Sunday 9 September 2018

September 9th, 2018 - Working Bee


 A clear and cool Spring morning greeted us for our working bee today on Rosh Hashanah - literally meaning the "beginning of the year" 
it is the Jewish New Year that starts at sunset today and continues tomorrow. 

The beautiful Magnolia (the N.Z. bred variety Star Wars) 
in full bloom welcomed us to the gardens.

Carla weeds the Puha in the circular garden.

 Clement works the compost and is loving being back in the garden.

Jan collects pine needles from the food forest for mulching the Blueberries

 Mort loaded up with tools and ready to go.

The Liseta potatoes go into the new bed in time for the Christmas harvest at the December working bee. Karine, Ella, and Marita hard at work. String lines are in and the seed potatoes are starting to be laid out in the prepared furrows.

Marita, Karine, and Ella.

The seed potatoes ready for planting.

 With the addition of some organic Biofert and...

Our beautiful Sanctuary compost!

All planted and done - with the rhubarb retained. 

The Globe Artichoke garden that was put in last month has established well and is starting to grow on.

Mike works on weeding the pathway.

 The Peas are planted out into the circular garden by Olivia, Steph, Bénédicte, Louise, and Caitlin.

Meanwhile, over in the Mara Kumara garden, the Maori potatoes are being planted by our team of workers...


 Mike, Gabriel and Benjamin, Jo (obscured) and Rose.

An abundance of big, fat earthworms in every trench too.

Benjamin weeding and

Riley too, with Rose in the background.

Gabriel with Mike in the background.

Jo with Sicu and Rose

Many hands make light work...

with Sicu helping to dig the garden too!

The first furrow lined up and ready to plant.

Caitlin and Louise carry the water for the Peas.


Charlotte, who has taken over Sarah's plot.

The beginnings of our new Memorial garden that Sarah will work on. This is where the artifacts were found.

Nancy and Andre

 Kathryn weeding under the shade seating area.

 David harvesting some of his magnificent broccoli.

Bill and Janet pack up before heading home - 
with Marita and Ella in the background.

Communal produce for sharing with the working bee workers. Including our freshly harvested Tumeric, Mountain Pawpaw, Yacon, and Citrus.

Janet and Bill

John rehydrating and Bev prepares some Babaco for our shared lunch.

 A big thank you to Jenni's extended family for coming along and lending a hand today. It's lovely to see so many young people enjoying the gardens.

Packing up after a good morning's work and ready for lunch. Bev, Marita, Carla, Gabriel, Mike, Steph, Riley, and Deborah

 Trevor and David discuss Rosh Hashanah.

Andre and Naomi

The beautiful yellow rice gets its colour from our fresh Tumeric.

Nancy, Andre with Sarah and Rose.

Liv, John, and Deborah.

NOTICES
Annual fees are now due and reminder notices will soon be sent out for prompt payment, please. People who are not plot holders but are 'Friends of the Sanctuary' do not pay any fees. 

Our AGM will officially be held at the November working bee.

We would like to thank Dave Perkins from Living Earth who donated 2 cubic metres of their organic vegetable mix for our seedlings in the glasshouse. Also a big thank you to Trevor and John who shoveled it all into the secure, weather protected area.

And finally, thanks to everyone who made it along to our productive and enjoyable working bee today. 

See you all again next month and until then, Happy Gardening.