Kia ora koutou from RECAP

Ngā mihi to those who attended our AGM and haere mai to new board member Kira Paul.

A note from the RECAP Seed Library:

We provide as much information as possible on the label regarding seed source, expiry e.t.c but as we receive seeds from multiple places (often anonymously) we sometimes don’t have a lot to pass on. As such, if you pick up seeds with little info we can’t always vouch for their viability. We’d recommend a simple germination test for these seeds: place some of the seeds between a moist paper towel, put in a ziplock bag and leave somewhere warm for up to two weeks. This should give you an indication of how many seeds you can expect to germinate before you put them in the soil. 

Also - as we have a mix of hybrid, commercially produced and open pollinated seed collected from people’s gardens, please check the info as you can not go on to collect seeds from plants grown from hybrid stock. We will make sure this info is provided on the labels where possible. We will also be transitioning into a different colour label for those extra special seeds that are grown and collected locally.

We are always looking for donated seeds - especially those grown in our area as these are acclimated to our conditions. They can be dropped off to the Seed Library station, within the Ashhurst Library. When donating, we’d love to know what they are, when they were harvested and where. Ngā mihi.

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.

The RECAP Crop Swap - happens on the first Saturday of every month, 11am-1pm at the Ashhurst Library. This is a sharing event where people can give and take freely with no cost. It’s always a friendly group that gathers, with helpful kōrero on a variety of gardening related topics. 

Last month we thanked our wonderful Community Kai volunteers and donors. RECAP is by and for our community, and would not exist without the many volunteers who give their time, energy, skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to RECAP projects and events. In honour of Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu – National Volunteer Week (June 16-22) we’d like to say ngā mihi to the rest of our incredible current volunteers:

McCrae’s bush: Julie Doyle, Phillip Prujean, Margie Rogers (and former volunteers: Lance Fitness, Dianne McConnel and Peter Todd).

Māra Rongoā: Damian McGregor

Ashhurst Community Library Garden: Sue Pegrume, Jill Stewart, Amaya Piahana, Lucille Floyd and Susan

Phil Stevens

Hayden Smith

Ayla Bennett 

And our current board: Harvey Jones (chairperson) Anne Van-Brunt (treasurer) Suzanne Chelius (deputy chairperson) Aaron Roberts, Ellen Wansbrough, Jo Smith, Kira Paul.

In the 2023-2024 financial year, there were a total of 1399 volunteer hours donated in the following areas: 

Ashhurst Library Community Garden: 142 hours

Olsson Community Orchard: 82 hours

McCrae’s Bush: 232 hours       

Governance/meetings/administration: 151.5 hours                                             

Events (workshops e.t.c): 39 hours                                   

Trapping: 43 hours                                         

The Seed Library: 26.5 hours

RECAP Community Kai: 593.5 hours

Incredible stuff, team.

Noho ora mai

Chris Love

RECAP coordinator