RECAP news ~ February/March

Tēna koutou.

The RECAP team is back for 2024. We have some exciting projects, workshops and seminars coming up, so please keep your eye on our website and social media.

On behalf of the Christmas Hamper committee RECAP is a part of (alongside the Ashhurst Food Bank and members of the Ashhurst RSA) we’d like to acknowledge those who sponsored the Community Christmas Hampers in 2023: Ngā mihi nui to the Ashhurst/Pohangina Lions, Age Concern, The Ashhurst Memorial RSA, the RSA Women's League, RECAP, The Ashhurst Food Bank, Diane Bennett, The Ashhurst Christmas Parade, Woolworths New Zealand, River Church, Sanitarium, DKSH Distribution, Tastes of the UK, Just Zilch and everyone who made cash donations, donated food items or bought a raffle ticket.

The RECAP Crop Swap has been popular, so we’re hosting these monthly in 2024. You’ll find us on the first Saturday of every month at the Ashhurst Community Library (outside if it’s nice!) 11am-1pm kicking off in March. This is a sharing event where people can give and take freely (no need to give in order to take and visa versa). Bring produce, fruit, cuttings, seedlings, seeds and anything else gardening related.

Last year there was some kōrero on creating a neighborhood watch and/or community patrols in the area due to an uptick in crime. RECAP are happy to arrange a meeting with The Palmerston North/Manawatū reps for the community if interest is still there. Please contact info@recap.org.nz if you would be keen to get involved or have any thoughts or suggestions you’d like to share.

We have Volunteer Library Gardening happening most weeks led by our wonderful deputy chairperson Suzanne. She updates facebook/Ashhurst Chat each week with more detail, so if you’re keen to get involved check there or email: schelius@hotmail.com. Everyone—all levels of experience and ability— welcome. Bring gloves and tools if you have them. Otherwise, we will provide anything you might need. Mission is keeping the garden tidy as well as connecting and socialising. We garden for under an hour, then stop for a cuppa and cake. We are starting earlier (at 1pm) this year to provide more of a time-buffer for those who have school pick-up. Come along as a one-off or as a regular volunteer! We love to see new faces!

We will be running our Permaculture Garden Tour again later this year, and we’re on the lookout for new gardens to showcase. Although we focus on permaculture, anyone who grows food/flowers/natives with sustainable/regenerative methods is welcome to participate. It’s a wonderful chance to meet other like minded gardeners, and as a participant you often learn a lot from the attendees. This is a fundraising effort for RECAP with proceeds going toward our many and varied services and educational opportunities. Please get in touch (info@recap.org.nz) if you would like to be involved.

We’re also very excited to be running not one, but TWO garden clubs at Ashhurst school this year - one for the juniors and one for the seniors. We’re looking forward to tailoring this education to each age group and hoping the tamariki take this learning to their own backyards. A big ngā mihi to those organizations and individuals who have donated materials and time to the school māra over the past two years.

Our Seed Library (located within the Ashhurst Library) continues to be updated with seeds appropriate for the season. Thank you to the new volunteers who have joined us to help with this. We are always looking for donated seeds - especially those grown in our area. These can be dropped off to the Seed Library station.

And finally, RECAP Community Kai continues to provide rescued and donated kai to our residents. This happens on a Tuesday from 3:15-4:15 from the library back room (accessed through the garden area). This is not means tested and we ask no questions. Bring your own bag and select what you and your whānau will use. Some items have limits, and others you may take freely (please check the signage). We do not put out any items that are well past use by dates or appear perished, but please note most of what is available will be close to or past best before dates. Please use your eyes, nose and common sense before consuming. To find out more join facebook/RECAPcommunitykai.

Noho ora mai

Chris Love  - RECAP coordinator 

recap.org.nz facebook

ResilienceAshhurstPohangina instagram recap_ashhurst_pohangina

RECAP news ~ November/December

Kia ora, from the RECAP team. 

We’ve been a bit quiet lately, as we have a couple of big projects bubbling away. We can let you know more in 2024! 

 

Christmas Hampers 

Right now we’re fundraising with the Ashhurst Food Bank and the Ashhurst Memorial RSA to provide hampers of Christmas food for those in need in our community. 

There are a few ways you can help us with this:

We have a box in the Ashhurst Community Library (look for the tinsel!) for donations of various shelf stable items for these hampers.

Items we would like are: Christmas puddings, Christmas mince tarts, chocolate biscuits, fizzy drink, juice, passionfruit syrup, tinned fruit and chocolates. 

PLEASE do not use this box to donate random items or items past expiry. 

Contributions can be placed in the box during library opening hours.

 

We are also running a christmas raffle, with a hamper of christmas goodies worth over $150 to be won. Tickets are $2 and this will be drawn December 8th.

These can be purchased at RECAP Community Kai on Tuesdays, or online into the Ashhurst Community Trust Food Bank account: 06-0729-0611295-03 (please put your name and phone number in the particulars and reference). You can also make a monetary donation into the same account, although please note this account is not connected to a registered charity so donations are not tax exempt. Please put ‘Hampers’ as the reference. 

A HUGE ngā mihi to Dianne Bennett for organising this raffle.

We will also have a stall at the Ashhurst Christmas Market on December 2nd where you can donate christmas items for the hampers, purchase raffle tickets or offer a donation.  

If you have any questions about the Christmas Hampers, you can contact Marianne on 027 627 2054 or chris@recap.org.nz

 

 

We’d also like to give a quick signal boost to a couple of orgs: 

Community Fruit Harvest Manawatū. If you have a large, productive fruit tree (or trees) you can’t keep up with, they will visit your property to harvest and distribute throughout the region. They tend to share the majority of this produce in the community they pick from. You can contact them at communityfruitmanawatu@gmail.com or on 0210 914 0513.

Share Waste is a new app that connects home composters and worm farmers with those who have organic waste (produce scraps e.t.c). If you are unable to compost at your whāre, you can find someone local who can. Or if your compost/worm farm needs more waste than you create you can find someone with donations. 

Both great groups that do good for us and our whenua. 

 

To be on our newsletter database, please email info@recap.org.nz with your email address.

Noho ora mai

chris@recap.org.nz

 

 

RECAP update September/October

Kia ora, from the RECAP team. 

Christmas Hampers 

RECAP are working with representatives from the Ashhurst Memorial RSA and the Ashhurst Food Bank again this year to provide hampers of Christmas food for some of our community. 

We have a box in the window of the Ashhurst Community Library (look for the tinsel!) for donations of various shelf stable items for these hampers.

Items we would like are: Christmas puddings, Christmas mince tarts, chocolate biscuits, fizzy drink, juice, passionfruit syrup, tinned fruit and chocolates. Contributions can be placed in the box during library opening hours.

If you have any questions about the Christmas Hampers, you can contact Marianne on 027 627 2054 or chris@recap.org.nz

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Some info from the Emergency Preparedness Seminar we held on September 6th. We have left some resources at the library including a new guide for lifestyle block owners in our area. The library has a reference copy and also info on how to download it. Our local fire department does home visits where they assess fire risk and advise on what you can do to minimise these risks. You can contact them directly to enquire about this free service. RECAP will be following up with the PNCC to create a list of community groups and volunteers and to gather resources to aid in our community response to any future emergency situation. If you’d like to be involved please contact us. For those in Pohangina, you can contact: pohanginaemergencyresponse@gmail.com 

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Ruahine Whio Protection Trust fundraising calendars for 2024

These are $20 and have beautiful photography from a number of  local photographers. To purchase a calendar and support the trust with the vital work they do, please contact: A.vanbrunt@xtra.co.nz

A message from chairperson Janet Wilson: 

“The Ruahine Whio Protection Trust raises funds to support the volunteer led trapping work helping to  protect  the endangered Whio (Blue Duck) population in the Ruahine Range, particularly on the western side. Your support is now even more appreciated as we no longer have Department of Conservation funding via their Community Conservation Fund.  Volunteers work hard locally in the Oroua and Pohangina Rivers which hold the southernmost whio population in the North Island”.      

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Ngā mihi nui to Noel Birchall for building and donating the beautiful Tui feeder in the community garden next to the library. It’s been super popular with our feathered friends. And another ngā mihi nui to Ross and Jill at the library for keeping the feeder full!

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We'd like to give also give a quick signal boost to landbasedtraining.co.nz

They facilitate a number of excellent educational opportunities, from short entry level courses to more in depth learning on a number of topics (agriculture/horticulture/apiculture/pest control and more).

They are currently enrolling students for their level four Sustainable Primary Production course, which includes some permaculture based content. As RECAP/Slow Farm are not offering the Permaculture Design Course at present, this is a fantastic local alternative.

This course is FEES FREE if you enrol before September 30th 2023 (enrolments after this date will have a fee of $490) and can be done full time or part time.

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The last RECAP Crop Swap for the year is Saturday October 28th from 11am-1pm  at the Ashhurst library. This is a free sharing event, where you don't need to give in order to take or vice versa. It’s a great spot to bring the fruit from the trees you can't keep up with or to offload some of your glut or excess seedlings. Or just show up to collect the bounty from other gardens. There is often a lot of great kōrero on various gardening topics, so bring your questions, too.

 

To be on our newsletter database, please email info@recap.org.nz with your email address.

 

Noho ora mai

chris@recap.org.nz

www.recap.org.nz

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RECAP Community Kai turns two!

RECAP Community Kai turned two on August 21st! Two years of feeding our community and diverting food from landfill. This service relies heavily on volunteers, so a huge ngā mihi to everyone who has lent a hand (too many to name at this point!) And a huge ngā mihi to Just Zilch - Food Rescue & Free Store for their support from the beginning, Mission for Men who came on board to assist with donations, DKSH distribution and everyone who has offered koha. 

The Ashhurst Sharing Shelf

The Ashhurst Community Library is home to the Ashhurst Sharing shelf. This is a place to share any excess food or gardening items. We ask that you please refrain from leaving any other items, and do not leave food products that need refridgeration, or that are past their best before dates.

This sharing shelf is attached to the garage in the library garden, just behind the picket fence and sheltered from the weather. This is to the left of the garden gates once you enter.

As part of its ongoing commitment to building resilience and engaging the community, RECAP members have created this facility and will oversee its use.  Please make use of the shelved with these requests in mind:

Share your excess
Reduce waste
Only take what you can use
Clean up rotting produce
Keep it tidy

Waste produce will be composted if not taken.  

Follow The Ashhurst Sharing Shelf on facebook for updates on what's on the shelf.

 

Happy Volunteer Week 2023.

It’s Volunteer Week! Volunteers are the backbone of RECAP, and to show what we mean here’s some stats for you:

In the 2022-2023 financial year RECAP projects, services and events were made possible by 1265 (documented) volunteer hours from just over 100 people. As we generally rely on people to self report these, we estimate the actual number to be much higher.

How these hours were spent:

Ashhurst Library Community Garden and King’s Reserve: 65 hours

Olsson Community Orchard: 113 hours

McCrae’s Bush: 290 hours

Governance/meetings/administration: 218 hours

Events (workshops e.t.c): 52 hours

Trapping: 108 hours

The Seed Library: 20 hours

RECAP Community Kai: 360.5 hours

Miscellaneous: 38.5 hours

RECAP would also like to give an extra special thank you to the following extra special people:

Phil Stevens.

Sharon Stevens.

Lance Fitness, Dianne McConnel, Margie Rogers, Peter Todd and Julie Doyle for their tireless work at McCrae’s bush.

RECAP Community Kai volunteers: Angela Mills, Gwendi Knight, Helen Williams, Jo Smith, Mackenzie Grant, Dianne Bennett, Kaye Isles, Kim Mills, Karina Jackson, Adrianne Harding, Suzanne and Adelle Ballantyne, Julie Gillam-Hill.

Ian Rasmussen and volunteers for their mahi with the TrAP project.

Bonnie and Neal Rider

Hayden Smith

And finally, our board: Harvey Jones (chairperson) Anne Van-Brunt (secretary) Suzanne Chelius (deputy chairperson) Aaron Roberts, Ellen Wansbrough, Saige Madgwick and Jenna Fisher.

We are so immensely grateful to each and every person who has given their time, energy, expertise and passion to our organisation. Thank you all so much.

RECAP Seminars and Workshops

Each year we aim to offer a range of workshops, seminars, talks and films that are grounded in the Permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share

Over the last few years we have run workshops on an ever increasing list of subjects. These are open to all, and are either free or well subsidised.

We run three annual workshops: summer pruning, winter pruning and composting.

Some of the workshops, seminars and volunteer opportunities we have offered: solar power, sourdough, seed harvesting & processing, seed sowing, foraging, espalier trees, public clean ups and stream cleaning, drought proofing your garden, natural building, rainwater tanks, backyard poulty keeping, beginner gardening, berm gardening, zero and low waste living, soap making and many, many more.

RECAP is committed to providing education around sustainability and resilience and dedicated to increasing community connectivity in Ashhurst and Pohangina.

Please email us on info@recap.org.nz if you would like to receive our monthly mail out, or like us on facebook to keep up to date with what we are offering

 

RECAP privacy statement

In order to provide you with information, we may request the following: your name, contact details & previous interactions with our organization. 

Providing this to us is optional. 

We keep your information safe by storing it securely and only allowing one staff member to access it for communication purposes only.

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. 

If you would like to request your information: please contact us at info@recap.org.nz.

The RECAP Seed Library

Did you know that RECAP has a seed library within the Ashhurst Community Library?

It is free to register to use for Ashhurst & Pohangina residents and you are able to access 3 packets per month. 

If you save seeds from your garden and have enough to share we would gratefully accept them to distribute. Please contact info@recap.org.nz or drop them off to our wonderful librarians (with as much information about the seeds as you can provide us) and we can package them up and label them for our community.

As we wish for people to be able to continue to collect seeds from their plants, we only ask that you don't donate hybrid seeds (if you have any bought packets it should tell you on the label).

Be involved!

Two volunteers share their experience with beekeeping during a tour

RECAP is a volunteer-led, registered charity (CC50147) with lots of opportunities for meaningful community involvement. As an umbrella organisation for a range of community projects, we would like to enable people with creativity and initiative to take leadership in areas that are supported by our purposes. Please step forward if you would like to develop a project or offer a workshop to benefit the community through RECAP. We also have several well-defined volunteer roles, small and large. Contact us to discuss a volunteer role that might suit you. You can also ask to be put on our mailing list, and we'll let you know about working bees as well as other events like workshops, socials, and more. Most of our events are equally open to both members (living in Ashhurst and the Pohangina Valley area) and non-members. Just send us your name, email address, and mailing address. Our AGM is usually the first Wednesday in June at the Village Valley Centre. Our email: info@recap.org.nz.

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