Phil will start by discussing ways of managing orchards that don’t involve mowing or putting up with rank grass: 

• planting guilds (syntropic agroforestry style)
• scything, which he’ll demonstrate
• grazing livestock (including birds)

Then we talk about nutrition. Get an introduction to biochar on a backyard scale, using fruit tree prunings and a simply converted 44-gallon drum. Learn how to make charcoal, simple ways to activate it (turning it into biochar), how to use it when planting and how to add it to existing orchards. Then we discuss liquid fertilisers.

After lunch, we focus on maintaining pruning tools, specifically secateurs and loppers. Bring a pair of either with you and learn about correct use and how to care for them, including how to disinfect and when that's required. We’ll get hands-on with seasonal maintenance: Phil will demonstrate how to disassemble, clean and sharpen.

Diamond files will be available for purchase for those who wish to take one home. Order of topics may change depending on weather (we’ll be under cover while working on pruning tools).

BYO lunch and appropriate wet weather gear. Tea and coffee provided.

Sunday 15 June | 10am-2.30pm | Ashhurst, Manawatū

Limited numbers. Registration required. $25 pp or $35 for two from the same household.

Current NZ Tree Crops registered financial members have advance access to register. Numbers are capped at 30 and we expect this event will quickly fill up so be sure to register ASAP.

Registrations can be made HERE

Kia ora koutou from the team at RECAP

Last call to register for Broke Gardening which is this Saturday (May 17th) 11am-2pm

For those without any (or much) gardening experience, this is a how-to on creating vegetable garden beds with as little money as possible; using easily found free and cheap resources. Kids are welcome with caregivers. Hot drinks and afternoon tea provided. $10 waged $5 unwaged and students. Please register at recap.org.nz

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The RECAP AGM is on Wednesday June 11th 7pm at the Village Valley Centre. All are welcome. A light supper will be provided.

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New workshop alert!

Orchard Management & Tool Care with Phil Stevens of Slow Farm

Sunday 15 June, 10am-2.30pm, Ashhurst, Manawatū

$25 pp or $35 for two from the same household.

We expect this event will quickly fill up so be sure to register ASAP.

Registrations can be made at recap.org.nz

Phil will start by discussing ways of managing orchards that don’t involve mowing or putting up with rank grass:

planting guilds (syntropic agroforestry style)

scything, which he’ll demonstrate

grazing livestock (including birds)

Then we talk about nutrition. Get an introduction to biochar on a backyard scale, using fruit tree prunings and a simply converted 44-gallon drum. Learn how to make charcoal, simple ways to activate it (turning it into biochar), how to use it when planting and how to add it to existing orchards. Then we discuss liquid fertilisers.

After lunch, we focus on maintaining pruning tools, specifically secateurs and loppers. Bring a pair of either with you and learn about correct use and how to care for them, including how to disinfect and when that's required. We’ll get hands-on with seasonal maintenance: Phil will demonstrate how to disassemble, clean and sharpen.

Diamond files will be available for purchase for those who wish to take one home. Order of topics may change depending on weather (we’ll be under cover while working on pruning tools).

BYO lunch and appropriate wet weather gear. Tea and coffee provided.

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Winter Pruning Workshop 2025:

Our annual (and popular) Winter Pruning Workshop for 2025 takes place on Saturday June 21st, 1pm-3pm at the Olsson Community Orchard in Ashhurst. This is a practical, hands on guide to winter fruit tree pruning for optimum next season fruiting and tree health. Join us for this opportunity to get stuck in with the loppers with guidance and support. This is a free workshop, although koha is appreciated. Registrations are essential and can be made at

recap.org.nz.

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And as always - a huge ngā mihi to all of the regular and casual volunteers who make up RECAP. We are very lucky to enjoy such strong support from our community. If you’d like to get involved we have a variety of volunteering opportunities to suit a variety of people. Contact chris@recap.org.nz to find out more.

We're about to do a big restock of the Seed Library so we thought we'd do up a quick guide. Check in at the Ashhurst Library (where the Seed Library station is located) as we have a whole lot of fresh, locally harvested seeds for your Autumn/Winter gardens.

Kia ora koutou from RECAP

An update on our projects, services and upcoming activities: 

Crop Swap - The RECAP Crop Swap continues in 2025 on the first Saturday of each month. Join us at the Ashhurst Community Library 11am-1pm. The first one for the year is this Saturday March 1st. For those unfamiliar with the Crop Swap - this is an open sharing event where anyone can give or take items for free (‘swap’ is a bit of a misnomer as you don’t need to exchange things). Things we welcome at the Crop Swap: excess produce/fruit, seedlings, seeds, home baking, preserves, small gardening items, cuttings, small trees, plants, fertilizers (e.g. worm wee), fresh herbs e.t.c e.t.c. There’s always a lot of great kōrero around gardening topics as well. It's a great way to meet others in the community. 

Summer Pruning - Our always-popular pruning workshop is happening on Saturday March 1st from 1pm at the Olsson Community Orchard in Ashhurst. Learn by doing under the tutelage of two knowledgeable instructors. This workshop is free, but we appreciate koha if you are able. Registrations are a must and can be made at  recap.org.nz.

Volunteer Library Gardening happens most weeks led by our wonderful deputy chairperson Suzanne. She updates facebook/Ashhurst Chat each week, so if you’re keen to get involved you can get in touch there or email: schelius@hotmail.com. Everyone - all levels of experience and ability - welcome. Come along as a one-off or as a regular.

Ashhurst School Garden Club The kids are back in the garden with Mondays for juniors and Thursdays for seniors. If your tamariki are keen on garden club (and you wish to keep their uniform shirts clean) please feel free to pack an old tee shirt - we do tend to get a bit muddy!

The Ashhurst Sharing Shelf - has a new facebook group you can join HERE. We are closing down the current facebook page as pages do not allow anyone outside of an admin to post. Groups are open so anyone can post what they've shared on the shelf. For those unfamiliar - the Ashhurst Sharing Shelf is a pātaka kai run by RECAP situated in the Ashhurst Library garden on Bamfield street.

UPDATED COMMUNITY KAI INFORMATION for 2025

We provide free rescued kai to people in the Ashhurst/Pohangina area each Tuesday from 3:15-4:15 from the back room of the Ashhurst Library.

If the weather is good - please queue outside, if it is raining you are able to queue inside the library.

Depending on donations, some weeks we are able to serve anyone who comes no questions asked. On weeks where donations are low we need to see a current community services card to access kai. We post on facebook/RECAP Community Kai at approximately 2:30 pm Tuesday to let you know.

You are able to come through and pick up what you need from what has been donated that week. Some items have limits so please read the signage.

Unfortunately we can no longer set aside bags for a later pick up. And only one bag per whānau, please. We can also no longer offer more than one bag for those picking up on behalf.

Kids and teenagers are not allowed to pick up kai unless a parent or caregiver has contacted us (you only need to do this once and we will note their name down) and on the weeks where a community services card is needed you will need to send a photo of this. Email: chris@recap.org.nz.

Please note that as this is rescued kai - many of the items will be past their best before date. We dispose of any items that we deem unfit for human consumption, but many items past best before are still good to eat. Please note, however, that this is at your own risk. Please use your eyes, nose and common sense if you are unsure. Please also note that use by dates are stricter than best before dates, so if an item says 'use by' this will need to be consumed asap. We will endeavor to let you know if items have been previously frozen or can be frozen.

Please be respectful of everyone else collecting kai and our volunteers. And please be honest when taking kai and do not exceed any limits that are on the signs - we are trying to be as fair in the distribution of this kai as possible.

Ngā mihi nui to our donors and volunteers, without whom we could not provide this service.

Chris Love

RECAP coordinator

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(Image from the Ashhurst School Garden)