Monday 11 December 2017

Working Bee - Sunday 10th December 2017

Sunday was another clear and sunny day, making it feel more like the middle of Summer rather than the beginning of Summer. 
It was also another Alberton Market day, held at the historic homestead.

Here is our stall with our beautiful Sanctuary Mahi Whenua banner, staffed by Birthe, Katya and Jen as their contribution to our working bee.

The lettuce and red cabbage were the first to sell out.

Our small but pefectly formed stall with Kale, Mint, Sweetpeas & baby Leeks.

Only a few leeks left.

As always, the Sweetpeas were very popular - "The scent of Summer"

Our colourful Kale and Cavolo Nero.

Big bunches of Mint.

Plus our postcards.

The view from our stall to historic Alberton across the lawn...

and down nto the rest of the market area.

The list of stall holders and events

 Once packed-up and returned to the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, it was easy to see ALL of the work the rest had achieved!

The weeded Mara Kumara Gardens.

Growing well despite the hot and dry weather.

Including the Maori potatoes next to our new Hügelkultur.

All of the huge piles of green matter have been processed into a new compost pile. And already the next load that is accumulating.

Looking ship shape.

The edges of the lawns have been trimmed. 
It's great to see green grass right to the edges and not the horrible dead orange borders where poisonous sprays are used in most other places outside of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua.

Our signs, connecting people through the gardens to the Oakley Creek walkway, are doing good business with lots of people enjoying the wayfinding.

Most of the communal garden area has now been cleared and once dug over, it will be ready for our Heroic Garden Festival plantings. All of the seedlings have been grown in the greenhouse and will be ready for planting out soon.

 Thanks to everyone who made it along o the working bee at this busy time of year.

And the early potatoes were harvested!

Straight home and into the pot.

With a few of the delicious baby leeks gently sauteed...

 Green tops and all.

With some shredded fresh mint.

Delicious!

Happy Gardening everyone.

Tuesday 21 November 2017

Additional Working Bee on a wet Sunday 19th November, 2017

 Due to the spring growth around the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, an additional working Bee was held on the 19th November. It was a wet day, so the turnout was low, but enthusiastic.

In the glasshouse, many of the seeds for our Heroic garden festival plantings have now been started. Consequently, space in the glasshouse is at a premium so be sure to harden off and/or plant out your seedlings as soon as possible.

Heroic seedlings 1

Heroic seedlings 2

On-growing seedlings, coraled together

Sarah clearing the end of our Pea crop.
Before...

And after.
 John and Mort complete the planting of our new mara kumara garden.

It's looking good!

Liz worked on the abundant herb garden.

It's looking wonderful.

 Bev, Karine and Nigel began the huge task of digging out the worst of the weeds from Rebekah's old plot. A huge task.
Before...

And After


Jenni, worked again in the food forest.

And this is how good it is looking...



We were delighted to have Wendy from 'Friends of Oakley Creek' join us for lunch and a piece of Sarah's delicious coconut jelly sweet - yum!

 We had another good day at the Grey Lynn market - thanks Trevor - with only a few vegetables leftover - leeks, kale, cavolo nero, and lettuce's.

A new pathway was established to make access to the mara kumara garden more logical and direct. 
The new path.

And the old path dug over with transplanted plants and a narrow weeding border.

Leading directly to the entrance now

The Sanctuary Mahi Whenua is looking lush and verdant.

A classic gladiolus (singular of Gladioli!)...

 Delightful remnants from our 'Family Day' keep Helen, our Hugelkulter, company in the food forest.

Another load of green material from today's working bee is ready to go into our compost factory!

The Poppy display is lovely with these unusual colourings.


A small, but perfectly formed, working bee in the wet, the hot sunshine and the gusting breeze. Happy Auckland gardening everyone!