I’ve been saying for a long time now that we wouldn’t start planting till June because it’s been such a dry autumn. Well, Paul Callister couldn’t wait. Having gone down to four days a week at his work there is no stopping Paul at the moment. Last week he organised for us to start planting the new track up to the Ecosite, this Friday’s he has organised for us to start planting at the top of the ZigZag track at the Ho Chi Minh, and in between he’s organised for it to rain everyday. This is great! Have you considered a three day working week Paul?
Last Thursday Paul, Philip and I were joined by PK, Tim Dredge, Tony Older, Annie Chapman, Tori and Vince who was back from the Chathams. Despite several of us having to leave early, we planted…
130 ringa ringa lilies 72 cabbage trees
44 coprosma proprinqua
30 mountain flax 20 Akiraho
20 mahoe
10 Akeake
10 Ngaio
10 Taupata
7 Oleria Cilandri
2 Kohuhu (p. tenufolium)
…these 355 plants were all in by 2pm, a great start to the planting season. I’ll have to make sure we have at least 500 ready for this week! So, join us this Friday (28th May 2010) if you can for our first trip up the Zig Zag track on the Ho Chi Minh trail. If you’ve been there before we can meet you at the depot around 9.30am. Otherwise meet at the Beach Rd benches under the church at 9.15am. The usual applies, bring lunch, a drink, boots, gloves and weather proof clothes and we’ll bring the rest. I’ll send out a reminder with full details later in the week.
The first weekend planting bee will be in June, on Sunday the 6th June 2010. This is the follow up to our first ever Mega planting bee. Gay Hay has been working with Te Ra school to help integrate our work into their existing curriculum. For the past six months the kids have been helping raise our eco-sourced trees in their nursery and on Friday the 4th of June 2010 three classes arrive, on mass, at the Matai Huka walkway to plant the trees. The circle will be completed later in the year with after care work releasing the plants and finally seed collecting for the next round. The kids should get a great sense of ownership because the Matai Huka escarpment can be seen from their school and vice versa.
The Global volunteers will be coming along to help too, as well as our own weekday volunteers and the Hill Crew. At 25 kids per class, associated parents and teachers we could have over 100 people on the hill. If so, I’ll be expecting to get well over 1000 plants in the ground. All next week we will be preparing the site, digging holes and getting plants and other materials on site. It should be a great day!
Once I have a few more dates firmed up I’ll send out the first draft of our planting calendar for the year.
Watch this space,
Joe