Queen bee

Could not capture the Queens but look at the early season Tagasaste flowers that are feeding them.

On these fine winters days you often get Queen Bumble bees coming out of hibernation for food. Tagasast sre one of htese important food sources.

Post bonfire

You can tell there were lots of bows made in the workshop yesterday. We will not need to gather kindling for a while.

The day after the bonfire is always fun.

We rekindle the embers and burn any remaining wood. Then we have toastie pies for lunch and hunt around for any lost arrows that have not burnt too much.

MIdwinter

This year our midwinter bonfire is a little late.

Yesterday was spent clearing out the brickyard and getting ready for a fun weekend.

It is exciting to see the 'flaps up' ready to welcome people.

On the lay again.

Yay!!!

Chickens are on the lay again.
This time of the year they are tractoring over Asparagus -weeding and fertilizing.

We swap a bucket of scraps for eggs and the Asparagus is right next to the citrus so is usually topped up with Grapefruit and Oranges.

Upcoming workshops

Composting with CReW

Tutor: Louise Shaw

Cost: FREE

Time: 6pm

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Location: 20 minutes from Whakatane -to be advised on booking.

Bookings:please contact David at CReW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR,  email David@crewonline.org.nz

Hosted by CReW Whakatane. 

Compost is a key that makes the world grow!

We will kick-start the evening by looking at the basic principles of composting; What can be composted? How compost happens? And what finished compost is and does?

We will then take a stroll around the garden to check out various compost heaps to see what composting
looks like in practice and look at some of the different ways you can use compost.

If we have time we will get our hands dirty and construct our own hot compost.

Each participant will go home with; an understanding of the basic principles behind composting so they can improve on or start an effective composting system in their backyard.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
To book a spot please contact David at CREW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR, email david@crewonline.org.nz For more information visit: facebook.com/crewonlinenz.

Worm farming with CReW

Tutor: Louise Shaw

Cost: FREE

Time: 6pm

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Location: 20 minutes from Whakatane -to be advised on booking.

Bookings:please contact David at CReW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR,  email David@crewonline.org.nz

Hosted by CReW Whakatane.
Worms are the intestines of our earth.

In this workshop we will learn all about these amazing creatures, what they need to be happy and how we can create a variety of ‘farms’ to make them work for us.

We will wander through my garden and have a look at some working worm farms and set up a home-made worm farm from scratch.

We will then look at some of the different ways we can use vermi-cast to supercharge our garden; seed coatings, foliar sprays, biochar,...

Each participant will go home with; some amazing new knowledge on these powerful workers and the knowledge to set up their own vermi-composting system for their backyard.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
To book a spot, please contact David at CReW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR, email david@crewonline.org.nz For more information visit: facebook.com/crewonlinenz

Companion Planting

Tutor: Louise Shaw

Cost: $20

Time: 5.30-8pm

Date: Tuesday 1st of December

Location: 20 minutes from Whakatane -to be advised on booking.

Bookings: please email louise.shaw@blueduckdesign.co.nz.

This garden based workshop will start by delving into companion planting techniques and how they create thriving gardens. We will then walk around the garden and orchard to see first hand what companion planting looks like in practice.

We will cover the basics of; succession planting, guilds, cover cropping, crop rotation, beneficial insect plantings, mychrozial connections,…..and you will come away with your own guild of seeds/seedlings to take home. 

Please remember this is an outside workshop. Bring a small container to put your seeds/seedlings in and be prepared to get your hands dirty.

For bookings please email louise.shaw@blueduckdesign.co.nz.

Pottery

Second firing of the year.