NZTCA Franklin Branch Mar 2016 newsletter

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION FRANKLIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER

In this edition...

Volume 37, Issue 2 - March, 2016

2016 Branch AGM at the Franklin Food Forest

Forthcoming events...

Fri 22nd to Sunday 24th April 2016 - NZ Tree Crops Assoc National Conference and AGM: Wesley College

Conference 2016 update

Rampant growth at the food forest

The NZ Tree Crops Assoc Notice of AGM

Notice is given of the 2016 Annual General Meeting of New Zealand Tree Crops Assoc.

Date: 1:30pm on Friday 22nd April 2016.

Address: Wesley College, 801 Paerata Rd, Pukekohe.

Sun 22nd May 2016 ...

Sun 19th June 2016 4th annual smallBlock Sunday Seminar

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

2016 NZTCA National Conference

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April, 2016 at Wesley College, 801 Paerata Rd, Pukekohe from 9 am.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Franklin: Fertility...Food...Future” and includes expert speakers and field trips on each of these themes, so come along as an attendee or as a volunteer.

Wanting to help us on one or more days? Have a look at http://TreeCropsConference.nz for full details of the presentations, field trips and social events.

smallBlock Sunday Seminar

Sunday 19th June 2016 at the Puni Community Hall

This popular seminar series returns for our fourth year of helping lifestyle block owners get more from their small blocks.

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 john@WJohnAllen.nz

Welcome to New Members: Chris Furneaux (Henderson)

Stacey Paton (Waiuku ex Hamilton) Jennifer Kerr (Waiuku ex Auckland)

Apricots, part of crop grown locally

Hugelkulture bed under construction at the food forest.

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

Letter from the Chair

Franklin Treecroppers base

We have set up a more permanent base for branch activities at the Franklin Food Forest in the Pukekohe High School orchard.

Funding applications have been made for a lockable container alongside a open-fronted work shed - we should hear about the success (or otherwise) of that application in May so cross your fingers for us.

2

Thank you to those who attended our AGM held at the Pukekohe High School Orchard in February. We welcome 3 new members on the committee, Dianne Smith, Faye Smith and Greg Quaife. Following the AGM we held a workshop, led by Sandy Cooper, on chip budding apricot onto golden queen peach seedlings that we have growing at our base in the orchard. We are very grateful to Pukekohe High School in allowing us to use this land as a base for the Franklin Branch. John Allen has also set up the Franklin Food Forest there. Keep an eye out for dates when John is working there as helpers are always welcome at this ongoing project.

March, 2016

Some apples varieties will have finished their season while others are still ripening. Has anyone who bought the Isomate 4play strips noticed a difference in the codling moth activity this season? Feedback would be helpful. I don’t have a problem with bugs of any sort on my pears so maybe they are the best to grow in our area. Does anyone have a problem with their pear trees?

Not long now until the 2016 National Conference so I hope those interested have registered as places are filling fast.

If you have any fruit or nut trees, berries, anything edible really or any timber, firewood, fodder trees that can go on our sales table at the conference please let Heather Douglas know. We want to showcase Franklin so a big effort is required by all. See you there.

Raewyn Jarkiewicz

Gardening J

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friends of the Franklin Food Forest The friends group now meets from 1:30 to 3:30 pm every Thursday at the Franklin Food Forest site in the Pukekohe High School orchard (corner of Glasgow Road and John Street) for a chin wag and working bee.

Much of the development work is now completed so the focus of the friends efforts will shift to maintaining the four food forest areas and preparing for the planned monthly workshops.

Also on a Thursday afternoon, the High School are offering their Duke of Edinburgh students the option of completing their community work activities at the food forest. They are a great group of willing workers keen to know more about this form of sustainable horticulture.

A development I am particularly pleased with is interest from a home-schooling mother to bring her children along to help and learn.

A rocket stove has gone on to our FFF wish list so that we can have a cuppa towards the end of our work sessions.

Field trip report

AGM+Apricot Budding Workshop Saturday 13th February 2016

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter 3

The great turnout of members and visitors were there for the apricot budding workshop and as a result we budded up around 103 peach root stocks with 23 varieties of apricot bud wood.

A week later and only 4 had succumbed to over-zealous budding cuts so around 100 will be available for purchase in the middle of the year. First preferences will be given to those who assisted on the day.

Many thanks to Sandy Cooper for his tutoring on the budding procedure. Sandy has been a long time supporter of our grafting, budding and pruning activities.

The food forest area is proving to be very fertile ground as the two pics below demonstrate. On the left is Raewyn planting out the peach seedlings when they were received last October. Less than five months later, here we are budding on to the very same root stock.

March, 2016

Our 2016 AGM held last month was short and sweet as all AGMs ought be.

Franklin TreeCroppers

Franklin Food Forest a Tree Crops project an article published in Valley Voice

TCA Franklin newsletter 4 March, 2016

Conference 2016 Organising committee report

Franklin: Fertility...Food...Future

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter 5 March, 2016

Hi Everyone Last Newsletter before our Annual Conference 22-24 April 2016.

Go to our Conference web site www.treecropsconference.nz to see the countdown and to register if you haven’t already. Franklin members, this will be the most affordable conference, no travel and no accommodation unless you would like to stay at the venue, Wesley College and save the driving.

We have a packed three days of great Speakers and excellent Field trips, if you can’t make it to all three then pick and choose and just buy your ticket for one experience if that’s what you want to do.

The Field trips are filling up fast and every trip is limited to one bus, if you don’t want to miss out, choose now.

Auction night on Saturday, we would still like donations of ANY items including plants, equipment, etc. We also have some busy jam and chutney makers for produce sale, all of this is for fund-raising for our Franklin Branch. (Also any plants, trees, etc). No donation too small, just give me a call or email to let me know or to arrange pick up.

Heather@coldoug.com 021 320828

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

Franklin Branch Committee Queen Bee: Raewyn Jarkiewicz 09 292 5051 Email rjarkie@gmail.com Honey Bee Secretary Diane Smith dismith@xtra.co.nz 09 238 7996 Honey Treasurer: Ian Laing Ph 09 236 3796

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Vice Chair Heather Douglas Ph 09 232 1103 Email heather.douglas12@gmail.com

March, 2016

Newsletter Editor John Allen Ph 09 238 1357 Email John@WJohnAllen.nz

The NTS Certificate in Nutrition Farming® Four Days of Life Changing Discovery Don’t miss this four-day seminar led by internationally acclaimed nutrition specialist, Graeme Sait, with co-presenter, leading biological agronomist, Steve Capeness. Learn cutting-edge strategies to improve the health of your farm, your garden, your planet and yourself.

Next Seminar: 8 - 5.15pm, Auckland (Pukekohe), April 26th-29th, 2016

Hive Coordinator Stephanie Coles 09 236 3554 rosscoles@xtra.co.nz

Graeme Sait Graeme is the CEO and co-founder of Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS), a world leader in biological agriculture. He is also an author/educator responsible for over 300 published articles and a popular book, “Nutrition Rules!”. He created the internationally acclaimed four-day course entitled ‘NTS Certificate in Nutrition Farming®’ and authored the associated 360-page training manual. Graeme is a sought-after speaker, specialising in soil health, plant health and animal health.

More recently, that emphasis has expanded to include planetary health, in recognition of the link between humus and carbon sequestration. He is also an expert in human nutrition and his fascinating presentations cover every aspect of wellness.

Honey Gatherer Convener: Stephanie Coles 09 236 3554 rosscoles@xtra.co.nz Worker Bees: Graham Wheeler 09 239 1177 graham@thewheelers.co.nz Faye Smith 09 239 3055 fayemariedsmith@vodafone.co.nz Greg Quaiffe 022 310 2807 gregquaife@xtra.co.nz

Watch Graeme’s talk on ‘Humus – the essential ingredient’ on YouTube Click Here

Steve Capeness Steve is Australia’s leading biological agronomist. He has helped thousands of farmers with strategies to improve their sustainability and profitability. He is a composting expert, a specialist in plant immunity, and has an unparalleled understanding of working with nature. He is an exceptional teacher with outstanding knowledge and a love for sharing.

Bookings are Essential Register Today

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, you will need your membership number which is also given on the newsletter label.

Cost (inc GST):

Location:

To register contact:

Standard $799

Counties Inn - Rata Room

Guy Macindoe

Early Bird $699 (before 4pm, 25th March)

17 Paerata Rd

(021) 931 832

PUKEKOHE 2120

or (07) 866 8682

Discount $599 for repeat attendees and extra persons from the same farming organisation (payment required 25th March).

Time: 8am - 5.15pm (7.30 am start Day 1 for registration)

Morning tea and lunch provided.

guy@biologix.co.nz

Accommodation available.

Ph: (09) 238 9319 www.countiesinn.co.nz

A Field day at your property?

This can be useful if you have something you would like to show us, some problem that we can discuss and help with, or you need ideas of what to plant.

SAFETY DECLARATION.

Please have a chat with someone on the committee or just let us know that you would like us to include your place, and the best time of year for you.

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.

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

Franklin TreeCroppers To ad ve rt is eh C o n ta ct H ea er e, fr ee to m em b er s, th er D o u g la s at H ea th er @ co ld o u co ld o u g .c o

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TCA Franklin newsletter

Used food-g rade 20 litre buckets - $5 contact Hea each ther at H ea th er @

7 March, 2016

on RadioNZ Listen to Stefan Sobkowiak’s interview This is a . ram National’s Saturday morning prog . very interesting 34 minutes

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.

TreeCropsConference.nz https://www.facebook.com/ groups/treescrops/ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/FranklinFoodForest/ RuralConnect.org.nz Assisting rural people and businesses in the broadband society

In this edition...

Report on Branch AGM and February field day

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS

Advice of Field Days in May and June

FRANKLIN BRANCH

Snippets from other Branch’s newsletters Franklin Food Forest 2016 NZTCA Conference organising committee

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