Nov 1, 2009
ORGANIC GROWING NEWS Newsletter 266 – November/December 2009
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 0009Minute 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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Our next visit is also our Christmas function at Thomas Reisinger's Lavender Farm, 54a Whakahoro Rd, ManakauSunday 6th December at 1.30pm
The cost for the afternoon tea is $10 per head. So far we have had 32 people booking their place. Please bring a chair if you require one. There will also be lavender products for sale.
When travelling from the north, Whakahoro Road is a sharp right turn immediately after an overbridge, where the visibility is not optimal. We are advising people to go down to the next right turn, which is Waikawa Beach Road, as there is a right turning lane and then return north to Whakahoro Road. Care is also required for those of you returning to the south. You may want to turn left and travel the short distance to Tatum Park, where the visibility is better, before turning south again.
For a detailed map, you can try www.googlemaps.com
Don’t forget the Organic River Festival – the last weekend in January.
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.
In April we will visit Judith Balchin’s award winning home garden in Palmerston North.
The topic for May is container gardening with Michael Hunt and will be held at the property of Liz Baucke.
Other months to be advised, including another visit to Michael’s stunning nhome garden later in the year!
The next committee meeting will be on Monday 11th January with Winifred Bourne 23a Fairfield Road, Levin.
Mai Farm Naturally. 28th November Ashurst $10 entry. 9am to 9pm A great day out with stalls, workshops, speakers etc. http://www.maifarm.org
Field trip to Anna Royal’s nursery, Kuku Beach Road which was held on Sunday 1st November.
Anna made a large crowd very welcome when we recently visited her organic seedling nursery. We were joined on the day by members of Small Farmers, as well as by members of Tree Crops. The afternoon began with a talk from Kath Irvine, the Kapiti Coast Green Gardener on seed sowing and the production of seed raising mixes.
Kath prepares her own propagation mix rather than buying commercial varieties, which tend to have fungicides and slow release fertilisers in them. Kath relies on her previous endeavours to ascertain a good mix. Her proportions are roughly half compost and half sand. Kath suggested sifting the compost if it has been homemade. The sand, which makes the compost go further, needs to be river rather than beach sand. Anna, however, relies solely on compost, which is sourced from Paranui Organics, as she requires large amounts for her commercial enterprise. Vermicast can also be added, but damping off can sometimes be problematic in this regard. Leaf mould can also be used, as long as it is well-rotted as it has natural fungal properties. Whatever is used then needs to be mixed together well!
Kath pushes the mix down firmly into the wooden trays she uses for seed raising. This is to ensure that when the mix settles, the seeds don’t pop out. Animal manures are too strong for use at this stage. Each seed has its own nutrients within it and so doesn’t actually require any additional feed. This is especially pertinent to legumes. Although Kath did mention that she does give a bit of a feed to tomatoes as they get a bit bigger, as these can be quite ‘hungry’.
Kath groups together seeds that will germinate at the same time. She clearly labels and dates each row in her seed trays. Kath noted that she staggers her plantings of vegetable seedlings and only plants a small number of each variety at each successive planting. In this way she doesn’t experience any time where there is a major surplus of produce. She is then able to supply a household of four with a good variety of vegetables, herbs etc.
Kath recommends planting each seed two times (2x) the depth of the seed, in other words, so it has the same amount of soil on top of it. If you are unsure which way up to plant a seed, put it on its side! But even if a seed is planted upside down, it will still curl itself into an upright position. For smaller seeds a drill can be made with a finger, the seeds are then sown into this, with the sides of the drill being pulled over and then patted down.
There are some seeds which require the direct sowing method. One downfall of this is that smaller seeds often grow in clumps which later require thinning. One method to alleviate this problem is to sow the seeds, e.g. carrots onto toilet paper that has been laid out flat. The seeds are then sprinkled on top and eventually the toilet paper rots down, with the carrots being more evenly spaced.
Pricking the seeds on is the next step and is done once the seeds start to sprout if they are growing together in a bunch. A small group of seedlings are gently taken out of the soil and replanted individually. When this is undertaken, Kath stresses the seedlings should be held by the leaves, taking care not to bruise the stem, as this is where the nutrients are held. This process should be undertaken either in the early morning or evening. The seedling is then placed into the hole so it is hanging loosely and then it should be covered with soil and lightly watered. Bigger seeds are obviously able to be well spaced in the trays at the time of planting.
Care needs to be taken when watering your seeds, as they are very fragile. If water is poured on them it may dislodge or even damage them. This method of watering can also create a crust on top of the soil. Kath’s recommendation is to ‘make like the rain’ with the golden rule being to have the soil ‘rung-out-like-a-dishcloth-moist’. If it is too wet the seeds may rot.
Growing plants from seeds is a wonderful journey, where the gardener becomes aware of just what conditions each seed grows best in.
The next part of the afternoon involved a guided tour of the nursery by Anna and finished with a seed swap, where members had brought along seeds, some of which were heirloom varieties.
Did you know: Commercial agriculture consumes 10.3 quads (quadrillion BTUs) of primary energy in order to produce 1.4 quads of food energy! The inputs are mainly fossil fuels used in running tractors, producing artificial fertilizers, producing seeds, trucking, refrigeration, processing, freezing and cooking.
Further to our talk on fermented foods:
For anyone wanting to make their own probiotic, follow this link http://www.soustvarjanje.si/request... there is a brief article then go to water kefir pdf (Complete Overview/Instructions). Pip has milk and water grains for anyone wanting these.
A vital part of the sour dough making process is to take out a cup of starter before the salt, flour and other goodies are added. This is then kept in the fridge and ‘fed’ every 3-4 days, until the bread is made again.
NOVEMBER and DECEMBER IN THE ORGANIC GARDEN from the Organic Garden Calendar by Kath Irvine
November:
Plant out tomatoes now
Sow seed for summer colour
Propagate your horseradish by root cuttings now
Shallow frequent watering grows shallow roots, which makes for weak plants
Keep planting your successive crops of zucchini, corn, beans, peas and silverbeet
2, 20, 21 – Make and apply compost to beds; transplant
4, 14 - sow broccoli, cauliflower, plant potatoes
6, 15 – sow cabbage, lettuce, silverbeet &leeks
8, 9 – sow beans
10, 11, 12 – sow beetroot, carrots, parsnips and radish
17, 18, 27, 28 – late transplanting of cucumber, zucchini, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, capsicums & corn
22, 23 – transplant brocoli & cauliflower
24, 25, 26 – transplant cabbage, lettuce, silverbeet, leeks and celery
30 – sow all seeds
31 – sow broccoli, cauliflower
REIKI – A NATURAL & EFFECTIVE HEALTH THERAPY
For further information or to make an appointment phone 3673753
Peter’s Yoga Sunday morning Yoga Classes for Men & Women
Improve your flexibility, strength & balance. Promote your own health & wellness.
Learn to relax and enjoy life! 9.30 -11.00am Sundays. New students can start on any Sunday.
More Dance Studio, 268a Oxford St, Levin. $10 for a casual class (Discount for pre-paid 10 class ticket)
Enquiries: Peter Macdonald: (06) 3681454 or (0274) 418358
EM 1 available in 750ml, 2 litre and 20 litre containers. Bokashi Zing Compost Buckets and Bokashi Zing.
Full range of EM Ceramics and EMX. EM Practical Workshops..... to be advised.
Dave Johnston, 39 State Highway 1, Otaki, ph 06 364 6101, email lao@ihug.co.nz
A1 SHELTER BELT TRIMMERS for all your shelter belt and hedge trimming. Height reduction and decrowning now available. Competitive prices, prompt service. Phone Marty (06) 362 6737
MAWHENUA FARM - organic since 1986. Beef, hogget & lamb processed & packaged under MAF licence.
Craft & knitting wools available. For price list and inquiries contact Warren and Trish Gilbert, RD 7, Dannevirke (06) 374 8281.
IMAGO ORGANIC ORCHARD (OFENZ Certified) Home grown & local fresh, dried, preserved and processed organic & spray free fruit & berries. Agrissentials Rok Solid & Organic 100 also available.
Summer hours 9.00am – 5.30pm. Winter hours by arrangement. Phone Ann 06 3683858
World’s first fully certified organic SKINCARE, BODYCARE AND COSMETIC PRODUCTS.
100% free of synthetic chemicals. Discount and free shipping available.
Order on-line www.organics4you.net.nz or phone Louise (06) 364 2190
