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New Zealand Tree Crops Association

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Northland Branch.

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Northland Branch – 2015 July spit roast dinner

JULY – SPIT ROAST DINNER
When: * 5pm * Saturday, 18th July * *(note change of date)*
Where: Whareora Hall, Whangarei

Please bring a plate of one of the following, hot and spicy, fresh and fruity, gooey and chewy, to accompany our spit roast and vege.

The evening program starts at 5.30 with dinner, at 6.30 we will have speakers on their favourite subject and a short film.

We have invited only our branch members to this cozy venue, but please feel free to bring along a friend/neighbour/family.

And please dress for the occasion it can get cold in these old halls.

As the authorities frown on adults imbibing alcohol outside of their own homes, we will serve non-alcoholic beverages.

*Cost:* *$5per person*
 

Northland Branch – Tahi Conservation Estate with Economic Backbone

TAHI ESTATE Saturday June 13th 10:30am (with a rain check to Saturday June 20th)
Pataua North Road, Pataua North, Whangarei.

A Conservation Estate with Economic Backbone

A decade ago two Auckland academics saw the potential to turn a rundown coastal cattle farm near Whangarei into an eco sanctuary.  John and Anne removed the roaming cattle and converted the 540 hectares into a bee farm and conservation estate.  They run three thousand hives and export manuka honey to a number of countries. Two hundred and fifty thousand native trees have been planted, wetlands created, and birds have been encouraged back with extensive pest control.  Now Tahi Conservation Estate is home to 69 bird species, with many of them rare or threatened.  Dr Craig says he was keen to access pateke, or brown teal and was told it would take three years to get approval.  He says “within six months they’d arrived by themselves, a far better solution.”  The property which once employed one person, now supports over a dozen staff including bee keepers and a pest controller.

John says another aim of Tahi Estate was to show it was possible to make money from conservation and while honey is their main income, visitors also can pay to stay on the farm, or walk over the 35 kilometres of track.  Tahi has joined an international group called The Long Run Initiative.  John says “it has a business model of the four “c’s”, we all must succeed at conservation, community, culture and commerce, and we are audited on those.”

From Country Life on 27 Mar 2015 (Radio New Zealand)
Hear the audio here   http://bit.ly/1HERA3I

If you want to carpool, meet at 9:30am in the carpark on the NW corner of Hatea Drive and Dent St intersection, tucked below the hill and across Hatea Dr from the river.
If the weather is not suitable, a decision will be made on the Friday morning to postpone till the following Saturday, so keep an eye on your emails.
Where: 1824 Pataua Nth Rd, Pataua Nth, Whangarei.
Take Whareora Road off Mill Road out of the city.
Whareora Road becomes the Pataua North road.
Continue past the Whareora Hall and pass through the tiny settlements of Tahere and Hora-hora – total distance from the city of approx 30 km.
As you approach the outskirts of the Pataua North settlement you will see signs for the Tahi Estate.  Park in the area at the Honey Processing shed where we will meet for the talk.  It takes at least 30 minutes from Mill Road.
Bring: lunch, a drink, and anything else you might need for an interesting day out in winter.
 

NZTCA National Conference 2015 Northland Branch

NZTCA annual national event, March 20~22, 2015 

‘Conference 2015’ hosted by Northland Branch

Biological Growing

– Expert Speakers and Workshops include organic agriculture, bio fuel, seaweed-sourced fertilisers – soil food, moth pheromones and apples, herbs and plants to attract beneficial insects.

– Field trips include a Kiwifruit orchard, Avocado orchard, and a sub tropical nursery & gardens.

Bookings closed – sorry.
Conference 2016 details coming soon…

Details on page Conference 2015 and in December 2014 TreeCropper.

Auckland + Northland branches – Incredible slice of Northland history

Combined fieldtrip Auckland/Northland branches

Carpooling where we can.
What: Incredible slice of Northland history
When: Sunday 12th April 11am
Where: Morrison’s orchard Warkworth

Meeting alongside the Mahurangi river bank in Warkworth (look out for the yellow Treecrops banner down by the i-site information centre Percy St off Baxter St) at 11.00 am for munch (morning tea/lunch) so bring along a rug, munch, thermos, etc as there is a grassed picnic area.

Following brunch we will carpool down the road to the Morrison’s orchard (5 mins) where Tom and Robyn Morrison will give us an overview of the history of the Morrison family history in the North, and wow what a history it is.  Following will be a tour explaining the processes of orcharding (have your questions ready).

Just a small excerpt to whet the appetite…………….
“From small beginnings, the Red Bluff orchard and nursery grew to
become one of New Zealand’s largest and, at the peak in 1914, contained
250,000 trees.  Morrison and sons provided employment for 20 assistants
and a seasonal force of pickers and packers.”
Any questions please refer them to the respective chairpersons of each
branch.

Northland Branch – Principles of bud grafting (budding) with hands-on workshop

UPCOMING EVENT

14th February

What: Principles of bud grafting (budding) with hands-on workshop.  Summer pruning.

Where: Wayne and Val’s, Tangihua Road, Maungakaramea.

When: 10.30 am –

10.30 am pruning/budding
12.30 pm BBQ lunch bring what you may
2.00pm summer pruning (Wayne’s chainsaw demonstration)among others.

 

Northland Branch – Northland 2014 AGM 29 November

What: Northland 2014 AGM and End of Year Lunch
When: Saturday 29th November, 10.30am start, 3pm finish.
Where: Kaurihohore Hall, Apotu Rd (just off SH 1 Kauri, 5 mins south of Hikurangi and 10 mins north of Kamo).

The plan is to start with a cuppa, continue with a nice efficient (brief) AGM, followed by lunch.

Pencil this in on your calendar; it will be a social day out and while more committee members would be welcomed, there will be no arm twisting – so come along and enjoy yourselves.

Agenda for the AGM will be emailed out soon along with last year’s minutes.
 

Northland Branch – Coopers Beach 15 November 2014

Coopers Beach 15th November

Where Eddy and Tina Ewins’ Coopers Beach property at Cable Bay Block Road.
From south, turn left off SH10 (opp GAS station) between Coopers beach and Cable Bay

When Saturday 15th November,11:00 am introduction, history of the property etc, 12.00am lunch (shared) and following on the guided tour.
Those interested in car-pooling meet at Kamo New World car park 9:00 am .

What from Eddy & Tina: The land here is approximately eleven acres, a sheltered valley covered with mostly scrub & tea tree/kanuka.
Have cleared and ‘thinned’ out sections of bush and planted (over a period of 12 years) various varieties of Cherimoya, Bananas plus many other types of subtropical fruit.
Most varieties of Citrus are here and the familiar pip & stone fruits as well.
Have had reasonable success with Mangoes growing outside and tropical papaya which is covered over and kept dry during winter months.
There are many unusual Palm species here, some of which produce edible nuts.
There are more novelties to cover, better described on the day.
Appreciate interest and input from others – may we all enjoy and learn something, on the day.
 

Northland Branch – Grafting workshop for members

JULY 2014

In July we are planning a free Grafting workshop for members.

Where: 386 Whatitiri Rd RD 9 Whangarei

When: Date Sunday 20th July Start time 10.00 am

Bring: BYO pooled lunch (drinks provided), grafting knife (Stanley or rigid fixed blade type), gumboots, raincoat, folding chair and name badge if you have them.

Finish time: 4.00pm
 

Northland Branch – 2014 June midwinter get-together

JUNE – Midwinter Get-together

What:
Guest Speaker, Klaus Lotz (Northtec) will talk about “forest gardens”, followed by a “sheep on a spit” dinner.  Meat and roast veges provided.

Bring greens and dessert to share.  Tea and coffee will be provided.  Any other drinks are BYO.

When:
Saturday 21st June.  Speaker at 4pm, followed by dinner at 6pm.

NB The branch is subsidising this evening, which has brought the cost down to only $5 per member ($10 for non-members), but we will need to know numbers for catering purposes so please RSVP to Grant by 7th June.