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
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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.