17 June 2010

21st June 6pm mid winter event

A Winter Solstice 'happening' is ahead for Riverton, with live acoustic music, glowing braziers, hot toddies and a bonfire on the sand, all from the relative comfort of the 'Viewing Platform' beside Te Hikoi. The braziers will be lit at 6:00 pm, providing the wind and rain haven't arrived to share the evening with us. It's a family event, so find some children (it's best if they're yours!), wrap them in blankets and bring them along. It'll be a low-key, fun event, ending at the Environment Centre for mid-winter dessert (Steamed Pudding and the like) If you'd like to check before setting out with thermos in hand, email guy10@actrix.co.nz on Monday afternoon (21st June)

1080 – Coming to a forest near you!

There are several schools of thought around the issue of 1080 and not a lot of common ground amongst them. Poisons in the environment seem to provoke polarised reactions and 1080 certainly does that. Here in the south, opposition to its use, particularly where it is dropped from the air, is heated but not to boiling point as it has been on the West Coast. It is still possible to share points of view over the vexed issue and the opportunity for people to do that has presented itself in the form of an film evening on the 22nd of June at the Environment Centre, where the video ‘Poisoning Paradise’ will be presented and shown by Tamsin from the Lilburn Valley. It’s a 45 minute presentation and discussion will no doubt follow. With hunters, fishermen, tourist facility operators, DoC staff and other affected parties all living in our town we expect a lively debate and perhaps a happy conclusion as a result. You are invited to come along and put your 2 cents worth in.

The Mining Issue

To dig or not to dig? That’s the question. The up-coming ‘march against mining’ through the streets of Invercargill seeks to draw attention to the National Government’s intentions to prospect in and dig up, Schedule 4, conservation land – the National parks. It was agreed long ago, by all the political parties of the time along with the public that they represent, that land protected by Schedule 4 was to remain untouched by mining forever, protected for generations yet to come. The present attempts to reverse those decisions fly in the face of what New Zealanders signed for back then. And New Zealanders in huge numbers don’t like that kind of erosion of their resources and their protections against exploitation. If you want to make some noise about the Government's plans to mine the Conservation Estate, join the march through the streets, placards aloft, to show that there are people down here who don't want the national parks dug up. The march starts at the corner of Nith and Forth streets at 2:00pm on Saturday the 26th of June. I'll be there, wielding a placard that reads, "LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND" with a huge paper mache lump of coal, presently being built in my kitchen. There's fun to be had in marches and parades and this is a great opportunity to meet people who care about the environment, have a good time and get the message across to the people of Invercargill and the Beehive!

This site might interest you if you like to read about political and environmental issues:

http://robertguyton.blogspot.com/

Workshops Coming up:

Fruit Tree pruning workshops several coming up in the next 2 months- check the Diary of Events for one near you.

Nyad

Monday morning, and early-bird Rivertonian’s on their way to work were greeted by the sight of this delightfully original water nymph, striking a graceful pose beside the Jacob’s River estuary. The first of what is rumoured to be a series of ‘impromptu outdoor art works’, the dancing figure made from driftwood and found flotsam appeared overnight, in weather that could only be described as ‘challenging’. The cold and squally conditions didn’t deter the artist from setting his sculpture out on the very exposed site, chosen no doubt for its high visibility as well. The ‘girl on the shore’ has struck a chord with locals who say variously that the figure lifted their spirits during the gloomy weather and made them smile at the audacity of the artist. All of the locals spoken with said they were looking forward very much to the next ‘installation’.

Varroa comes closer

Opening the shop this morning was a hurried affair - I had to move quickly or I'd have frozen! It was sleety, squally and chilly, a trio of incentives to get the fire lit as quickly as possible and on top of that, there were people waiting at the door to come in. Once there was a crackling fire to gather around, I learned that the two early birds were from Hawea Flats and not unfamiliar with freezing temperatures and hardly phased by Riverton's cold snap. And they were apiarists, so it was from them that I learned that the dreaded varroa mite has arrived in Wanaka and surrounding areas. I'd read of the mites entry into Queenstown amongst hives that a hobbiest beekeeper had carelessly imported from further north but nothing about Wanaka and Hawea. It's not good news and little can be done about the spread, experience tells us. It, they, get around. Our hives are free of it at the moment and we can still enjoy our organic honey and happy bees, but the time will no doubt come when we will have to review our beekeeping ways. Luckily now there are certified organic methods we can deploy to keep numbers low- To our advantage down south we don’t have brood (baby bees) over winter so we will always have a reprieve from the cycle and likely to always only have a light infliction. Meanwhile, I'm looking for information on mid-winter mead and how to prepare it. I've read that a hot poker, plunged into a tankard of mead will do the trick. It certainly suits the theatrical side of my nature and would look good for the longest night celebrations beside the water, amongst the unicycles, sparkling pyre and, hopefully limp flags.

The Soup ‘John B’

Our Friday night Fireside Soup get-together attracts a very interesting and ever changing crowd and this Friday past was no exception with the visit by two sailors from the sleek 43 foot yacht that skimmed across the bar last week and tied up to the T-wharf for a few days, waiting for a tide full enough to get back out. Originally from Nelson but arriving in Riverton via 8 years of exotic world travel that included anchorages up the Amazon river, numerous islands including the Galapagos, Easter, Pitcairn and several that I had never heard of, Phil and Karen were well seasoned yacht's-people. They set sail on Thursday for Stewart Island where they will spend several weeks exploring before sailing for Akaroa and ultimately back to Nelson and their home. Beyond that seems to be a voyage to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Phil says the yacht's heaters are excellent and I certainly hope he's right.

Green Gardener Diary

These thoughts from a southern gardener are updated regularly - the link is under "what's new" on our website - here is an example:

10 June entry Should be wintry here right now but despite the coolness in the air, you'd think winter had either been and gone or was due to arrive. I do know that it can change in the twinkling of an eye but I'm enjoying this calm phase for as long as it lasts. I can see a heavy covering of snow on the Takitimu mountains and on Mid Dome, so I'm not entirely unaware that cold days are not far away. Surprisingly, we've had a couple of frosts. In the past couple of years, we've been all but frost-free through the winter but the blackened leaves of some of our vegetables, especially the ulluco from South America and my out-door-growing tomatoes from the same region, show that we've been visited. No great harm done though and it's certainly sweetened up the swedes. The apples crop has been picked, mostly by birds sadly, though the Gloria Mundi are still on the tree, looking very autumnal and tasty, covered for their own protection by a very sturdy net. I'll pick them soon and store them, probably in paper, for as long as they will last. Most late season apples store for a considerable time, whereas early season apples soon go soft and fail. I've enjoyed several very delicious apple desserts lately, baked with apples of unknown name and various origins, many of those being the old orchards around Southland. The cookers are becoming very popular indeed, even when their names are not known. People recognise a good thing when they taste it.

Project Updates:

Open Orchard: We are waiting for the leaves to fall of the heritage fruit tree collection before we shift them to their new base. Thank you to those who have offered to help us with the relocation - the more the merrier!

The fruit tree list likewise will be made up as soon as the Southland grafted trees loose their leaves and we can identify the ones ready for sale - it is a very late leaf fall this year?

We will have some un-named but coded fruit trees for adoption at $10. They come with a certificate and must be cared for very well in case we loose our 'copy' and one day we will ring you and let you know its name and origins. With over 400 varieties of apples alone to find names for it is going to be a mission (takes half a day, if you are lucky, for each one using books, internet resources and overseas experts ) so if you are waiting to hear please be patient. Some will be easier than others.

Seed Saving News We have just completed a lengthy questionnaire for a researcher from Lincoln University. All seed should be in now for the next catalogue! We are presently stocktaking and packeting up seeds. We would love more helpers with this so we can get the catalogue out in July. Offer to help any day at the Centre or let us know if you can come along to an evening working bee.

Please support us

more willing hands needed now

If you have often thought you would like to volunteer or join our committee now is definitely the time - our projects are taking off, visitors to the Centre are coming in droves and we can’t quite keep up - rather than curtailing our efforts we would like to strive on and upwards but need more willing hands. We are a great positive and proactive group and our profile continues to rise - we are continually applying for more funds to keep our projects going and try and get more paid hours but in this political and economic environment it is more difficult than usual. So stop moping about feeling low about the weather - put your energies where they can make a difference and come along to the South Coast Environment Centre and offer your time or skills.

Subs Due now

Subscriptions are an important part of our fund raising and a good way to support us - many funding applications ask how many members we have to gauge our value in the community. Further donations are always welcomed and you can tag these to a particular area or project you care about. Thanks to those who have already paid their subs - a receipt should be with this newsletter if it is posted or they can be picked up from the Centre office, (we will post the unclaimed ones next month).

Centre News

We have had a busy few weeks with many new people coming in for the first time after recent media exposure. It is always a pleasure to hear their positive comments about the Centre and our projects. We try and keep the Centre warm but it is a challenge some days!

Double Glazing & Carpet needed

We need a couple of off-cuts of tunnel house plastic to 'double glaze' our draughty office windows (2 pieces about 1 metre by 3 metres) if you can help let us know - we are happy to pay something towards them and the carpet below.

We are also on the look out for better office carpet 3.5 metres x 4.5 metres- so if you have some stashed away or are thinking of redecorating let us know- if not we will catch the next carpet sale. The one we have had the last 8 years is very threadbare and not very cosy!

Is anyone out there interested in providing lunch option for visitors?
We are only two small steps away from becoming a "Tea Room" where we can prepare simple snacks like soup, toasted sandwiches, scones and muffins in our kitchen. We already have all the hygiene facilities for handwashing etc and a stainless steel bench. If we paint the walls with a gloss paint and vinyl the area including 10cm up the walls we can do it- Of course we will all have to keep the kitchen 'spick and span' as well. If you think this is a good idea let us know - or if you would like to be on the upgrading team or the cooking one let us know. It could be you come in one day a week and make something- or you may like to adopt it as a part time job for yourself. Talk to Robyn if you are interested.

Thanks Resene
We have recently received some boxes of paint free from Resene - little pottles of the mix matches & recycled paints. This great range of colours is very much appreciated and will be used for parades, projects, signs etc. Think of the Christmas parade now and over the winter we can create and paint something special! (The mural competition closes in November - we will let you know next year how we get on)

Recycling Nights
We had our second recycling night and had a lot of fun swapping unwanted items, mainly clothes. We will have another in the Spring so start your spring cleaning early and be ready! As Robyn demonstrated the transistor radio the programme that came on was talking about composting! Derek had hoped someone wanted a little tabby kitten that he has ready to give away and even though there were no takers on the night he still went home with a coffee maker! (The kitten is still available should you be on the look out for one!)

Robert heading North 2-4th July to represent us at the Eco Annual Conference.

'There is a raft of excellent speakers there, waiting to fill any gaps I might have in my knowledge of the environment and it's management and I can hardly wait to get there. Those presenters include: Aroha Mead, Cath Wallace, Peter Horsley, Dr Geoff Bretram, David Perenara O'Connell, Glen Murdoch, Brendon Burns, Eugenie Sage, Jo McVeigh, Lou Sanson and many more equally credible figures from the environmental fraternity. It's going to be intense. Their information site is on line and there is still time to register!'

Our AGM is on the 20th of July

please come along and join our committee- we are a great team - our meetings are brief proactive and fun. As we have 14 on our committee it means you are not committed to come to every single meeting and it gives decision making to a bigger more diverse group. If you can't make it please let us know so you can be nominated. We can change to meeting night if it suits new people. We look forward to your input.

Food Co-op News

A big thank you to all the volunteers who staff the Centre. We hope to have an actual price list out next week - I know it is tricky if something isn’t priced an we had a lull while we get the shop computer up and running, our apologies. Please feel free to leave notes to us or to other volunteers if you see things that we can do or help with. We are a team and if we all think about how to keep things running smoothly then they do. Bagging up is going to become easier as the price list will include the price for bags. This is possible because each product is only bagged up in one or two sizes so we can estimate how many bags we will need for split peas for example. We have enough plastic bags at present and only require clean used shopping bags- if there is a pile up please go through them and keep the best. A big thank you to Diane who brings in bread bags turned inside out and flattened from the dated bread she gets for their pigs. We don’t need any other bread bags other than those so keep yours at home and use them to take your lunch in. When we FINALLY get that shop computer going we will have a couple of fun volunteer training evenings on the big screen- we will supply drinks and nibbles- and for those who aren’t keen the sales pages can still be used as it wont take us long to transfer the data.