Taupo Bay Farm Field Day, Tuesday Jan 31

and

Peria Marae Farming and Waterways Wananga, Wednesday Feb 1

The Association of Biological Farming and the Doubtless Bay Community Catchment Care programme are grateful to Erica and Lindsay Whyte for kindly making their Taupo Bay farm available for the coming field day on Economic and Ecological farming this Tuesday, January 31.

While concern is growing about the impacts of land use on the health of our waterways and harbours, many landowners are pro-active in caring for the sustainability of the productive base of their farms - essentially the soil - and limiting negative effects beyond the boundaries of their properties. The Whytes have been steadliy increasing protection of gullies and streams with fencing and tree planting and have also modified their fertiliser regime to reduce leaching to the environment. Results include an actual increase in productivity - and the farm looks beautiful!

All are welcome to attend Tuesday's Field Day, see what is working in our local area, and share their own farming experiences.

The programme for the day:

Venue: 567 Taupo Bay Road

9:30am: Start and register

10 am: Welcome, introductions. Outline of the ABF project: Nicole Masters. Defining biological farming.

10.25 Lindsay: Story, success and goals. Questions and discussions from all.

10.50 Participatory process. Group discussions, what is our vision for agriculture in New Zealand?

11:20am outside – Overview of farm and points of interest then break into 3 groups and circulate around stations where 3 farmers speak on different topics pertinent to the farm or soil:

Station 1 – diverse pastures, biodiversity and bees – Grant Fallon

Station 2 – Soil and herbage testing - Andreas Kurmann

Station 3 – Grazing management

12.30 lunch

1:20 pm - Visual soil indicators with Nicole - walk to the trench to view soil profile. In groups, discuss points of interest to ask speakers. Discussions.

2:15 Back to the shed - reflections and discussions from questions raised from the walk.

2:45 Acknowledgements, windup and prize draw

3 pm: END

The following day, Wednesday February 1, there will be a Wananga and display at Te Kauhanga Marae, Peria covering the main points of the Biological Farming approach. Information on the Doubtless Bay Community Catchment programme, with an update on the progress of the Catchment Nursery being established at Mangonui, will also be presented.

Nicole Masters, from Integrity Soils and the Association of Biological Farmers, is passionate about the positive role biological agriculture plays in providing healthy nutritious food, bottom line benefits for farmers, while reducing impacts on the wider environment. Nicole will present a compelling argument for why a shift in agricultural practices is required today. By building observation skills, farmers can determine why issues such as weeds, pests and disease are occurring and address them at the root causes, reducing the need for costly inputs. Nicole will cover what weeds are indicating, and how you can banish them from your property.

Programme at Peria Marae: Wednesday Feb 1

9.30 am: Powhiri

10 am: cup of tea

10.30: Nicole Masters - introduction to Biological Farming with insights into weeds as indicators of soil condition

11.00: Andreas Kurmann - Farm inputs and caring for the health of our waterways

11.30: Soozee McIntyre - Planting native trees for cleaner waterways, the Raglan experience and how we can make it happen here.

11.45: Discussion

12: Finish

The Wharenui will remain open until 3.30pm for people to view the displays and chat with Nicole and Soozee

Both these events are free and a warm welcome is extended to all.

Media Release: 18th January 2012

Attention: Environment, Tourism, Business, Health, Science, Education, Food, Farming and Political Reporters

Association of Biological Farmers (NZ) Inc Biological Open Days -  Building Brand NZ

With increasing concerns about the environmental impacts of farming and the loss of New Zealand’s ‘clean, green’ brand, a growing number of farmers and growers are taking matters into their own hands.

The Association Biological Farmers (ABF) has a nationwide series of Biological Farming Open Days over the next few months, aiming to share some of the simple ways farmers can improve their bottom lines while reducing environmental footprints.

The project has received assistance from the Sustainable Farming Fund and a number of other organisations interested in sharing information and tools around this commonsense farming approach.

The second of a series of six workshops around the country is being held in Taupo Bay, near Mangonui, on the 31st of January, followed by a workshop and display at Kauhanga Marae, Peria on the 1st of February.

These interactive days, run in conjunction with the Doubtless Bay Community Catchment Care programme, will offer practical tips and insights from leading farming practitioners. Discussion will also focus around weeds as indicators, soil health, riparian zones, bees and other practical methods farmers can adopt without reducing bottom lines.

All are welcome, as the ABF spokeswoman Nicole Masters points out, “Whether your focus is sheep, beef, dairy, viticulture, horticulture or market gardening, there will be something on offer here to stimulate your thinking around the benefits of regenerative soil practices.”

ABF is a NZ wide organization which includes a diverse and broad group of members linked by a common thread; “to promote regenerative on-farm practices which improve and enhance natural capital, building a vibrant and healthy society, environment and economy”.

To help support farmers’ learning, the Association continues to run an email discussion group, which originally began in 2006. The service keeps farmers and growers up to date with breaking news, workshops and general discussions.

Future open days are booked in for North Canterbury (20th Feb), South Otago (6th March) and the Hawkes Bay (20th March).

If you are interested in attending an open day or being involved in this project please get in touch with Nicole Masters, info@biologicalfarmers.co.nz or go to the news section of www.ecocentre.co.nz or text Soozee on 022 1407546 for details of the local field days.

Roofing the Potting Shed @ Doubtless Bay Catchment Nursery

Rescheduled Due to Weather.

New Date: Thursday Dec 22

Following on from the highly successful adobe building workshop at the Mangonui nursery site 2 weeks ago, tutor Grant Steven will return to help complete the potting shed. With the half-walls well underway, it remains to create the roof. Part of this will be made using a similar technique to the walls, with bamboo framing plastered with the special 'light earth' mix.

A big thank you goes out to all those who attended the first workshop and helped get this essential structure started, bringing the reality of the community catchment nursery a step closer.This second workshop is open to all. It is free but we would prefer if participants could come for the whole day.

Time: 10am to 3pm, Thursday Dec 22

Place: 6 Wrathall Road, Mangonui. Turn off State Highway 1 by the Mangonui Fire  Station. Site is about 50 meters along on the left.

Bring: hat, drink, lunch, gumboots. Gloves for plastering would be  handy, but we have some onsite as well.

To register, text Soozee on 022 1407546 or email soozee@ecocentre.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE

5th December 2011

From The Far North Envirolab Ltd Contact: Andreas Kurmann

Tel: 09 406 1975

Email: akurmann@envirolab-ltd.co.nz

Fuel from Horticultural Waste ; final Ethanol Workshop Taipa presentation

 2pm Wednesday 14 December

With about 100 people attending the first project workshop in mid April, indications are that demand for alternative fuels is high probably due to the soaring price of petrol at the pump.

Andreas wants to demonstrate how ethanol can be produced cleanly and cheaply, using a wide variety of plants and waste products, from kiwifruit to plums. He believes that by increasing the availability of ethanol based fuels we could avoid the increasing prices at the petrol pump, become more energy independent, as well as slow global warming.

As a fuel, ethanol is much cleaner than petrol, and you can use it in your car, right now. In addition, ethanol fuel production can be environmentally sustainable, revitalises farms and communities, and creates huge new opportunities for small-scale businesses.

A final presentation of stage one of the ethanol production with fruit waste for anyone interested to learn more about the process has been planned for 2pm on Wednesday the 14th of December at the Far North Envirolab

site: 49 Taipa Heights Drive, Taipa.

Space is limited, so please register with Andreas on 09 406 1975, or email akurmann@envirolab-ltd.co.nz This project is an initiative of the FAr Orth Environment Centre and has been partly supported through the Sustainable Farming Fund which is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and it is hoped that the uptake of similar initiatives could provide many economic and environmental benefits.

Manuals are available as hard copy and online.

Kind Regards Andreas Kurmann Far North Envirolab Ltd

Doubtless Bay Community Catchment Nursery's

 'manuka and mud' building workshop with Grant Steven is today! The weather forecast is for morning rain but it doen't look like there will be much  rain so we are proceeding with the workshop.  See you there!

 Thursday Nov 24 and Friday Nov 25.

This is a free workshop for anyone interested in learning this very inexpensive building technique that uses on-site/local materials to create useful garden or worksite structures.

We will be building a potting shed as part of the nursery that we are establishing to support riparian planting in Doubtless Bay. Techniques will include creating wall panels using manuka, bamboo and flax framing which is then plastered with a mix of earth, wood shavings and a small amount of cement (optional), creating 'windows' by setting bottles into the panels, and roofing with the same light frame and plaster.

The nursery site is on Wrathall Road, Mangonui. Turn off the highway by the Mangonui Fire Station and the nursery is 50 metres along Wrathall Road on the left (before the cemetery).

Time: 9am to 3pm

Date: Thursday Nov 24 and Friday Nov 25

Venue: DB Catchment Nursery, Wrathall Road, Mangonui

Bring: lunch, drink, hat. Gloves also useful.

Contact: Soozee: info@ecocentre.co.nz  or text 022 1407546

This a free workshop. Please register with Soozee. It is better if you can attend for the full 2 days but we will do our best to involve all who come to help and learn.

The Environment Centre would like to thank the ASB Community Trust for supporting the development of the Doubtless Bay Catchment Nursery.

Upstream Thinking Launch

“You can't care for the coast without addressing
what's happening upstream”

4pm - 29th October
Mangonui Town Hall
Light refreshments

The sourcing and planting of one million eco-sourced native trees to help restore the mauri of water in Doubtless Bay is part of “Upstream Thinking”, a draft plan being launched at 4pm Mangonui Town Hall on Saturday 29th October. The draft plan aims to identify the key issues and solutions around improving water quality with the Doubtless Bay Catchment.

A simple 15 year vision has been suggested: “Help enhance the mauri of water in Doubtless Bay by implementing effective riparian management in the Doubtless Bay catchment.”

To achieve this vision the draft plan aims to improve water quality by supporting and assisting tangata whenua and land managers to implement riparian margin protection. This should include the implementation of stock exclusion fencing and riparian vegetation regeneration using one million eco-sourced native plants over fifteen years within the Doubtless Bay Catchment.

A brief background presentation on the driving principles of the plan will be provided, and copies of the draft plan will be available for review and community feedback. The presentation will start at 4pm on Saturday 29th October at Mangonui Town Hall, with light refreshments afterward. For more information visit www.ecocentre.co.nz/whatson/ or contact the Far North Environment Centre on 09 408 1086.

Important Oil Spill Updates

The Far North Environment Centre has been in touch with the Tauranga centre to stay updated on news of the oil spill from the Rena and to find out how best people can help - especially if they are considering heading down to the Bay of Plenty to volunteer for the clean-up. As this is likely to be an extended process and help may be best appreciated when the first wave of local volunteers is tiring, it is worthwhile to

a/ register as a volunteer through the link below and

b/ check the Tauranga Centre's website for updates

c/ if you are keen on helping with the Wildlife Response, that is being handled through a separate contact: please phone and register on 0800 333 771.

You can now register online as a volunteer at: http://www.boprc.govt.nz/oilspillvolunteers/

This should now be the easiest way to make sure they have your details registered.

 Keep checking Tauranga Environment Centre  website www.envirohub.org.nz for more updates.

Thanks to Glen, in Tauranga, for sending through those links.

Media release from Department of Conservation, Kaitaia

Date: 10th October 2011

Attempts to rescue stranded sperm whale fail

Despite a six hour rescue attempt, Department of Conservation staff were unable to refloat a sperm whale grounded on a Far North beach.

The 12 metre marine mammal grounded itself approximately 20-30 metres off-shore from Coopers Beach (a popular holiday destination in Doubtless Bay, 50 kilometres south of Kaitaia) sometime this morning. According to DOC Incident Controller, Jonathan Maxwell, DOC staff, aided by members of the local community, battled choppy sea conditions and 20 knot on-shore winds to prevent the whale from coming ashore. “We had a DOC boat and the Far North Coastguard boat in the water and attempted to move the whale out of the shallow water using ropes and nets. Unfortunately a spring tide and wave conditions had moved the whale too far up the beach for us to be able to free it,” Mr Maxwell added.

With darkness approaching the call was made to abandon the rescue attempt. Mr Maxwell says a team of DOC staff and volunteers from the local community had spent several hours in the water with the whale, orientating it before the recue attempt was made. “The local community was fantastic; donating ropes and nets and helping where they could. Of course you always get a few spectators that can hamper a rescue by ignoring health and safety instructions from staff or getting too close to the operation. We understand that people are interested in what’s happening. We just ask that they keep a safe distance and follow the briefings of our staff,” he says.

Mr Maxwell stressed the potential danger of getting too close to a marine mammal of that size. “A flick of a tale or the animal rolling on someone can be fatal with a whale of that magnitude. They can weigh several tonnes, so it’s like dealing with a freighter. Generally people are great and want to help as much as possible. I think they appreciate what we’re trying to do to help the whale.”

According to reports it appears that the whale has been in and around the Bay for the past two weeks; leading DOC to suspect that it may have health problems. “It’s unusual for a sperm whale to hang around a bay for that long,” says Mr Maxwell. “Even during the rescue, the whale appeared to be quite lethargic.” A team of DOC staff will keep a watch on the whale overnight and Mr Maxwell says that they will assess the situation again in the morning. However given the condition of the whale, a happy ending was unlikely. “Obviously we prefer to be able to successfully free stranded marine mammals. However that is not always possible and it’s important to minimise distress and suffering to the animal as much as we can.

DOC staff were alerted to the stranded whale by a member of the public at 12.30pm today. Mr Maxwell says that DOC appreciated the promptness of the caller, as they rely on the public to be their ‘eyes and ears’ when it comes to distressed and threatened wildlife. “We have a 24 hour emergency line for people to call if they come across a stranded or distressed marine mammal or other threatened native species. The number to call is 0800DOCHOT (0800362468),” says Mr Maxwell. The sooner we know, the sooner we can act,” he added.

11th October 2011 – 9.47am

Update on stranded sperm whale at Coopers Beach ·

The whale died at 10pm last night

2 DOC staff were on duty overnight keeping an eye on the whale.

Low tide is at 2.30pm this afternoon when the whale will be moved to a suitable location for burial. · A 20 tonne digger and truck are on-site.

DOC and local iwi (Ngati Kahu) are discussing the next steps regarding recovery of materials from the whale (ie jaw, bones) for cultural purposes and appropriate protocols surrounding disposal/burial of the mammal. · Whales are considered a taonga (treasure ) to iwi and have high cultural value. Background.

DOC in Kaitaia was informed by a member of public at 12.30pm that a sperm whale was grounded at Coopers Beach in the Far North · DOC staff responded and assessed that the whale was grounded in shallow waters approx 20 metres off-shore. · The mammal is a 12 metre long sperm whale. 

Far North coast guard and a DOC boat were in the water, working with volunteers using nets to try to stop the whale coming closer to shore. · DOC staff and local volunteers were in the water with the whale helping to orientate it in the direction of open sea · Attempts were made to free the whale by towing it out to deeper water using the boats and nets · The rescue was called off just after 7pm last night with approaching darkness.

Reports indicate the whale had been in the Bay for at least 2 weeks leading DOC staff to suspect it was not in good health.

DOC is grateful for the assistance we received from the local community and appreciate their help in providing equipment and support.

For more information please contact:

Carolyn Smith

Programme Manager Community Relations

Kaiwhakahaere Hapori-hononga

Department of Conservation—Te Papa Atawhai

DDI: +64 9 408 6190

M: +64 21 241 2273

Kaitaia Area Office 25 Matthews Ave

PO Box 569 Kaitaia 0441

Conservation for prosperity

Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai

www.doc.govt.nz

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