Propagating from cuttings is a great way to grow new plants and for next to nothing. Now’s a good time to take cuttings from many plants to propagate them.

May is the best month to take cuttings to propagate Blackcurrant, Fig, Gosseberry, Grape and Whitecurrant plants. Semi hardwood cuttings of herbs such as rosemary can also be taken now as well as ornamentals – Buxus (Box hedging), Fuchsia etc.

At this meeting we’ll be showing how to make willow water which is used to help cuttings take root, how it’s used and how to propagate plants from cuttings.

There will be a selection of cuttings available … bring cuttings you would like to propagate. If you want to take a plant home, bring a pot/s already filled with potting mix.

Monday 21st May, 7:30pm, at Te Whare o te Ata, 60a Sare Crescent Fairfield.

* Seed and plant swap and you’re welcome to sell items on the sales table.

* All welcome. Gold coin entry to cover costs.

International speaker on energy and global finance Nicole Foss gave a very intelligent and thought-provoking talk – “How to build a lifeboat” in Hamilton on the 16th April.

Nicole was interviewed by Kim Hill on the 24 March. The interview covered much of the material from her talk. You can hear the interview via this link:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2513651/nicole-foss-global-finance-and-peak-oil

Nicole is co-author of the website ‘The Automatic Earth’. More information on world finances and how to build a lifeboat can be found there.

http://theautomaticearth.org/

Seed sowing: 

best seed-sowing days 5th (2 days before the full moon) and 20th (day before Moon opposite Saturn) or in the ascending moon periods 1st – 9th and the 25th – 30th April.

*Sow green crops such as mustard or lupins. Sow snap peas, broad beans, carrots, beetroot and parnsips directly into the garden. Sow silverbeet, spinach and kale.

Transplanting seedlings, shrubs and trees, weeding, soil cultivation, composting, pruning fruit trees: descending moon period 11th – 23rd April

*Tranplant broccoli, cauli, leeks, kale, silverbeet, cabbage and celery seedlings.

*Plant trees, shrubs, perrenials and annuals to ensure they establish well before winter.

*Prepare a bed for strawberries by digging in well-rotted animal manure and compost.

*Collect leaves in bags, bales and barrels for leaf mould.

Rest days – 10th and 24th April

Hamilton City Council is planning to axe the Gully Restoration Programme in its latest round of budget cuts. The programme, which supports landowners with gullies on their property to learn the skills to care for their gullies, has been running for 10 years. It is a popular programme (850 gully owners on the database). It can be seen as a highly effective use of relatively small amounts of money which has substantial “downstream” effects going well beyond the boundaries of private property to benefit the whole community and the environment generally, eg providing habitat and ecological corridors for native species such as tui, bats and giant kokopu, reducing weeds on public land and improving water quality. Gully owners who participate in the programme often continue beyond their own property boundaries to remove weed species and restore native vegetation to other private properties and council land, helping to make Hamilton a better place to live. Private gully restorers are restoring similar areas in size as areas being restored by the Hamilton City Council Parks and Gardens Unit. Private restorations are often better quality due to more intensive management by private landowners.

To make a submission on the Gully Restoration Programme: Last date for submissions on the Council’s Draft Plan is Thursday 19^th April. To read the Summary Draft Plan and Full Draft Plan, click here. For biodiversity matters the important pages are 55 to 58 of volume 1 (page 56 for Gully Restoration Programme no longer funded).  (also see page 4 of the Have Your Say Hamilton that came in the letterbox). For more information also see www.gullyguide.co.nz

Two garden visits have been arranged for the 31^st March (Sat) … come and enjoy in mild autumn temperatures. (I hope that’s not tempting fate!)

Monica, Norman and Rubymei’s garden, Hamilton East.

Monica and Norm moved into their property around 5 years ago and have substantially modified what was an overgrown (but obviously once loved) garden. Gone are the roses, wisteria and vast black walnut tree; now natives, fruit, vegetable and a scattering of annuals dominate.

Folk can eat lunch there. There’s a large patio though little outdoor shade.

 Starts: 11:30 am 31^st March

Bring own lunch (not shared), drink, appropriate footwear, clothing, hat, sunblock or umbrella?

Maggie and Tony’s garden, Tamahere.

Maggie writes:

We have a couple of acres and are going through the organic certification process (we’ve been composters , and spray- and fertiliser-free for 18 years before that). We have a young orchard and firewood lot, big vege garden, goats, pigs and chooks. Tony makes yoghurt and cheeses and our goal is to be self sufficient in food and bio fuels. We have not achieved this yet but are having lots of fun getting there, despite times of two steps forward and one back! :) Look forward to seeing you all.

Starts: 1:30 pm 31^st March

Bring cup for cuppa tea/coffee, appropriate footwear, clothing, hat.

Please email me if you are interested in visiting either or both of these gardens. If the weather is wet we’ll go ahead unless it’s torrential.

* A great time to plan and plant your winter vegetable garden – broad beans, broccoli, cauli, cabbage, kale, leeks, lettuce, peas, silverbeet, snowpeas and spinach. Carrots, beetroot and parsnips can be sown directly in the ground.

*Vetch/oat mix can be sown in early autumn as a green or cover crop.

*Fertilising citrus trees with well-rotted animal manure or blood and bone is essential for a prolific crop. Spread the fertiliser around the tree’s dripline, then add a layer of mulch while the soil is moist. You can also use organic liquid fertilisers made from comfrey, fish, seaweed, or animal manure – apply every two to four weeks during the growing season.

*Plant spring bulbs such as daffodills and anemones.

If you are a facebook user, look us up  (link below and on the blog page). You are welcome to use the fb page to ask questions, share gardening tips, stories, dilemmas, etc. See you on there!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hamilton-Organic-Gardeners/228620910539003

There’s no monthly meeting this month at Te Whare o te Ata. Following on from last months meeting … the huge ivy that had taken over a Pepper Tree, in a property adjoining Te Whare, has been severed and a salt slurry applied. It ‘s started to wilt. Now’s a good time to do this before the seeds spread everywhere.

The pruning morning to prune Heritage “Peachgrove” Peach Trees will be on Saturday 7^th April (Easter Sat.) from 10am to approx. 12 O’clock. These trees are descendants of the original Peach Trees that were planted in a grove on Peachgrove Road. We’ll talk about the history of these trees and basic pruning techniques. Please let Joy know if you will be attending (or email hamiltonorganicgardenrs@gmail.com).

Also, we’re aiming to arrange some garden visits while the weather is warm. Send us an email if we can visit your place. A great way to meet other gardeners who are using organic methods, to learn heaps, get helpful tips and advice, get inspired and enjoy!

This Monday 20th February, 7.30pm, at Te Whare o te Ata, 60a Sare Crescent Fairfield.

Seed and plant swap and you’re welcome to sell items on the sales table.

There will be fish fertiliser for sale :)

 All welcome. Gold coin entry to cover room hire costs.

Public Meeting Reminder: Wednesday Feb 15th at 7:30pm at the Celebrating Age Centre.

Support Community Resources

Dr Tracy Bowell writes:

Despite what the city council wants you to believe, the closure is not a done deal. Help save the pools – our pools – come down for a dip … come to the meeting and show the city council that we won’t tolerate the closure of our valuable facilitities.