A wonderful turn out of families celebrated Matariki through shared kai, stories and art! It was a mild evening to come together around the fire for a story before cooking our marshmallow and chocolate stuffed bananas in the embers. They were yummy! The cloud cover meant the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling of the education centre again came in useful so that we could star spot, before creating our own night sky art. We finished the evening by presenting a Matariki themed birthday cake to Lloyd Esler and then going on a night walk with Lloyd to the sounds of frogs and morepork (the fogs were real, the morepork a soft toy squeaking!).
The evening continued with more shared food, real mulled wine replacing the fruit punch and the traditional swede carving! It is still a wondrous thing to turn out the lights and see the swedes transformed into glowing lanterns. We look forward to the new season with great anticipation.
Bronwyn and Chris
Posted: 22 June 2017
2 July 2017 - Apple Pruning with Guytons - 2 sessions 10am-noon and 1pm-3pm at Southland Community Nursery, Otatara. Learn all about heritage apple varieties, the Southland Open Orchard project, how to recognise a fruiting spur and all about rootstock, equipment and techniques needed for pruning and do some hands on pruning at Rances. Subsidised by the Community Nursery - Only $5 per person - Bookings Essential – 12 people per session – first come first served - contact [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Posted: 6 June 2017
Another very successful workshop was held at the weekend making lip balms, salt scrubs, bath salts and moisturising bars from natural materials. The cold didnt put off the enthusiastic participants and everyone benefited from Honerleas wealth of knowledge and experience as well as taking away the products made on the day. People keep asking me how we can run these courses for as little as $50 - the answer is that the Community Nursery is sponsoring the workshops, supported by a funding grant from the ILT Foundation. So thanks to the funders, to Honorlea and to everyone who has attended workshops so far. The Natural Body Products workshops will take a short winter break and then we will have more workshops from August to December, and the next will be making soaps. If you want to express interest and go on an email list for future natural body product workshops email Honorlea [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Posted: 22 May 2017
Matariki Night Celebrations are going to be held on Saturday 17 June 2017 at the Community Nursery Education Centre and hopefully outside. Kiwi Conservation Club families are welcome from 5pm t0 7pm - bring along some food and a torch. The Matariki night activities will continue until 9pm - bring along some supper to share and drinks.
The date has changed from 24 June - so please put the new date in your calendar. This is a combined Family and KCC night of fun so come along with some supper to share and enjoy swede carving, candle making and other activities and farewell the old season and welcome in the new.
Please park at the 183 Grant Road carpark and follow the silver fern leaves to the education centre - bring a torch!
Chris
Posted: 22 May 2017
12 May 2017 Apple Pressing was fun as usual with a lot of apples turned into golden nectar – or that’s what I thought! At the end we pressed some crab apples and I was surprised how drinkable it was and others said the same. So being a good soul, I gave some away to a friend and I got the following email back “By the way, the crab apple juice is horrendous”! Oh well…… maybe a good one for turning into cider!
Around 20 people came to press apples and I estimate 90 litres of juice was made. It’s an energetic and fun activity and once again we are indebted to Malcolm McKenzie for bringing along his fabulous cider press for us to use and his honey for us to buy – thanks Malcolm.
Posted: 16 May 2017
