Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
New Zealand's leading source of information on Organics & Sustainable Living
Levin Branch newsletter - June 200620-06-2006On Sunday 25 June we will be visiting Imago Organic Orchard for our winter pruning demonstration.We last visited Imago in April 2002, five years after the Storey family had taken over 4000 neglected trees on 25 acres. Half the trees were smothered with old man’s beard which has now been brought largely under control, and cattle have been brought in to deal to the rampant undergrowth. Many older and diseased trees have been cut out, but a huge range of apples, pears, plums and feijoa remain. We have been fortunate to have a number of different pruners over the years, and this year we are delighted that Colin Spicer, President of the Central Districts Tree Crops Association, has agreed to conduct proceedings. A $2 gate charge includes afternoon tea, and we will have a sales table with produce and plants. Imago also has a shop, with dried fruit, preserves, cider vinegar and rock dust. Imago Orchard is at 50 Arapaepae Road Levin. There is plenty of parking on site near the shop. Remember to bring gum boots, as the property has been very wet of late. No dogs please because of the cattle. Starts 1.30pm CACKLEBERRY ORGANIC CHICKENS About 25 people attended our visit on 28 May to Cackleberry Organics poultry farm. Jeff and Christina Paulin have two laying flocks producing 1200 eggs a day, and 750 meat birds. They also have a couple of pigs and cattle for home consumption on the 16 acres they bought three years ago. The farm is certified organic by Agriquality, and receives three audits a year – from Agriquality, the SPCA and the Food Safety Authority. Two years ago, a compulsory Risk Management Program for egg cleanliness was introduced for all commercial producers with over 100 birds. Many of the new requirements were already met by Cackleberry’s existing certifications, but the packing shed had to be enclosed, and different clothing worn when collecting and when packing the eggs. Bio-security measures for our visit included a visitor sign-in book and a foot-bath. The Paulins get their Highline layers from Tegel at six weeks. The birds start to lay at 16-18 weeks and continue until about 80 weeks when they have their first moult and are culled as boilers. Production is uneconomic below about 60 eggs per 100 birds per day. Eggs are collected three times a day. The layers are fed on a staple of organic maize with crushed baked eggshells and a supplement specially devised by Jeff and NRM containing lime and other nutrients. The maize is cracked in a crusher, mixed with the other ingredients, and crushed again. Grit is obtained from builder’s mix. Roosting frames and birds are sprayed with neem oil for parasites, and there is an occasional homeopathic preparation in the water for worms and mites. At the time of our visit, one of the two laying flocks was nearing the age for culling, with a number of hens looking quite straggly from moulting and pecking. Jeff said that they would not be replaced straight away, which would also provide an opportunity to re-invigorate the paddocks. The meat birds are Cob breed. They are bought in as day-olds, about 250 at a time. They spend 7-10 days in a heated shed before being moved to a second and then a third shed, before being taken at 51 days. Each shed is attached to three paddocks which are rotated. The meat birds are fed on organic pellets, firstly as crumb. Cackleberry sells eggs, chicken, chicken pieces and pies. MOON PLANTING GUIDE FOR JULY by Ray Bourn First quarter 4th Full moon 11th Last quarter 18th New moon 25th.
SUBMISSIONS TO COUNCIL LONG-TERM PLANS In the last month your committee has made written and oral submissions to Horowhenua and Kapiti District Councils, and Wellington and Manawatu Regional Councils. We asked councils to prohibit GE field trials due to the risks to the environment, economy and public health, and raised concerns about the failure of central government to put in place a strict liability regime for GMOs. The finalised long-term plans are due for release in the next month or two. We will keep you informed of the outcomes. UPCOMING MEETINGS On Sunday 30 July we commence a three-month winter talk season at Thompson House, with Claire Bleakley bringing us up to date on GE in the field, forest and lab. On 27 August we hear from Sara Hamer, a Consultant Medical Herbalist based in Levin, and on 24 September Amor Walter will talk to us about bees. Our meetings are open to the public, so please feel free to bring a friend along and help spread the word. |
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Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
