Friday mornings always have a diverse range of activities and at the end of May we were starting propagation by cuttings, planting more pond plants, translocating the bittern and apple pressing!
The apple pressing in particular continues a tradition that started with our good friend Malcolm McKenzie bringing along his wonderful wooden apple press – we had many good community days with Malcolm and we fondly remember him as we continue these events. There are a number of “blast from the past” photos below remembering good people and good times!
Now, we borrow Russell and Bronwyns state of the art apple press, but there is a catch. There is no chipper, so apples need to be prepared by freezing (and defrosting) ready for pressing and the press works hydraulically and so is much easier to operate. On the Friday we started after morning tea and continued after lunch pressing whatever people brought along. We, ourselves ended up with over 25 litres of juice which we use throughout the year. Cider apples were collected too and we look forward to sampling the resulting cider made by others!
In the next few weeks we will continue with propagation from cuttings, planting and other winter tidy up jobs.
Chris and Brian
Posted: 4 June 2026
Seed sowing is such a hopeful and positive activity to do.
Recently at the Community Nursery we sowed over 100 trays of different seeds, all in the promise of spring germination and producing the next lot of plants for people to put in the ground on their properties.
There were 50 large trays of the most common natives for restoration – kohuhu, tarata, mingimingi, cabbage tree, hebe, ribbonwood, broadleaf and wetland plants toe toe, red tussock, Carex secta, salt-marsh ribbonwood, to name but a few.
Then there are the “big trees” – with future years in mind we sow kahikatea, pokaka, totara, rimu, maitai and miro seeds. They take longer to germinate and grow and then need to be planted into a sheltered nurturing environment. And then there are the rarities – those threatened plants that will go into special places.
All the seed collecting, cleaning, preparation has taken from December to May and you need to be constantly on the lookout for seeds. If you miss the collecting then you have missed another year of having that opportunity. But it is also important to know what you are collecting – otherwise you might end up growing something like Coprosma robusta (a weedy northern native) instead of Coprosma lucida a local native.
Nursery seed sowing on Friday went extremely well – like a well oiled machine with Linda and Chris at the helm and 20 willing helpers. All the sown trays of seedlings were then put under protective covers to make sure the neighbours cats don’t think they are litter trays (there’s nothing worse!) and the mice and birds cant eat the seeds. The seed trays sit out all winter getting rained on and their winter chilling (natural cold stratification) and can be relied upon to germinate in September when the whole nursery process starts again for a new season.
Come along on a Friday morning if you want to learn more.
Chris and Brian
www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz
Posted: 2 June 2026
Over the past few weeks we have been busy in the nursery collecting the last few species of seed for the Nursery. The collecting of seeds is the first part, the cleaning and treatment is far more time-consuming and we are now at a stage when we will be sowing seeds on Friday 22 and 29 May. Come along if you want to learn about this aspect of propagation. Nursery Fridays have been very busy of late with up to 22 people attending. Thanks for all the great mahi!
See our seed list at https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/restoring-your-patch/get-growing/seeds/
These species are those most commonly planted in new restoration projects. As an aid to anyone planting we have also had Janet Hodgetts create some factsheets/nursery labels with plant heights, tolerances and other characteristics to help people make good choices for their particular site conditions – see these at the Nursery or website under each plant in the planting lists eg forest planting list https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/restoring-your-patch/know-your-patch/forests/forest-planting-list/
We recently spent a week in Alexandra where Brian and Chris Stowe from Riverton have been on a threatened plant adventure on the Otago Rail Trail on e-bikes! I was support vehicle! They were doing a repeat survey for a range of threatened plants including Carmichaelia curta, a rare native broom along with other notable rare plants along the trail. It’s a new way of doing a survey and was very successful – recording many new sites for rare plants from Clyde to Daisybank. Another highlight for me was hearing Jillian Sullivan speak at Oturehua, she is one inspirational woman! – see Jillians books on the Ida Valley in the Nursery library.
We have been collecting and dealing with apples for the last few months and will have Bronwyn and Russels Apple Press for a community pressing on the afternoon of 29 May. Bring your frozen apples – thoroughly defrosted for the afternoon. It will follow Nursery Friday morning activities so bring your lunch and the pressing will follow.
Ngā mihi nui
Chris and Brian
Posted: 18 May 2026
After a few weeks closed the Nursery will be open again for volunteers on Friday 24th April - hope to see you there.
Prior to closure for Easter, we had a 2 day NMIT Native Plant ID Course at the Nursery, run by tutor Jenny Ladley. A mix of plant exercises, outside work and lecture presentations were held for the 9 people attending and the Nature Centre proved again to be a good venue for these courses where a mix of inside and outside learning was readily accessible.
If you are interested in any of the courses NMIT hold then book in and when they get a number of people for one region they will organise a course at our venue. So far we have had “5 minute bird counts”, “animal pest trapping” and “Native plant ID” courses held here (generally in summer!). Here is a link to their website information for the Plant ID Course - https://www.nmit.ac.nz/study/short-courses/cfs423-plant-identification
Following Easter we attended a book launch in Akaroa for the book “Hinewai Reflections - Artwork of Hugh Wilson”. It was a good chance to catch up with Hugh and see all the progress on Banks Peninsula that Hugh at Hinewai has inspired. We visited Edith’s large QEII covenant at Hickory Bay and the adjoining Ellengowan Reserve as well as a full day at Hinewai itself. It is astonishing how the entire Banks Peninsula had previously been cleared of native vegetation down to 1 % but is now up to 26% thanks to people like Edith and many others buying and protecting land for conservation.
Also on the agenda was a visit to Tai Tapu Sculpture garden – if you haven’t been its highly recommended for lovers of native plantings (including many rarities) and amazing sculptures, all in an outdoor setting.
For the Nursery Fridays over coming weeks we will be trying to complete our seed collecting, cleaning, and eventually sowing for next seasons bounty and of course planting out before the frosts take hold.
Hope to see you at the Nursery on a Friday or other days, if you want plants, by arrangement (email or phone or txt Chris on 021660361).
We will also be doing an apple pressing one Friday afternoon soon, so collect your apples, put them in the freezer in preparation. We wont have a chipper so only previously frozen apples can be pressed for juice. Watch this space for a date.
Nga mihi
Chris and Brian
Posted: 22 April 2026
Kia ora
As mentioned last post we have a course running in the Education Centre Thursday and Friday 26/27 March so will be closed for volunteers. Also, with Easter and Holidays we will remain closed on Fridays, opening again on Friday 24th April.
In the meantime we have been busy in the Nursery on Fridays with major seed collecting, potting, weeding, watering and getting plants ready for planting out. A new shelf has been added to the Shadehouse for new seedlings which are now out of the reach of rabbits! A few birthdays have gone by and Nursery Fridays have been well attended with lots of jobs getting done. Next major jobs will involve seed cleaning and sorting ready for sowing in May/June. Sherry Elton has 60 cabbage trees in PB3’s to give away – phone Sherry 027-213-1156 if you want to take them off her hands.
On 12 March, Jordon brought a full group of first year SIT students to do part of the Plant ID and plant propagation workshop. Its great to see a large number of students taking Environmental Management this year. They also collected plants for Kew Bush where Jordon is leading the restoration of that important remnant of kahikatea forest.
On Sunday 15 March a “Damson Night” was held! Lots of damson plum produce was eaten and a great film “Breaking Bread” was shown on the big screen. A Damson jam competition was held with newbie jam maker Chris Rowe taking the Damson Queen crown!
We have also been planting out our new pond, with much more to go! Watch this space and see you on the 24th April if not before. We will still be around intermittently for plant sales or advice – phone Chris 021660361 if you need anything.
Chris and Brian
Posted: 25 March 2026
