20 April 2010

Muralistas

Our Environment Centre and Palmerston Street’s a brighter place thanks to the two Spanish muralistas who stopped at the Centre for a while on their way to Te Anau and signed up for wwoofing- when they wrote 'murals' as one of their skills we got talking and soon they were 'wwoofing' at the Guyton's. We got them a wall to paint, the shop-front above the veranda, onto which they painted the glorious scene you see in the photo. Alex and Vanessa were tremendous fun to have around and great workers, painting from dawn to dusk and even cooking up the occasional Spanish omelette for dinner. The mural was painted with Resene paints and thanks to the mural competition they are running, cost only half of what it would normally. We are entering the resulting work of art in the Resene Mural competition and have a very good chance, we all agree, of doing well – our mural is bright, up-lifting, beautifully executed and interesting, featuring a floating planet Earth, embraced by the arms of a tree and surrounded by the bounty of the soil – vegetables and fruits, all watered by clean streams and set against a cheerful blue sky – at least that’s my interpretation! Make sure you get out to Riverton and have a look for yourself – you won’t be disappointed! Newspaper Article

Harvest Festival

Harvest photos

Thanks Weather Gods, you did us proud! Both days of the Heritage Harvest Festival weekend were sunny and warm and people came from far and wide to enjoy the weather and the displays and workshops we’d organised. Everything ran smoothly – people arrived on time and at the right place for the many workshops and the displays at the Aparima College hall were up on time and tidied away quickly afterwards. We had many helpers and we are grateful to all of them. The businesses on Palmerston Street who dressed their windows with harvest icons, the District Council whose workers hung the coloured ribbons on the poles up and down the main street, the Fleck’s Hall committee who let us use the building for our harvest feast, those who loaned us trailers, ladders and other bits and bobs – we thank you all. The number of people who came to view the displays at the Aparima College hall was well up on last year and their interest in the displays there very encouraging. The display of heritage apple varieties especially, drew comment from many people and we were able to hear of more of the old orchards we are seeking as part of the Open Orchard project. The Riverton Rangers group did a marvellous job providing refreshments and treats from the kitchen and they looked great in their outfits as they did it. The stall holders did a good trade with their various 'harvesty' goods and added colour and interest to the displays. We were delighted by the numbers who turned out in the evening for the Harvest Feast, especially those vying for the title of Harvest Champion and the effort they put into preparing dishes and other materials to be judged on – the meal was a great social event, with conversations flowing the whole time and great food eaten with real enjoyment. The impromptu poetry reciting, singing and music was unforgettable and warmed the hearts of everyone there. The winner, Maggie Elford got to tale Peters marvellous Harvest Trophy home for the year. We will certainly be feasting again next year! Don’t miss it (if you did this time around).

Robyn’s Birthday Barndance.

Robyn couldn’t have been happier with the dance and the people who came along to wish her happy birthday and swing their partners to and fro during the dancing. It was a great night for young and old – the dances were fun, the hall looked great, the band had a wonderful time (thanks musicians, you were excellent!) but the most notable thing, from my vantage point as sometimes-caller of the dances, was the number and broadness of the smiles on the faces of all the dancers and the ‘ I’ll-sit-this-one-outer’s’ during the night. It seems the country dance hasn’t lost its appeal and more and more of us welcome the return of that kind of fun. Robyn turned 50 on the night and danced like a 12 year old.

Stewart Island Bird Fanciers Convention

Several of our members braved the heaving straits to get to Stewart Island for the SERN weekend conference of birds and their reintroduction and protection. Many faces turned an ashen hue, but no one complained, their being no point. On the island we heard from the passionate and dedicated managers and helpers for many projects from the Whangarei Heads to Ulva Island, tirelessly working to save their chosen birds and their habitats from extinction. We visited Ulva to see the results of their excellent programme and spotted rare birds of all stripes. We went too, in the Rakiura drizzle, to see the stainless steel fence of the Dancing Star ‘inland island’, where kiwi stump about and rats are stumped by the unscaleable fence. The best thing about the weekend? For me, the 6 metre swell and the excitement of surviving the crossing, but for most of the less-excitable attendees, it must have been the camaraderie and conversations that went of between presentations and during the field trips. I’ve never seen such talking! The conference was a great success and Chris, Edith, Gay and whoever else put it all together are to be mightily congratulated.

LandCare at the marae.

Reps from Southland’s many Land Care groups met at Te Rau Aroha marae at Bluff for their annual conference to share progress reports and touch base with funders and supporters. Presentations were brief and interesting and the setting distractingly interesting, with the carvings and paintings of the whare kai always drawing the eye of those who have shorter concentration spans (me). The host group took us for a brisk walk through their project on Bluff Hill and demonstrated how they were going about managing the rat and possum problem there and generally inspiring us with their energy and clever planning. Many of those at the meeting carried on to Stewart Island for the weekend and it was a great opportunity to compare local projects with those from further afield. Well done to Nathan Cruikshank for the organising of the Bluff leg of the weekend.

COURSES COMING UP

INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE

Monday 26 April 2010, Full day course, Guyton’s property, Riverton,$30 per person

HOW TO SET UP AN ORCHARD

Tuesday 4 May 2010, 7.30pm~9pm @ Environment Centre, Riverton, $10 per person

SPICE UP YOUR COOKING ~

South Indian Cookery adapted to Southern tastes, Sunday 9 May 2010, 2.30~4.30pm, Riverton, $10 per person

MAKE CLEANING PRODUCTS FROM CHEMICAL FREE INGREDIENTS,

Thursday 13 May 2010, 7.30pm~9pm @ Environment Centre, Riverton, $10 per person

Hi, my name is Carolyn, I am your Marketing & Promotions person for the centre and I have been busy arranging upcoming courses for winter. If you would like to attend any of the above courses or tutor a course or have and idea for a course please email me on info@sces.org.nz. Other courses in the planning are Beer Making and Sourdough making, dates to be confirmed - watch our website for details.