Feb 1, 2010
ORGANIC GROWING NEWS Newsletter 268 – February 2010
Levin Branch, NZ Soil & Health Association
www.organicnz.org/branch/Levin
Patron Fay Te Kira 364 5168 President Ian Sheen 364 3299 singa@xtra.co.nz Treasurer Liz Baucke 368 0009
Minute Secretary Val Nicol 367 8320 Secretary Annmarie Coote 367 3753
Committee Emily Williams 362 6684 Barbara van der Valk 364 3244 Jill Scott 363 7567 Michael Hunt 364 8053
Ambassador at Large: Winifred Bourn, 23a Fairfield Road, Levin Fax 368 6271, ph 368 6701
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Visit to Jill Brown’s Tararua property Saturday 27th February. Be there by 1pm.
This visit is strictly limited to 20 people, those interested need to let Winifred Bourn know that they want to go (and advise if cancelling) as access is by 4WD up to her site. This event will only take place if the weather is good. You need sturdy footwear to cope with rough tracks. Jill is off the grid with a microhydro plant and solar for power. Other features are composting toilet, greywater system and yurt under construction. And then there is her garden, animals and the panoramic views ….
Directions. Go to the end of Corbetts Road ,which branches off where South Manakau Road and Waitohu Valley Rd meet (is about ½ km long) Jill’s letter box is the big green one with Kakariki on it. You can park in the long grass behind the letterbox or on the grass verge - Jill or her son will be able to direct cars into the paddock also if required. She suggests you might like to bring a small stool for sitting on.
The cost is $5 for transport, plus a small plate of afternoon tea.
Future group meetings:
Our AGM will be held on 28th March and will also feature Amor Walter talking on bees and Emily Williams display of some alternative hives. This meeting will be held at the Horowhenua Art Society, Bath Street, Levin. Access and parking from Kent St.
In April we will visit Judith Balchin’s award winning home garden in Botanical Road, Palmerston North.
In May we will visit De Molen, the windmill in Foxton to see the stone ground flour making process (entry/tour fee $4 or $5). Following the tour we will visit the home of Jill Scott, for afternoon tea and will look at growing a garden in the sand.
The next committee meeting will be on Monday 8th March with Emily Williams at 107 South Manakau Road, Manakau. All members are welcome to attend
This year we had a stall at two local market/show days.
The AP&I Show was a two day event and was held at the Levin Showground on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th January. This year Soil and Health had a site booked in the hall. Despite bad weather in the morning the volunteers on the stall said it was very busy. Whereas those on the stall later on the Saturday were able to swap gardening stories as the numbers of people had dwindled. We had a good display of books, Rock Dust and Biobit (formerly Dipel), as well as various pieces of information. We also sold raffle tickets and had some produce for sale.
The Manakau Medieval Market was a full day event on Saturday 13th February and was also held at the Levin Showground. Volunteers on this stall noted a large number of people were out and about early despite the bad weather. This time we had an outside stall which, if you went along you will know proved somewhat problematic for some stallholders. There were areas where the wind was tunnelling through and our marquee had trouble staying upright! Our volunteers had to put the marquee to one side (not assembled) and returned to find someone taking it away after having been told it was free to a good home! Once he found out it was very much needed, he did help to assemble it. Later when he didn’t set up his own stall we moved to his site which was more sheltered.
We continue to reach more people at these stalls, maintaining interest in organics with new people joining each time. There were reasonable sales and interest for BT (Biobit as it is sold as) and Rock Dust as well.
New to our sales stalls is: MarineFos (which was supplied by Tony Robinson). This has a BioGro certification and is a Natural Phosphate Fertiliser. Is suitable for application to pastures, arable crops and all horticultural crops (which include home gardening).
**Certificate in Permaculture Design - Gary and Emily Williams are starting their modular course again in March. For details phone 06 3626684 or email gary@waterscape.co.nz. Information can also be found on www.permaculture.org.nz
**Raffle results from the API show:
First prize of the garden bed was won by Rebecca Wilson and second prize - the Soil and Health subscription went to Judy Burke. Congratulations!
**This month is the Bikewise cycle month, an event to encourage wider use of bikes for not only fitness and recreation but for everyday commuting.
If you want to learn more about the event or how you can get into cycling visit: bikewisechallenge.co.nz.
** Although he is remaining on the committee, Ian has indicated he will be standing down as President. If there is anyone who has some spare time and would like to put their name forward for the committee, please let one of the standing committee members know.
The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Levin Branch of Soil and Health Association. Sunday 29th March, held at Tony Robinson’s Rambler Flowers Nursery
Present: Ian Sheen (Chair), Liz Baucke, Winifred Bourn, Michael Hunt, Barbara van der Valk, Jill Scott, Val Nicol, Fay Tekira, Pieter Palmboom, Sigrid Palmboon, Peter Sheran, Alison Bourn, Pauline Jackson, Lyn Hoskyn, John Harris, Tony Robinson.
Apologies: Emily Williams, Annmarie Coote, Ann Thomson, Wendy Batterbee, Angelika Biener.
Ian opened the meeting and welcomed the Members and visitors. Tony Robinson was thanked for providing his workshop for our venue. Copies of the 2008 AGM Minutes were circulated.
Matters arising from the 2008 AGM:
· The Organic River Festival, noted in the President’s report.
· Incorrect spelling for Bourn.
· Liz noted that Tony Lamb had resigned from the Committee.
Ian asked if there was anything to be brought forward from the 2008 AGM Minutes. Nil.
Ian moved that the Minutes from the 2008 AGM and the Matters Arising be noted. (2nd Val) carried.
President’s Report:
Ian re-informed the Members that his report had been included in the previous Branch March 2008 Newsletter, and was taken as read.
Ian moved that the President’s Report be accepted. (2nd Liz) carried.
Finance:
Liz presented and circulated the Annual Accounts audited by Hamish MacDougall
Lyn was thanked for her assistance.
· Total Income $11,429.· Total Expenditure $9,332.
· Net profit $2,097.
· “Organic Garden Calendar”, need for reprint. Val.
· Book purchase and donation for local Libraries is being planned.
· Gardening in Schools has been issued the “Organic Garden Calendar” through Kath Irvine’s project.
· "A Worm’s Eye View” copies will be issued to local kindergartens.
· Donations from the Levin Branch of Soil & Health were made to Fluoride Dunedin and GE Action.
Ian moved that Annual Accounts be taken as read and accepted. (2nd Fay) carried.
Ian moved from the “Chair” and Fay Tekira took the meeting for the election of officers.
Election of Officers:
· Fay questioned the Members as to her continued position of Patron, The Members carried as accepted for her to continue as per status quo and thanked Fay for her support.
· Ian advised that all past 2008/2009 Committee were willing to stand again.
· Committee 2009/2010: Ian Sheen, Liz Baucke, Annmarie Coote, Winifred Bourn, Emily Williams, Jill Scott, Michael Hunt, Barbara van der Valk, Wendy Batterbee, Val Nicol.
Nominations for the following Officers were elected unopposed:
Patron: Fay Tekira. (agreed Members)
President: Ian Sheen. (nominated Jill, 2nd Liz).
Treasurer: Liz Baucke. (nominated Sigrid, 2nd Michael)
Secretary: Annmarie Coote. (nominated Liz, 2nd Val)
Minute Secretary: Val Nicol. (nominated Liz, 2nd Ian)
Committee: Emily Williams, Barbara van der Valk, Jill Scott, Michael Hunt, Wendy Batterbee. Ambassador at large: Winifred Bourn.
Fay closed the nominations in favour of the elected Committee. Carried.
Ian re-opened the meeting.
General Business:
· Sigrid questioned the closing of the 2nd Nature Recycling station.
· The 2nd Nature Recycling Centre in Bath St was closed 3 weeks ago by a decision of the Trustees claim of lack of funds. Liz.
· Fay congratulated and thanked the Levin Branch on their sales of the “Starter’s Guide” (green book) and the “Organic Gardening Calendar” and their foresight in getting it going.
Ian moved that the meeting be closed (2.05pm) and introduced Tony Robinson to talk on the “Benefits of biology and why we should compost and a showing of slides on Tony’s visit to Mildura in Australia” - Val Nicol
FEBRUARY and MARCH IN THE ORGANIC GARDEN
from the Organic Garden Calendar by Kath Irvine
February:
- Sow parsley and coriander- Green crops can be sown in any spaces you have between other crops
- Keep on top of your bird protection plan, especially as figs are about to fruit
- Keep your irrigation lines checked
March:
- Plant out perennial herbs
- This is the major apple picking month.
- Apples can be stored in a covered wooden box, outside under a bush
- Leave your pumpkins on the vine until the stalks have dried
MOON PLANTING GUIDE: Late FEBRUARY
20, 21 – Summer pruning, thin fruit trees
22, 23 - Make and apply compost to beds; harvest root crops
24 – Harvest crops (excluding root)
26 – sow letteuces, silverbeet, cabbages and chinese cabbage
27 – Plant all seeds
28 - Sow brocoli and cauliflower
