppers

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Apple rootstock descriptions.

Notes

Northern Spy

3-5m

Wetter soils and clay

Medium size Tends to be shallow rooted Staking not required for trees on this rootstock

M.793

4-6m

Adapts to a wider range of soil types

A cross between M.2 and Northern Spy heavier crops than Northern Spy Less productive than MM.106, about 30% larger tree size Excellent resistance to Wooly aphids

M.9

3m

Well drained, fertile soils.

Not suitable for heavy clay soils Not suitable dry, sandy soils

Dwarfing fruit tree rootstock induces early cropping on young trees Brittle root system that rarely suckers

M.26

2-3m

Not suitable for extended wet soil conditions Stake if planted in windy areas Recommended for small gardens & espaliering

Seedling cross between M.16 and M.9 Dwarf fruit tree rootstock Is larger than, hardier and quicker growing than M9 Intermediate vigour rootstock, brittle root system

MM.106

4.5m

Adapts to wide range of soils and climates Good for most soils Not suited to sites with poor draining More sensitive to soil moisture levels than many rootstocks

A cross between Northern Spy x M.1.

Semi dwarf tree Does not sucker Is resistant to Wooly Aphids, Produces trees with moderate vigour and heavy cropping potential

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

October, 2017

Rootstock Tree height Suited to

In this edition...

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS

Field reports on: propagating Apple Rootstock from root cuttings

FRANKLIN BRANCH

deciduous fruit tree pruning and training Franklin Annual Grafting Workshop Upcoming workshops Carbon Farming and Biochar making Franklin Branch Christmas Do

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