All the seeds collected from December to May have now been sown. It took about 3 sessions to do this (for around 100 trays of seeds) – a lot quicker than the collecting and preparation! Mostly it was done during Friday morning sessions. If you want to know the process to be prepared for next season have a look at https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/restoring-your-patch/get-growing/seeds/
It has all the tips and tricks for seed collecting – the timing, type of seed, colour when ripe and methods of preparation. We sow seeds now rather than keep them in the fridge to cold stratify them and when its time to come up they do that with mystifying regularity around the end of September. It is probably the day length, as well as temperature that is the trigger. Here at the Community Nursery we don’t try to force seeds to germinate in winter because we do not have the facilities to look after them if they do germinate, and we all need a rest in winter!
During July we have been be doing cuttings – another way of propagating plants if you haven’t managed to collect seed. There are advantages to growing from cuttings – the plants are much bigger when they get roots and the plant flowers much earlier – but it is a time-consuming process and you don’t get the genetic diversity that you do from seed sown plants. However, it is a very good skill to learn as it can be applied to many plants including fruit bushes. If we have time we will also learn about apple tree pruning as it is the right time of year to do that and the “scions” (the bits you cut off) can be kept to graft onto rootstock around October.
The process for propagating plants from cuttings can be found at https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/restoring-your-patch/get-growing/cuttings/
Other jobs that have been going on at the nursery over the last month have been new track construction and gravelling, potting, weeding, plant moving and loading up for planting.
Chris
Posted: 9 July 2022
The Garden Bird Survey is on from 25 June to 3 July 2022. Its easy to do and the website has lots of fun resources to help. As well as being a fun activity to do it will build up a good picture over time to see whether we are making a difference with all our pest control in Otatara and elsewhere - https://gardenbirdsurvey.nz/. See below a few photos of the birds we are lucky to have visiting us on our property and also have a look at the plants you could plant to help attract birds to your garden (and I dont mean apples tho they seem very attractive!).
Posted: 28 June 2022
Term visits to Otatara started on 17 May with me visiting the six senior classes and using Environment Southland’s enviroscape model to tell the story of the New River Estuary catchment and what contributes to the end point state in this tidal estuary. It was great to have the wonderings of the students as we built up and added activities, learning that everything in a catchment is connected, and every estuary is unique.
24 May it was an inside day (due to the weather!) and learning ranged from estuary life (with Akapuka), to birds (Kōwhai) to seed types (Tōtara and some Ponga class members). Akapuka learnt all about estuary habitat types and what lives there - plants, shellfish, birds and fish. We explored the adaptations and features that these life forms have to survive the extreme conditions of estuary life. Focusing on the cockle, flounder and oyster catcher, we finished the session with a game to guess what living thing they were. Kōwhai class were focused on birds. We started by reading the very familiar book “Whose Beak is that?” before seeing locally found birds up close by viewing footage by local Jason Hosking. We identified birds and their features and looked at what they are eating and how they use their beaks. We then grouped birds into insect, fruit, nectar and fish & mice eater categories! Acting out different birds and how and what they eat got us moving before we started thinking about how we can help birds during the winter season. Some bird seed was given to all students to help feed the birds. Tōtara class spent the session looking at native plnat seeds and seed type, using examples of seeds and matching these to the type of seed (fluffy, hard coated etc) leading to discussion on seed dispersal methods. Seed packs were given out to all students to plant some NZ natives.
31 May the focus switched to the New River Estuary again, with all senior classes going on a fieldtrip to the estuary. The earlier work done with these classes on the history of the place, how a catchment works, and estuary life were explored on the ground using observation skills to get a sense of this local place. An awesome day out in the sun.
The 2 June I spent time with two classes back in the bush adjacent to school. The Horopito class learning about pests showed that this class had certainly learnt heaps already and it was great to have them share their knowledge with me. After meeting Eric the possum, and singing “Oh no, Mr Possum” we looked at the traps that the Otatara Pestbusters have in the reserve to catch rats and mustelids. We wondered why we are trapping pests, and using the flip boards from the nursery we saw that possums, ferrets, stoats, weasels and rats eat our native trees, eat birds, baby birds and birds eggs, and eat insects (which is also the bird’s food). What a great job these pest species have done adapting to their new home in NZ, but not animals that we want in our special areas like the reserve. There was lots of slipping and sliding up and down hill as we explored the sand dunes in the reserve and all that lives there. As kaitiaki we have to manage these pest species and we can all become an Otatara Pestbuster. With the Mataī class we headed off into the bush looking out for flying birds - seeing the distinctive flight of the tui. Their inquiry into flight is transcending all subjects (maths, writing, reading, art and inquiry) which is great to hear. We focused on what features of birds help with flight - including their wings, streamlined body, light skeletons because bones are hollow and full of air, a large heart, strong flight muscles, a light beak - to reduce drag, decrease weight, allow lift and give thrust - all the forces related to flight. The students practised flapping, gliding and soaring. Feathers were looked at closely and we noticed how lightweight, strong, flexible and smooth they were - all features to ensure flight is successful. The parts of the feather were named learning that the stalk is hollow, a feather has veins and the veins are held together by air filled barbs and barbules that knit together giving a smooth feather surface. Some more flapping, gliding and soaring was practised and some birds spotted on the way back to class.
It has been a privilege learning alongside the students and teachers of Otatara School.
Bronwyn
Posted: 25 June 2022
Bring together one group of James Hargest College Year 10-12 Ag&Hort students working towards their planting trees or shrubs Unit Standard 2765, NZ native plants grown at the Southland Community Nursery and Environment Southland’s Waihōpai Planting Programme site and you get over 100 plants added at this restoration planting site. Following the know how session of how to check for a healthy plant and how to plant, it was all hands on to get the plants correctly into the ground so they have the best opportunity to thrive. As we walked back through previous plantings, some maintenance was carried out. Awesome mahi today. This session was followed up by some more planting, this time around the JHC campus, with the students putting their knowledge into action.
Bronwyn
Posted: 25 June 2022
It was great to have a group visit the community nursery again, and the weather meant a lovely day for meeting Southland natives. Using senses we smelt, looked at and felt the bark and leaves of tī kōuka, kōwhai, miro, rimu, tōtara, kahikatea, mānuka, broadleaf, lancewood, horopito, kōtukutuku, hebe, harakeke and many more as we wandered around the pond track and through the kahikatea swamp forest. As well as meeting all the native plants there was spotting fungi and heaps of noticing. It was great to see adults and children alike being inspired out in nature. A quick look inside the education centre and some potting up finished the visit.
Bronwyn
Posted: 1 June 2022
