2015 Franklin Grafting Workshop

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

MM106 rootstock will be available (at $5 each; corrected price) 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/quince rootstock (at $8 each – price recently advised).

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.

2015 Franklin Pruning Workshop

Saturday July 25th, 1.00pm – Pukekohe High School orchard, Glasgow Road, Pukekohe

A hands-on session limited only by the tools available to us, so please bring secateurs, loppers, and saws that are sharp and thoroughly cleaned to avoid any cross-contamination of wood.

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.
 

Immediately following the Branch AGM, we will explore Pinewater, a 6.25 hectare fully certified organic orchard overlooking the Taihiki Estuary on the upper reaches of the Manukau Harbour.

Pinewater is owned and run by Alison and Brian with the help of their son and his partner.  Various animals keep the grass down on the land not planted in feijoa and lime trees or set aside as wetland and native bush revegetation areas.
 

Christmas Function

Sunday 7th December 2:30 pm at Pat and Sue’s property
McMiken Road, Waiau Pa.

Bring a Christmas plate for a shared afternoon tea.

Sue is a naturopath and has bees, avocados and herbal products plus a lovely garden to relax in.
 

Food Forests – an event for growers and home-owners

Saturday 8th November 2014 at 1:30 pm at Pukekohe High School.  $10 pp entry donation.

We are hosting a 2-hour presentation by James Samuel of Food Forest NZ.  He will show some of the recently released Permaculture Orchard film after describing the growing interest in more diverse and low input methods of food production.  Food forests, or multi-layered systems of mostly perennial plants, is means to achieve the goal of increasing yields while reducing labour and other inputs.

The approach of intentionally increasing diversity, mimics the naturally occurring forest systems, and brings with it multiple benefits. Such multi-dimensional systems haves less need for fossil fuel and chemical inputs, we find ourselves producing healthy chemical-free food that, if grown for commercial reasons, can command premium prices.  Today the demand for organics is increasing year on year, so makes good business sense.

James Samuel will show excerpts from a recent film called “Permaculture Orchard – Beyond Organic” featuring Stefan Sobkowiak, who will be visiting New Zealand in March next year.  The ground-breaking film goes into great detail about the methodologies employed on Stefan’s Miracle Farm orchard, that was converted first to Organic production, then more recently underwent a total re-design.

Following the talk there will be a visit to the Pukekohe High School orchard for an exploration of the pros and cons of converting it to a multi-layered system of mostly perennial plants.

A contribution of $10 will be requested at the door, but rest-assured no one will be turned away.  For more information please contact John Allen.

A Food Forest in Franklin?
The seminar is a part of our consideration on whether to establish a community learning and demonstration food forest in Franklin. Details and articles supporting the seminar are published:
You will leave the NZTCA National Web Pages; click to go to
http://smallblock.org.nz