Tree group ends year on high
Tree Crops Association Hall Cup winners named
The Wellington-Horowhenua branch of the NZ Tree Crops Association held its end of year meeting on Saturday, attracting 25 attendees, including a number of first timers, at the property of long time members Sally and Mark, in Levin's Queen St.
Sally and Mark last hosted a branch visit about five years ago and members who attended that event noted the growth in the years since. A tour of the property revealed a diverse range of fruit being grown in sheltered corners.
The former Wellingtonians have spent 10 years developing a rundown property once used to grow rootstock into a productive orchard. Sally has used her NZTCA membership to learn from locals and source suitable plants for the site.
Along with the usual orchard staples of apples, pears and peaches, olives have been used for creating shelter, and there were well established persimmons, mulberries, loquats chestnuts and a tea camellia.
Sally and Mark also have two berry enclosures – one for their trial plot of haskaps (honeyberries) and the other for a blueberry patch. They have
been picking blueberries since early November.
After the property tour, a quiz had been prepared to test how well members had been taking notice. Samples from 15 plants found in the orchard area were laid out on a table to be identified.
As part of the AGM, the Hall Cup, donated by long time members Irene and Arthur Hall, was awarded. It goes to branch members who have contributed a lot to the local branch and to Tree Crops as a whole.
This year the cup was awarded to conference convenors Ruth McKenzie and Gary Burnham for all their mahi in regards to organising the 2022, postponed to 2023, annual NZTCA conference.
The afternoon wrapped up with the annual plant auction which always attracts lively bidding. Mark acted as auctioneer, ably assisted by George and Ngaire. The auction allows surplus plants to be shared while raising funds for branch activities such as the recent grafting workshop.
Next month the branch is holding a Haskap/honeyberry workshop at the property of researcher Eric Cairns in Mangaroa, Upper Hutt.
This is an opportunity to learn more about Honeyberry research. Eric will be showing how to pick, measure, and taste this new temperate climate crop. You'll literally get your hands dirty having a go at data (and berry) collection.