June Event – Restorative pruning tuition of fruit trees at Taihape
Central Districts and Taranaki Branch
Branch contact: centraldistricts@treecrops.org.nz
The national calendar of events below shows events for all branches.
The posts below show archived events and news that were mainly published prior to the switch to using one events calendar for all branches.
Central Districts Branch – September 2015 Apple grafting workshop
September Event – Apple grafting workshop
Date – Sunday September 27th 2015
Time – 10.00am start
Where – Glen Oroua Hall
523 Milner Road
Glen Oroua – [roadside parking]
Bring – A food contribution for a ‘shared lunch’ [tea, coffee etc provided] – plus any surplus plants/trees/seeds or related horticultural produce for a ‘bring & buy’ to supplement branch funds.
We have employed the services of horticultural tutor Warren Kerruish to conduct this event, covering the theory and practical aspects of the craft. A good selection of apple varieties will be
available plus any others that may arrive on the day. Apple rootstock has been sourced and is available to attendees @ $5.00 per rootstock stick.
Grafting knives and secateurs will be available for use but if you choose to bring your own, please ensure – the knives are very sharp and preferably purpose-built quality. Fixed-blade Stanley or Irwin knives [with a new blade] are okay….but retractable and snap-off blade versions of these knives are not. The average Swiss army/pocket knife is also unsuitable for grafting.
Remember also – to bring along some plant labels and newspaper/sacking etc, to wrap and retain
tree-root moisture while transporting your new trees home.
Central Districts – Pine Nuts, Grapes, Cellaring, Flax milling and Indoor Tropics
August 2015 Event – Pine Nuts, Grapes, Cellaring, Flax milling and Indoor Tropics.
Date – Sunday August 9 th 2015
Time – 10.30am start
Where – Peter & Margaret
Donnelly Road [accessed off State Hwy 1 between Mobil and Blue Bell Motel]
Foxton
Bring – Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear and any surplus plants/trees/seeds or
related horticultural produce for a ‘bring & buy’ to supplement branch funds.
Starting with a bare uninspiring sand hill, Peter & Margaret have established an impressive/productive property. We get an insight into pine nut production – covering pruning, training, cone harvesting/processing and marketing plus successful viticulture practice, including wine cellaring etc.
We’ll also be treated to an interesting tutorial on creative weaving explaining numerous fibre options, techniques and treatments.
After lunch…
1pm – Foxton Flax Stripper Museum – $4.00 pp entry.
Harbour St – adjacent to the ‘Windmill’ – An organised group tour has been arranged.
2.30pm – Bill’s
Wylie Road
Foxton – We visit a purpose-built[and expansive] glasshouse complex incorporating an
indoor swimming pool/spa surrounded by an impressive tropical plant/tree collection –
including bananas, pineapples, dates, cycads, palm trees etc. Yes, this is Foxton folks!
Central Districts Branch – June 2015 – Truffles & Passionfruit
June Event – Truffles & Passionfruit
Date - | 10am start |
Time - | Sunday June 14 th 2015 |
Where - | Heatherlea Oaks Truffiere Sorrensons Road – [off Heatherlea East Rd] Levin |
Bring - | Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear and any surplus plants/trees/seeds or related horticultural produce for a ‘bring & buy’ to supplement branch funds. |
Arthur and Linda own an established block of inoculated oak and hazelnut trees yielding quality truffles supplying up-market restaurants in Auckland and Wellington – fetching a return of $3000.00 /kg.
Expect an informative insight into the delicacy along with a truffle–hunting demo using their purpose-bred dog. Aside from the truffles, this spectacular property offers lakes, wetlands, native/exotic plantings, sweeping lawns and gardens.
After lunch …[around 1pm-ish]
Passion Valley Orchard
31B Koputaroa Road
Levin
Another inspiring property, built from scratch by Mike & Marilyn Forster starting with bare land. Which now includes planted wetlands/lakes, an impressive self-constructed home and in the past 3 years a 600 vine passion-fruit growing complex – all under cover. Producing quality fruit for export and local trade.
Central Districts Branch – (amended) cob-house; olive grove
May 2015 Event – Kiwifruit grading/packing experience, a cob-house tour and an olive grove.
Date – Sunday May 17th 2015
Bring – Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear
Time – NOTE – 11am 12pm start
Where – Changed*; will now start at:
12.00pm Matatara Road Wanganui [off ‘the Old Parapara Road] – Clive’s cob-built house where we have lunch then a tour of this uniquely crafted building.
2.00pm Kaiwhaiki Road Wanganui – Paul & Karen’s established award-winning olive grove and home orchard – for a tour, followed by an olive oil pressing demo and oil tasting session. [vehicle parking amongst the olive trees]
Visitors welcome at all events – unless stated otherwise
* Due to unforeseen circumstances we are unable to be hosted at Cooper Coolpac Kiwifruit packhouse on Sunday morning and as a consequence the field-day event will _*now*_ commence at *_12 mid-day_ at Matatara Road Whanganui* and proceed on as previously planned.
Perhaps this is a fitting opportunity to introduce the *Bring & Buy Plant Exchange* concept to our field-day events.....with _all_ returns going to branch funds. Members are asked to bring along any horticultural material - be it seeds, plants, trees or even related produce to Clive Aim's property this Sunday.[12 Noon] Not forgetting some spare cash as well.
My apologies for any inconvenience to members but sometimes even the best laid plans can go astray.
Thank you.
Kind regards.
Ian Harding
Central Districts Branch – Walnuts at Kai-iwi
April 2015 Event – Walnuts at Kai-iwi
Date – Sunday 12th April 2015
Time – 10am start
Where – Nuts ‘n May – Hel Loader & Scott Wilson property
737 Rangitatau East Road [nextdoor to Bushy Park Reserve]
Kai-iwi
Whanganui.
Bring – Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear
This 40 acre walnut property has been in the Loader family since 1987 when Hel’s parents Diana & Walter first established the grove from bare land. In 2012 Hel and partner Scott purchased the property and continue to grow quality nuts and other produce. We can look forward to an insight into walnut harvesting, grading and drying. It is hoped to have Diana & Walter join us when we visit.
Central Districts – Branch 2015 AGM at mixed orchard then to rural garden
March – Field-day event & Annual General Meeting
Date - | Sunday 1st March 2015 |
Time - | 10am start |
Where - | Craig & Mary-Anne property State Highway 54 Waituna West For safety reasons, please park vehicles in the paddock provided – via the main driveway entrance, 1st gateway on left. Roadside parking is NOT recommended. |
Bring - | Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear |
This property boasts an established mixed orchard operated on a semi-commercial basis. Hopefully some fruit still remains when we visit. Last season the Stanley prunes were especially appetising and morish. It is planned to conduct the AGM over lunch. |
|
Afternoon | |
1.30pm-ish | Donna/Steve property Jens Road [off Beaconsfield Valley Road] Cheltenham. |
This is an outstandingly landscaped hilltop rural garden...offering amazing views, clever planting combinations and lots of inspirational ideas. A short native bush walking track is also incorporated. A $5.00 pp. entrance fee applies to this property – payable to the host. |
Central Districts Branch – Taranaki overnighter February 2015
February 2015 – Two day Taranaki field-day event
Date – 21-22nd February 2015
Time – 10am start at Magnolia Grove at Waitara – Saturday morning
Bring – Food, clothing and linen requirements etc. – check details below.
There is overnight accommodation available for out-of-towners for which bookings are essential. Bring your lunches and drinks, sunhats and walking shoes suitable for the tracks at Pukeiti.
Accommodation for Friday and Saturday night, $35pp per night:
45 Wallath Road, Westown (3-storied).
http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/53866.asp
Some members may like to drive to Taranaki on Friday to avoid the hurried drive on Saturday a.m. Potluck evening meal for Saturday night. Supply your own food; linen and towels provided. To book, please contact Jane. Bookings will be essential – could sleep 11 with a squeeze.
10am Saturday 21 February – MAGNOLIA GROVE, Vance and Kathryn, Mahoetahi Road, Waitara (just off seaward side of SH3 close to the SH3 and SH3A junction).
Vance is a very gifted magnolia breeder of 30yrs experience. On this property he has a nursery of trees and shrubs plus citrus and grafted magnolias. There is an arboretum of 1.5ac containing sustainable firewood of gums and coppiced magnolias. Magnolia seedlings also are grown for the rootstock. The property is run under IPM principles; he gardens as naturally as possible to avoid the ‘imposed’ impact on their natural surroundings.
The trees and shrubs are sold throughout NZ and some grafting wood is exported overseas. Vance does most of his own research based from his years of experience. The aim here is to develop the business as opportunities present.
Magnolia Grove is also open during the Taranaki Rhodo Festival – a superb garden to visit and it will be a privilege to have Vance personally take us round.
12.30pm – Raimond and Nicole’s Urban Garden, Carrington Street, New Plymouth.
They have a 2 acre section based on purchasing rear sections from neighbours so have a 2ac valley complete with a pond. We will have our LUNCH here. The aim is to grow edible varieties not commonly found and share the produce with their family and friends. The garden is run by permaculture practices. This urban household garden property boasts mature specimens of Rhododendrons, Maples, flowering cherries, Eucalypts, conifers, NZ natives, Camellia hedging/specimens, Magnolias, a good range of nut trees esp. large walnut trees and many edible fruits. Mention has to be made of the orchids growing from the terraced slopes and a novel way of growing grapes. Raimond is also researching what will grow in coastal North Taranaki.
If time permits and members choose to, we can visit the Fernery at Pukekura Park nearby.
9.30am Sunday 22 Feb: PUKEITI RHODODENDRON GARDEN with Ken Davey.
Ken is going to point out rare species grown within the park and we can inspect the plants that perform in the early autumn. Ken has now retired from the Council horticultural division but the wealth of knowledge he possesses is immense so this is a great opportunity to tap into this.
12 noon: Eddie’s coastal garden and VIREYA nursery, South Road, Okato.
We will LUNCH on Eddie’s lawn then inspect the Vireya breeding project plus his woodland garden. Eddie has been involved with Vireya breeding for 20 years, and just last week had yet another Vireya registered with the International Rhododendron Register at Kew (RHS). ‘Perry Gold’ is the newly named plant and it may well be flowering at the time of our visit.
Eddie never had a particular plan for the property but it was set out as an apple orchard originally, then consequently destroyed by Cyclone Bola in 1988. Eddie has done his own research and trials. Plants will be available for sale.
Central Districts Branch – self-sustaining family lifestyle cropping
January 2015 field-day event
Date - | Sunday 25th January |
Time - | 10am start |
Where - | Rick & Angel property Ward Street [near the old hospital site] Raetihi. |
Bring - | Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear. |
Afternoon
1.15pm – | Phillip & Dorothy property Valley Road Raetihi. [Raetihi/Horopito Rd] Here we get to view a mature home garden and an early established farm orchard containing plum, nut and apple trees etc. |
2.30pm - | Fran & Ron property Lakes Road Ohakune. [off the Raetihi/Ohakune Rd] A nicely landscaped, large country garden with an interesting selection of established specimen trees. Fran’s horticultural knowledge and enthusiasm is very evident on this property. |
Central Districts Branch – treecropper paradise + stunning country garden
November/December field-day event
Date – Sunday 30th November
Time – 10am start
Where – Nelson & Pam property
Waughs Road
Bunnythorpe.
Bring – Your lunch, a coat and suitable footwear.
This 7 acre property is best described as a treecropper paradise…evolving over 36 years from original bare pasture. Inspiring features include a productive 40 tree plum orchard and a diverse collection of other fruit and nut trees, plus accompanying veggie gardens etc.
Afternoon – Lunch venue
Reo & Carolyn
Stoney Creek Road
Bunnythorpe.
Around mid-day we gather at this stunning country garden – providing a fitting location to conclude our last event for 2014. This property offers an appealing balance of specimen trees, sweeping lawns and diverse well appointed gardens. Entry fee – $5.00 pp – payable to the host.
