The workshop with Rob Tipa on traditional uses of native plants was well booked up weeks before the weekend, such that we have a waiting list for another course!
Rob and Stella travelled from Dunedin and gave a lovely introduction to their philosophy, their journey and their lifestyle on the Otago Peninsula. Rob explained his ancestry, his love for native plants and his journalistic background that led him to producing his book “Treasures of Tane” last year. The book is a great mix of traditional uses, plant identification, stories and historical aspects all put together in very readable fashion with great photos. “It makes native plants and their stories accessible to everyone, rather than locked away in reference sections of libraries” he said.
Stella then gave everyone a look at their very steep and challenging section in Otago and explained the history of their garden there – they bought the view! - looking across the Otago Harbour towards Quarantine Island. The garden is a mix of cottage plants, natives, and plants which hold the moisture on a very dry steep site which they garden organically. Rob is also a beekeeper and they look after a gully of bush next to their section. Contour paths built around the cliff enable them to garden the very steep section which they first had to clear of invasive weeds.
Then we went over to Rances restoration and pond area where Rob talked about and demonstrated ways in which early Maori used native plants – for survival. Such was the usefulness of harakeke (flax) that when Europeans said they didn’t have flax in their country local Maori could not see how they could live without it! More stories and demonstrations, with great help from Jade, followed both out in the bush and back in the building, including fire starting (that wasn’t covered in Chris’ health and safety plan!) with mahoe logs and totara sticks.
We all shared some kai and chatted amongst eachother and we are all keen to see Rob and Stella back sometime soon.
Nga mihi
Chris
Posted: 2 February 2019
On Saturday 19 January 2019 we had our first workshop of the year. Geoff Dembo presented “Introduction to Permaculture” to the 9 participants. The morning featured a slide presentation and discussion explaining the key concepts of Permaculture or “Permanent Agriculture” including the concepts of diversity, sustainability, plants and animals, community and conservation. After morning tea a more in depth discussion on site design, including needs and yields analysis and zoning (arranging all the elements of a system by the level of care needed and their interrelations). After a shared lunch we all set off to visit Lesley and Martin Catterals property in Otatara where all the things discussed in the morning were looked at in practice along with the aspirations of the landowners. It is fair to say the donkeys stole the show! After a walk around their property further discussion on design ideas took place in the Education Centre. Although the weather was less than ideal it was a great day.
We will definitely hold more permaculture workshops in future so if you missed out this time and are interested, email Chris.
Chris
Posted: 23 January 2019
The Community Nursery will be open on Friday 11 January 2019 for volunteers. Lots of watering has been done over the Christmas break and consequently lots of weeds are growing!! Lots of jobs from potting to weeding to seed collecting to seed sorting, to track maintenance.
It seems that the seeding period is upon us too! Natives flowering in spring are now making seeds so keep a lookout on your travels. On our property we have already collected Clematis, red tussock, toe toe, tree daisy and some Coprosma berries (and many more to be done). If you want to check out when seeds are usually collected follow this link – you will see that seeding seems to be early this year. https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/restoring-your-patch/get-growing/seeds/
There are lots of plants in the nursery ready for planting ($5 a plant for PB3 size). In Southland we are lucky that planting can be done most of the time except for winter as we are usually ensured enough rain! If you are not ready to plant then prepare the ground and get the plants in this season.
We also have some exciting workshops planned already in 2019. Although mostly booked up if you express interest we can arrange an other workshop later in the year. Also if you have an idea for running a workshop, our Education Centre space makes an excellent venue. https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/education-centre/activities/workshops/
Happy 2019
Chris
www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz
Posted: 9 January 2019
Last Nursery Day of 2018 will be Friday 21st December. There will be lots of fun, a bit of work, and lots of nice food – please bring a plate of food to share.
Hope to see you there but otherwise wishing everyone a great Christmas with family and friends and lots of holiday time in the great outdoors. Enjoy the abundance of your garden, natures treasures (like the fernbird on our fruitcage! Or the kereru eating our cherries!) and good company. Take a break from the worries of the world – they will still be there next year! There will also be the good things to look forward to in 2019! (like seed collecting and the Permaculture and Native Plant workshops in January – Bookings and more details at https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/education-centre/activities/workshops/)
Thanks to everyone who has helped out in the Nursery and Education Centre this year – we couldn’t do any of it without you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Chris and Brian and the Community Nursery team.
Posted: 17 December 2018
It was an end of year, end of school, trip to the Community Nursery for 50 Otatara Schoolchildren recently! Next stop, Secondary school! Bronwyn and I waited with anticipation as the 50 (plus helpers and teachers) biked into view and the Community Nursery carpark became a bike park!
It took a while for everyone to arrive as they had biked from the school, to the Sandy Point mountain bike track and then back to the Nursery. We expected them to be exhausted but they still seemed to be able to summon the energy to race around the pattern in the paddock before a little “work”. They had come to help out and one group did some planting, whilst the other did trackwork, then a bush walk and joined the planting group to help put in more plants. Then, it was off down the road again for the ride back to school!
Chris
Posted: 17 December 2018
