New Zealand Tree Crops Association
View upcoming branch events here >>
Branch contact - bayofplenty@treecrops.org.nz
Branch news and notices are below.
View list of all branches here >>
February Field Day
Host: Simon of O Cider
Venue: The Cidery, 50 Oikimoke Road, Te Puna
At: 1.00pm Sunday 8th February
The main focus will be the cider apple orchard and the cider making process.
The orchard is still being established with some trees 4 and others 3 years old.
Also on the property is an avocado orchard, a few other fruit trees and an extensive vegetable garden.
The whole property is run organically with some biodynamic principals also followed.
January Field day
Hosts: Graham and Christine
Venue: Esdaile Road, Tauranga
Time: 12 Noon Sunday 18th January
The AGM will be held at 12 noon during lunch. Bring your own lunch and a folding chair.
Tea, coffee and juice will be available. AGM reports will be distributed later.
1.15pm or at the end of our meeting we have the field day.
Graham and Christine have been living and developing their lifestyle block here for five years. There is a home orchard with quite a few espaliered fruit trees, vegetable and flower gardens. The fruit trees have been slow to establish and they suspect soil deficiencies so we will hear some of the things Christine has been learning about this at the organic course she has been attending.
How to get there: look out for our roadside signs.
December Field Day and Christmas BBQ
Hosts: Brian and Jan
Venue: Sedgemoor Lane, Katikati
Time: 3.00pm Sunday 14th December
By special request from several members we are revisiting Brian and Jan’s beautiful property. I know I never tire of wandering there.
Brian and Jan grow gold kiwifruit (the new G3 recently grafted) and avocados and have an extensive tree croppers orchard which includes many varieties of fruit trees, hazels, pecans, bananas, a berry house and propagating area. Also a large well producing vegetable garden.
Each year the club now buys apple root stock which Brian grafts with mainly heritage but also some older, popular apple varieties from wood off members trees. These are then sold at our tree sale day in July or prior to members.
Sausages, bread, cold and hot drinks will be provided.
Please bring a salad or dessert to share, plates, utensils, a glass and a chair.
Bring other drinks and alternative things to cook if you wish.
November 2014 Field Day
Speaker: Glynn Douglas
Time: 1.00pm Sunday 9th November 2014
Venue: to be advised
Glynn is a soil consultant from Hortigro who always gives an interesting, knowledgeable presentation and will talk on the nature of soil, its requirements and management for this area.
October Field Day – citrus from go to glow
Host: Grant Tennet
Venue: Copperfield Nurseries, 221 Snodgrass Road, Te Puna, Tauranga.
At: 1.00pm Sunday 12th October
It was realized at the Tree Sale as all the citrus were walking off site that we hadn’t been to Grant’s Nursery for quite a few years and I’m sure all our new members will find this day very interesting. Grant can show us the complete process as he starts from seed and ends up selling grafted citrus plants throughout New Zealand.
How to get there:
Snodgrass Road is off SH2 next on the right after Te Puna and opposite the road to the Quarry gardens.
September Field Day – mainly pruning demo
Hosts: John and Pru
Venue: Wainui Road South, Katikati
At: 1.00pm Sunday 14th September
Pru and John have an assortment of very old fruit trees that they have inherited plus been planting new ones so this will mainly be a pruning demonstration and will show us the training of young trees as well. Bring your secateurs as there could be time to have a go at some pieces off an extremely old plum. That is if we can reach any of it! They are also growing kiwifruit.
Some folding chairs might be useful.
How to get there:
Travel north on SH2 passing Apata (a large packhouse and a railway station on the left) up the next hill and Wainui Road South is next on the left at the start of the passing lanes opposite. From north pass Aongatete, continue on SH2 until the passing lanes and at the top of the hill to the right is Wainui Road South.
August Field Day:
Host: Michael Sweetlove
Venue: Wine Port Folio (Formerly Morton Estate Winery) State Highway
2, Katikati
At: 12 midday Sunday 10 August for mid-winter pot luck lunch
Due to a slight hiccup in Elizabeth’s brain our lunch is a bit late this year.
Sorry about that.
After lunch Michael will continue with his talk but this time the focus will be Champagne, which wasn’t covered at the luncheon last year. This is a different process to the making of wine. Also different are the grapes and growing so we will hear about that too. Our usual cuppa will conclude the day with maybe even champagne to taste at some stage.
Please bring a contribution to share for lunch and a folding chair.
How to get there:
From the South Wine Port Folio is on the left hand side of SH2 at Aongatete, which is between Tauranga and Katikati, opposite Aongatete Packhouse.
Watch for our signs. Turn in and take the ashphalt drive to the right of the cellar door and up to the factory beyond where there is plenty of parking.
Kia Ora All,
We will be blessing our signs with local Kaumatua on Friday 20 June, at 3pm. We would like to invite all interested parties to join us in this celebration.
Meet at the new Gilfillan Road Kati KaiWay sign at 3pm. We will then proceed to the kindergarten for a shared afternoon tea – please bring a plate.
Sorry for short notice but had to wait for confirmation from Kaumatua.
Spread the word. The more the merrier!
Come on you Lions, and BOP TreeCrops Associationers – this is celebrating all your hard work too!
Regards
Jizzy, Cushla and Biddy
And Children of Kati KaiWay
Hosts: Keith and Madelaine
Venue: Wright Road, Katikati
At 1.00pm Sunday 8th June
The property has 1.8 canopy hectares under citrus comprising Meyer and Yen Ben lemons, Tangelos, Navel Oranges, Afourer Mandarins plus a new mixed home orchard.
Keith is also keen to show us overheads of spices that he took on a visit to Zanzibar so this will be at the end for those wishing to stay.
Please note our midwinter lunch field day will be held in August.
Hosts: Bill and Elizabeth
Venue: Canon Road, Katikati
At: 1.00pm, Sunday 11th May
This will be a hands on propagation day run by Bill plus helpers covering cuttings, grafting and seed raising.
Bring secateurs, plastic bags for any cutting material you might glean and any plant material for cuttings you would like to try. Also your favourite folding chair.
Please note our midwinter lunch field day will be held in August.
