NZTCA Franklin Branch May 2015 Newsletter

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION FRANKLIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER

In this edition...

Volume 36, Issue 2 - May, 2015

Franklin Food Forest

Forthcoming events...

Sunday May 24th - Video showing of “The Permaculture Orchard”

Sunday 21st June - smallBlock Sunday Seminar, Puni School Hall

Saturday July 4th - Waikato Plant Sale

Saturday July 11th - Auckland Plant Sale

Sat July 25th - Franklin Pruning W/S

Sun August 23rd - Franklin Grafting W/S

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 john@WJohnAllen.nz

Welcome to New Members: Rachel Vince (Remuera) Denise Pollard (Remuera) Annemarie Preston (Pukekohe) Ray and Verna Hook (Bombay)

Conference2016 update

May Field day - a video

The Permaculture Orchard - Beyond Organics

2:30pm on Sunday 24th May at Town Mouse Café, (video will screen from 3 to 4:30 pm) 191 King Street, Pukekohe (right next to Possum Bourne’s statue)

This 2015 video has been seen by a few people now and without exception, all have been impressed by the practical advice given by Stefan Sobkowiak.

Stefan runs an organic orchard and this is his story of how he got from being an organic orchardist to an international speaker.

Many thanks to Holly at the Town Mouse for making a room and video projector available.

Tea Coffee and other drinks plus cakes and biscuits will be available for purchase from 2:30 and following the screen which ends around 4:30.

CUSTOMKIT BUILDINGS’ 2015 smallBlock Sunday Seminar

Sunday 21st June 2015 12 Noon - 4:00 pm at the Puni Community Hall

This popular seminar series returns for our 3rd year of helping lifestyle block owners get more from their small blocks. We are delighted to have Customkit Buildings as the event sponsor.

Waikato & Auckland Plant Sales

Saturday 4th July, 9 am - 1 pm. Waikato Branch Annual Plant Sale @ Hamilton Gardens.

Sat. 11th July, 10 am - 1 pm. Auckland Botanic Gardens Manurewa (covered courtyard)

2015 Franklin Pruning Workshop

Saturday July 25th, 1.00pm - venue to be confirmed.

2015 Franklin Grafting Workshop

Sunday 23rd August, 10:00 am start. At Ian Laing’s barn.

MM106 rootstock will be available (at $3 each) for grafting both eating and cider scion wood.

We will also do some pear and perry pear grafting subject to the availability of interstock pear rootstock.

This is your chance to learn to graft with expert assistance and then take home and plant your new trees.

Interested in bud grafting stonefruits? We will have peach root stock available to a bud grafting workshop planned for February 2016. Mark-up your diaries now.

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

Letter from the Chair May 2015

A very quiet start to 2015 at the Franklin Branch. We have had quite a few committee members resign due to work commitments and as we are a volunteer organisation we all need to do our bit to keep the branch running.

We have a subcommittee formed that is organising the 2016 conference but we do need more general committee members on board. Please drop me an email if you can offer some of your time.

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I hope you all have had a great fruiting season and have managed to overcome any wasp invasion. As autumn draws to a close the leaves have started to fall on the deciduous trees with temperatures remaining relatively mild.

May, 2015

I do hope most of you can attend the 3rd Smallblock Sunday Seminar coming up on 21st June. Once again it will be at the Puni Hall. We have a pruning workshop in July and grafting workshop in August. This year we hope to have MM106 apple rootstock available for grafting. We are also seeking some interstocked pears - quince rootstock that has a pear graft already on it - for grafting in February. This makes it a compatible rootstock for all pear varieties.

Big ... Bigger ... Biggest

According to the NZ Herald, a member of the Bay Of Plenty NZTCA branch claimed the ‘biggest feijoa’ prize at 233 grams. That was then and in a rush of ever-bigger claims this year, the biggest has, well, got even bigger and bigger and bigger.

272 gms (pic Duncan Brown) >>> 316 gms (pic Paul Taylor) >>> 385 gms (pic Paul Taylor

So how big is yours?

The Conference BF Challenge

Start your planning now to grow the Biggest Feijoa for display at next year’s NZTCA Conference. The weight to beat is 385 grams.

Note these events in your diary Auckland Branch

For scion wood, we are looking to source several different varieties of cider apple, perry pear plus eating pears and apples. If you have any of these varieties and are happy to keep your prunings, then bring them along and share with others.

First Annual Tree and Plant Sale

Raewyn Jarkiewicz

Everyone welcome: gardeners, lifestyle and small block holders, farmers, nurseries. You can buy and sell, look, talk trees and ask questions.

Like to help?

We need some one who can take over the importan t secretar y’s r ole for the Franklin Bra nch.

It ’s not too on erous - six co mmittee meetings per year .

Call Raewyn

Saturday 11 July 2015 Wet or Fine 10 am to 1 pm Venue: Auckland Botanic Gardens Manurewa In the covered courtyards.

Waikato Branch

2015 Annual Tree Crops Sale @ Hamilton Gardens.

4 July gates opening at 10 am.

Biochar Interest Group NZ A field day for the Biochar Interest Group was held recently at Treecropper Cam Smith’s property in Mauku.

Biochar makers on display included two TLUDs and a pyramid kiln.

I hear some ask huhh? What is a TLUD?

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

The name ‘Top Lit Up Draft’ describes how the biochar maker works. A stack of dry organic matter is placed in a 120 litre steel drum and lit at the top.

Air feeds the fire through holes in the base of the drum (giving the up draft).

If simply left to burn down, ash will be produced just like in an incinerator.

3 Pic2 The burn is quenched when ash falls from TLUD’s bottom, preventing the char turning to ash.

In both biochar makers, it is the flame cap above the burning material that restricts air flow to the char beneath the flames. This burning in a reduced-air environment is the pyrolysis process that creates char. The flame cap in the TLUD’s secondary chamber is fuelled by wood gases driven off the heated wood.

The primary purpose of these systems is to make biochar (each 100 cubic meters of feed stock produces around 25 cu m of char) and the heat they produce is not utilised.

Other types of pyrolysers that produce a similar volume of biochar also allow process heat and synthesis gas (Syngas) to be captured. Syngas, mainly hydrogen (H) and carbon monoxide (CO) plus carbon dioxide (CO2), can be used as a fuel or, if cleaned of contaminants like sulphur, run an engine or be condensed to make biodiesel.

Biochar has many uses. It is an effective filter, a soil conditioner (when inoculated with compost tea), or can be buried to near-permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere and sequester it in the soil. Biochar is also finding increased applications in animal farming, including as a feed supplement and as a bedding material.

The organic matter we used was waste timber and corn cobs. Post shavings, manure, sawdust or pine needles could also be burned with the properties of biochar differing according to the feed stock used.

Waste organic matter is a great feed stock but with increasing competition for that resource, alternatives would be better. Especially if grown locally.

Pic3 - A pyramid kiln just starting up. Note there is some smoke.

Pic4 - Biochar produced from wood chips.

Pic4 - Biochar produced from corn cobs.

Double benefits accrue from the permaculture approach of growing trees that provide feed for stock and feed stock to make biochar and biofuels.

Tree crops suitable for growing under a SRC (Short Rotation Coppicing) regime include poplars and willows. These crops can be harvested two to three years after planting and coppicing. Miscanthus is also a suitable biofuel crop.

Interested in joining the Biochar Interest Group NZ? Give me a call - John Allen on 021 46 36 86.

Pic5 -From wood shavings to Biochar

May, 2015

The secret to making char and not ash is in the second drum on top of the first (pics 1 & 2). This provides a space for the wood gases driven off the heated organic matter to burn. Oxygen is introduced into this secondary burn chamber to ensure a cleaner, smokeless burn. A flue is not essential but it increases the draft creating a hotter Pic1 - two TLUDs at the start of the burn - note there is no smoke. burn that further reduces smoke.

Pyramid kilns will often be dug into the ground. This example (Pic 3) is constructed in steel and fed with wood at a rate that maintains a smokeless fire. Char is created below the fire and when the pyramid is full of char, the fire is quenched.

Franklin TreeCroppers TCA Franklin newsletter

The establishment of a community learning and demonstration food forest in Franklin is all go with an agreement between Franklin Treecroppers and Pukekohe High School.

Franklin Food Forest a Tree Crops project Community Learning and Demonstration facility

What is a food forest?

The prime objective of the Franklin Food Forest is to establish a community learning and demonstration facility. This will be in the Pukekohe High School’s existing 2,500 square metre orchard.

A food forest, also called a forest garden, has been defined as ‘a perennial polyculture of multipurpose plants‘.

That is not a lot of are in which to create a food forest. But being a demonstration facility, we are establishing not one but four forests.

Perennial plants grow for more than two seasons, so a food forest implies permanence.

One, the smallest at 128 square metres will be for urban applications - a productive, low-maintenance home orchard.

A polyculture is the opposite of monoculture with all the implications of sustainability, reduced use of poisoning ‘cides’ and fresher, healthier foods.

The other three will each be 256 sq m and will explore the design elements needed to achieve: an economic use on lifestyle blocks; beneficial companions in commercial growing operations; and biologically diverse shelter belt plantings.

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Multipurpose means they can provide two or more of the seven ‘F’s: Food, Fibre, Pharmaceuticals, Fodder for animals, Fuel or Fertiliser. And not to forget Fun.

May, 2015

One important thing is that food forests are designed to mimic a forest ecological system, producing a stable and sustainable agricultural structure.

The project is supported by a $2,000 grant from Auckland Council’s Environmental Initiatives Fund plus $1,000 each from the Tree Crops Association national committee and Franklin Branch.

Your can follow the project at https://facebook.com/groups/FranklinFoodForest/

What an urban food forest may look like...

Franklin TreeCroppers Franklin: Fertility...Food...Future The first of our speakers have confirmed their attendance.

Jack Milbank

So if you know of a local speaker with something to say around our conference theme, please contact Heather Douglas.

The conference web site will go live around May 20th at the url http://TreecropsConference.nz (sorry it is not available for you to see today)

Conference 2016 - Draft Schedule v3 (subject to change) 7:00 am

Friday 22nd April

Saturday 23rd April

Sunday 24th April

Closed

Breakfast for those staying on site

Breakfast for those staying on site

Registration / Coffee-Tea Socialise/Free time

Registration / Coffee-Tea Socialise/Free time

Registration / Coffee-Tea Socialise/Free time

Formal opening

Tour 4 | Tour 5 | Tour 6 (lunch supplied)

7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am

10:00 am

session1 | Meetings: | session2 Branch Newsletter Editors Specialist Groups

10:30 am

morning tea

morning tea

11:00 am

repeat of session1 | Meetings: | session2 Delegates

session4 | session5 | session6

Lunch

Tour 1 | Tour 2 | Tour 3 (lunch supplied)

9:00 am 9:30 am

11:30 am

Keynote address

12 noon 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 1:30 pm

NZTCA AGM

2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm

Afternoon tea

Presentations

3:30 pm

session3

Afternoon tea

4:00 pm

Departures

4:30 pm 5:00 pm

Socialise/Free time

Socialise/Free time

Friday pre-dinner Drinks

Saturday pre-dinner Drinks

Friday Dinner

Saturday Dinner

Entertainment

Guest Speaker Auction Socialising

5:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:30 pm 8:00 pm 8:30 pm 9:00 pm 9:30 pm 10:00 pm KEY Dining Hall Presentation in Conference Room Bus Tours Rec Centre Entry foyer Closed

Closed

Located in Bundaberg Queensland Australia Jack was bought up on mixed farming property in Zimbabwe. Jack moved to Australia in 1999 to study Agronomy at the University of Queensland. Jack worked in a range of farming, food and beverage sectors from 2003, in 2009 Jack became the Managing Director of Hortus Technical Services, Australia’s leading independent NATA certified laboratory and agronomic services company. In 2013 Jack Founded Biofilm Crop Protection Pty Ltd to research, commercially ferment, and distribute biotechnology, Biofilm has subsequently patented their production process and established an office in the USA. In 2014 Jack founded the Bargara Brewing Company, producing Craft Beer for Queenslanders.

As a 2006/7 Nuffield Scholar studying “Globally competitive horticultural production processing and marketing using renewable energy” over eighteen months Jack spent time researching best practice agronomic management, product processing, clean energy and marketing in India, New Zealand, China, UAE, UK and the US. Along with proven theoretical knowledge, Jack combines practical international experience in Large scale Agricultural and horticultural projects, Environmental Science, technical management, commercialization, project development and implementation, client service, training and organisational structure streamlining. Jack has had an active involvement in the implementation of industry wide research projects, and finding solutions to improve the efficiency and profitability of producers by facilitating the optimal use of crop production inputs through monitoring, testing, research, training and consulting services that represent worlds’ best practices in crop management systems.

May, 2015

Our focus is on Franklin and there are a number of local innovators being featured either as speakers or in field trips.

Hortus is Australia’s leading certified independent laboratory and agronomic services company.

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A draft schedule for the three-day conference has been prepared and we are busy finding speakers and field trips to make it a stimulating event.

Managing Director Hortus Technical Services

TCA Franklin newsletter

Conference 2016 Organising committee report

Franklin TreeCroppers

Field Day driving directions.

TCA Franklin newsletter

Franklin Branch Committee Chair Raewyn Jarkiewicz 09 292 5051 Email rjarkie@gmail.com Hon Secretary franklin@treecrops.org.nz vacant - want to help? Contact Raewyn.

Hon Treasurer Ian Laing Ph 09 236 3796

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

May, 2015

Newsletter Editor John Allen Ph 09 238 1357 Email John@WJohnAllen.nz Membership Coordinator Stephanie Coles 09 236 3554 rosscoles@xtra.co.nz Field Day Convener: Stephanie Coles 09 236 3554 rosscoles@xtra.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, you will need your membership number which is also given on the newsletter label.

An apple tree flowering in May at Graham Wheeler’s Ramarama property.

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.

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.

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.

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 co 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 May, 2015

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.

RuralConnect.org.nz Assisting rural people and businesses in the broadband society

In this edition...

Advice of FieldDays in May, June, July, August 2015

NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS

Snippets from other Branch’s newsletters

FRANKLIN BRANCH

Franklin Food Forest 2016 NZTCA Conference organising committee

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