Māra Kūmara Special Working Bee November 20th, 2022.
An early start to get ahead of the forecast thunderstorms was rewarded by a beautiful clear morning.
The Special Working Bee tasks awaited...
And into the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua we go...
The Māra Kūmara has enjoyed a long rest but is now slowly being awakened with her new Kaupapa as an Educational garden.
The stored rabbit-proof wire netting is ready to be
rolled out to protect the tupu (slips).
The trenched green waste has broken down well after being cleared at last week's Wananga working bee. It's now ready to be filled in and the fences repaired so that they are rabbit-proof again.
Piles of Manuka and barbed wire need to be restacked and stored.
So quite a bit of work ahead of us.
And so we begin. Keni starts by the Tīraha mounds.
The Hue (Gourds) planted earlier are establishing well. They are hungry feeders and need water so they will require careful attention through Summer. The Ongaonga (stinging nettles) will be retained to protect them. Riwai (potatoes) will then fill in the remaining space.
Keni outlines the new plan and layout of the Māra Kūmara to create bigger mounds but with less intensive plantings.
It was so good to have Sarah back working with us today in the Māra Kūmara. Haere mai Sarah.
Sinead came along with Sarah - Kia Ora Sinead.
Once we had the plan - we got straight in to it
Keni and John lay out the new beds or 'Houses'
Bev weeds and reinstates the rabbit-proof fences
Sinead and Sarah sort and restack the wood piles
Sinead hard at work
The trenched weeds are added to and back-filled with soil
Keni, John, and Bev working as the new 'Houses' start to take shape.
Another Sarah (a Friend of the Gardens, rather than a plot-holder) assists Bev with the fences. Nga mihi Sarah.
Keni and Bev work together to secure the corner of the fence
Rebuilding as they do so.
The hooked stick marks the Tīraha mounds in the northeast corner of the Māra Kūmara. There are three; Rongo, Marama and Hūmarie.
Despite the forecast thunderstorms, by 9am we were working in (hot) bright sunshine. John removes Dock and other weeds.
Tina, another Friend of the Gardens came along to help out.
Kia Ora Tina
A self-started Kūmara that will be replanted in the Māra.
Wintered over Kūmara already growing well
beside the heat-storing rocks.
After a solid few hours of work - it's looking good!
The new beds or 'Houses' are formed. The paths are defined, the fences are repaired and strengthened, and the weeds have been removed.
The Māra Kūmara is ready for planting the Tipuna tupu (slips).
After several hours of work, we were hungry and thirsty and so we sent out an SOS call to Trevor who brought back kai and milk (after working at the Grey Lynn market) for a welcome cup of tea in the shed. A delicious impromptu lunch was enjoyed and the Manaakitanga of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua gardens brought us all together again. Ngā mihi.
And then, just like that, the predicted rains poured down and we had to scoot in the downpour to bring in our tools and equipment.
Ka kite anō.
Happy Gardening everyone
Jen - El Presidente
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