May 2010: Update

PUTIKI ROAD SITE DEVELOPMENT, May 12:

Following a CSA Management committee meeting on 29 April, Rob and Graeme looked at the 10 Putiki Road site to decide what needed to be done to get it ready for planting and to plan an access pathway from the road.

The site is able to be developed in stages, with the first stage being the 3 beds nearest the road. Rob cleared this area of weeds and rubbish, and Brian and Graeme checked on the condition of the soil underneath the weed matting. The soil is very compacted and the beds will require careful preparation before they can be planted out. This preparation may take some weeks to complete.

At the time of the first planting, which is likely to be in June, it is proposed to hold a Putiki Rd event to which we could invite the wider community.

Several tasks have been identified where an hour or so volunteer labour is needed in the next few weeks, in likely order:

• preparing the first raised bed as a trial, including adding soil, mulch and manure.
  ( to be done during the next week or so)
• clearing, and removing the matting from the remaining beds.
• building a ground level frame (if needed) for a tank.
• moving the tank on site (Claire has a spare water tank that can be relocated and used for watering.)
• forming an access pathway from the road
• constructing compost bins
• preparing the remaining 2 beds assuming the first bed trial was successful.
• planting of winter crops to proceed when bed preparation is completed satisfactorily

While some tasks might require working bees, others only require one or two extra pairs of hands for an hour or so at a time.

If you are able to help in any of these tasks, please phone Rob (8885) or Graeme (6211). (If you don’t get one, ring the other).

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Kirsten Anderson, the owner of 10 Putiki Rd, for letting us use her land. Her generosity is greatly appreciated.

TE MATUKU REPORT, May 5 2010:

A small and industrious team can do wonders in no time at all. We did that yesterday when Jennifer, Robin, Lincoln and Brian visited the Farm. Weeding the leeks was the main task – and they are doing so well despite the rabbits.

We also cut down some long grass in preparation for today’s (Wednesday May 5) roto tilling of the whole site. And all of this was achieved in two hours. The sun shone and the site looked fabulous.

The latest crop of beetroot is amazing and the new Rebar netting tunnel tells the rabbits we mean business. See photographs.

Jennifer and Brian spent time talking to Rob Fenwick. He continues to be very positive about and supportive of the project. His purchasing of an annual membership adds to the list of generous gestures on his part. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. Our discussion with Rob ranged over cash crops, membership, future prospects and winter access.

A culvert is to be installed later this month which will make this year’s winter access so much easier. The Trustees are also about to finalise a formal agreement with Rob for use of the land over the next five years.