In early December an unusual phenomenon appeared at the Community Nursery! A Stewart Island plane spotted a huge koru design in Rance’s paddock. The idea was hatched by Chris and whilst Chris and Brian were away on holiday Barry Smith and Ray Jackson turned it into reality by designing and mowing a maze/koru in the paddock next to the Education Centre. The idea was to create a run-around area for children to expend energy after their visits to the Nursery. It has proved to be a fantastic success so far! Thanks to Stewart Island Air for the photograph and since looking at the photo, many people have said the pond looks like a kiwi – which is of course how we designed it (not!).
Posted: 13 December 2014
On 7th November 2014 over 30 people came to help us celebrate the first year birthday of the opening of the Community Nursery Education Centre. The centre has been popular with schools, kindys and numerous other groups during the year and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.
Friday mornings are volunteer mornings and Chris thanked the many volunteers who were making a difference at the nursery and education centre - non more so than Linda and Ray Jackson. Chris and Linda cut a birthday cake which also celebrated Anna and Em’s little boy Fergus’ first birthday too!
Thanks to everyone who helps out at the nursery and see you on a Friday! We are planning our Christmas Break up on Friday 19 December - Bronwyn will be leading some childrens Christmas activities so hope to see you there.
Posted: 13 November 2014
The Community Nursery Education Centre is very excited to be able to host artist Jo Ogier on 21 and 22 February for two art workshops - “Picturing Plants” and “Bugs and Butterflies”.
This workshops are suitable for both beginners with a passion for plants and bugs and for those with some botanical experience. See full course details “Picturing Plants” and “Bugs and Butterflies”
Places will be limited and you can book by emailing Chris.
These workshops will be the first of a number of workshops to be offered in the Education Centre in 2015 - WATCH THIS SPACE!!
JO OGIER
Jo is an Master of Fine Arts graduate from the Otago School of Art (2000), and also holds a Graduate Diploma in Plant and Wildlife Illustration (NSW Australia 1995), along with a series of scholarships and awards - including the William Hodges Fellowship awarded to the artist in 2000.
She has exhibited extensively in New Zealand http://solandergallery.co.nz/node/2392 and in several group shows internationally. Her work is held in public and private collections throughout New Zealand. Jo has also completed a number of large scale commissions for The Otago Museum, The Nelson Provincial Museum and The Department of Conservation.
Her work is primarily concerned with issues of conservation and ecology. Jo currently works full time on her art and lives in Sumner, Christchurch with her husband and three dogs.
Posted: 13 November 2014
On Friday 7th November we will be celebrating the Community Nursery Education Centre’s First Birthday. Since opening last November we have had over 900 visitors and I am very happy with the use of the building and facilities.
Come along on Friday and have some birthday cake and bring along some food to share as well as delighting at all the seedlings that are emerging right now.
Spring is an exciting time of year and it’s a great time to get planting. We can help! With advice or plants – come along and see what we’ve got in the nursery.
We are also planning some great workshops for next year including a beginners art workshop with New Zealand renowned artist Jo Ogier – have a look at the following website http://solandergallery.co.nz/node/2392 or Google Jo Ogier and you will see the diversity of her work (Jo specialises in nature subjects). The Education Centre is available for hire for holding workshops, so if you have a workshop in mind (nature, art, music, health) and need a basic indoor space that links to an awesome outside environment – give me a call or email.
Posted: 3 November 2014
After a winter break the Community Nursery is open again, and a springclean is in order! Volunteer Fridays for the next few weeks will concentrate on weeding, but we will also be encouraging people to take away a few plants for their projects to create space in the nursery for new stock. You can give some time in exchange for plants or purchase plants at $5 each - proceeds to the Community Nursery Education Centre.
At present there are lots of broadleaf, manuka, cabbage trees, Coprosma, Carex, Fuchsia, Pittosporums ready for planting. Seedlings are sprouting from seed sown in autumn and cuttings sending out roots, all ready to be potted up soon.
Take time out to go exploring - spring is a great time to see some magnificent native flowers like kowhai, native clematis and fuchsia - all being enjoyed by native birds.
see you soon
Chris
Posted: 9 October 2014
