Just like how our children grow, so do the trees in our forests. I lined the children up from tallest to shortest showing that like how they grow, so do the trees. The trees start as a tiny seed and grows bigger and bigger…
We then had a wonderful time looking for seeds around the Southland Community Nursery and nearby Bushy Point, finding and collecting harakeke/flax, ti kouka/ cabbage tree, kohuhu/ pittosporum, koromiko/ willow-leaved hebe, and Manuka/ tea tree seeds. We looked at what size and colour they were and how they can be dispersed around our forests to find somewhere to grow.
We talked about how we eco source seeds and propagate native plants at the Southland Community Nursery in order to grow around 10,000 plants per year for planting in and around the community.
We had fun climbing cabbage trees, completing the Mother’s Day scavenger hunt, seeing a nursery web spider (very well camouflaged in the mingimingi), seeing weta in the Bushy Point super sleuth bug motel, delighted in the numerous piwakawaka/ fantail follow us everywhere, and finished with a fabulous double rainbow over the nursery pond. We took seeds home to plant. This was a great way to spend a Mother’s Day afternoon. Bronwyn
Posted: 16 May 2017
Our annual Apple Pressing is on Friday 12 may 2017 at 1pm. So….. get “foraging” or “scrumping” and dont forget to take out of your feezer the apples you have sitting there. They need to be well thawed to go through the cider press. By freezing the apples you get more juice and clear juice - even though the apples look terrible! see photo. If you are planning to come to the regular Friday volunteer morning bring along some lunch and saty for the pressing and even if you dont have any apples to press come along and sample the results! Bring along your own plastic containers to put your juice into.
Posted: 7 May 2017
Another very successful Natural Body Products workshop was held by Honorlea on 22 April 2017. All of the participants enjoyed the experience of making their own products from natural materials and great comments came from the day. The next workshop is on Saturday 20 May 2017 and there are only 4 places left so get booking! For more information see factsheet or contact [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
some comments from the workshop were:
‘Very informative, great hand-outs and relaxed learning atmosphere’
’excellent day - perfect size of group and great venue and loved the shared lunch idea’
’great course- really fun and amazing products to make’
Posted: 26 April 2017
Native Plant ID Course – 10 April 2017
On 10th April 2017, Jesse Bythell and Chris Rance welcomed eleven Southern Institute of Technology first year Environmental Management students to the Plant ID Course at the Community Nursery. Based on the NZPCN two day course, this cut-down single day version concentrates on Southland species with classroom, field component and plant ID exercises. Feedback from the students was very positive and lots of enthusiasm was shown.
Kahui Manu – seed collecting – Thursday 6th April 2017
An enthusiastic group of 20 Home Based students enjoyed a run around seed collecting expedition recently. Chris led the group around the pond track where sticky kohuhu seeds, flax, mingimingi and cabbage tree were collected. These were then looked at in the Education Centre and a few were taken home to grow.
Weaving around! Saturday 1 April 2017
On Saturday 1 April we had an informal weaving day. Collecting lots of natural materials – from giant spike rush in the pond (kuta), Muehlenbeckia, rushes, tussock, harakeke – some interesting articles were made, before sharing a pot-luck feast! Food for thought for a weaving workshop to come.
Chris
Posted: 11 April 2017
The next event on the Community Nursery Calendar is Apple Pressing with Malcolm McKenzie again bringing his cider press to the Community Nursery. The pressing will take place 1-3pm and if you have picked apples already you can freeze them but make sure you completely thaw them before the day. By freezing the apples you will get more juice and a clearer juice - dont forget to bring along your own containers for the juice. Its a great event - come and join the fun and bring along some afternoon tea to share (even if you dont have any apples!).
Chris
Posted: 11 April 2017
