Orchards where the apples grow,
gardens where the roses cluster,
these are our prayer.

The Olsson Orchard is currently being planted between McCrae's Bush (off River Rd.) and the stairway up to The Terrace. The orchard is named in honour of Noel Olsson, 1941-2012. For over eleven years, Noel was the Chair of the Ashhurst Action Group, which is the "parent" organisation for RECAP.

Project purposes

• Practical direct education in orchard care through annual pruning and related workshops;
• Passive community education by creating ongoing public access to a working orchard;
• Free produce according to an "Open Orchard" model to grow community resilience.

Project timeline

• April 2012: First public workshop establishes a compost pile
• Establish drainage and install bench seating (started in June 2012; still in progress)
• late July 2012: Planting workshops with Ashhurst School and general community
• Spring 2012: Citrus tree planting
• March 2013: Composting by the Scouts, Permaculture Design Course, and community
• April 2013: bulb planting

Tree varieties
Apples: Dayton, Monty's Surprise, Captain Kidd, __________
Pears: Winter Nelis, Dwarf Doyenne Du Comice, Dwarf William Bon Chretien
Plum: Black Doris, Hawera. Billington, Louisa
Nectarine: Kaitaia on Myrobalan
Peacherine: Matakohe on Myrobalan
Apricot: Fizroy on Peach stock
Peach: Heritage peach from Woodville
Prune Stanley
Fig
Almond

Harvey Jones is Project Coordinator for the Community Orchard. To participate in any way, contact info@recap.org.nz.

We thank PNCC for the use of the land for this project; Meridian's Te Apiti Community Fund for funds to purchase plants, to install seats, and for other project costs; Ashhurst Engineering and Construction for bench seating; and Sarah Frater from Edible Garden for ongoing advice on how to care for the orchard.