FuturEcology & EmGuard ™ December 2023 update

Newsletters

Dec 14

Meri Kirihimete/ Merry Christmas

By Jan Fryer

And that’s it, another year has zoomed by so fast that I have barely got the decorations down from last year and am putting them up again. I’m sure everyone is feeling very much the same.

As we rush into these last few hectic days trying to get those last jobs tidied up and everything ready for the Christmas close down, it is so important to reflect and celebrate on what has been achieved this year.

There is so much uncertainty in the community and pressure on every aspect of our lives, but one thing we know for sure is that the sun will rise each morning and we have a whole day, every day to make the most of.

Robert and I went and saw a brilliant film last week called “The Old Oak” directed by Ken Loach. His socially critical directing style captures the essence of social issues, homelessness and labour rights, so his movies are always very hard hitting. However, they remind us of the importance of our humanity and how we can each make a difference. The Old Oak is about a pub landlord in a struggling ex-mining town, where tensions rise after Syrian refugees are placed in empty houses in the community. One of the themes that is explored in the movie is based on the quote “a family that eats together, stays together”.

For me, it is a timely reminder about the importance of coming together over the Christmas period with family and friends and sharing food, stories, laughter and making happy memories. Our family is having their first ever Christmas together in Taranaki on the Fryer side, as the families have been spread around the world for a very long time. Can’t wait!

Please enjoy your summer. Take time to enjoy what you have achieved this past year, make some plans for next year and make the most of our gorgeous natural beauty spots.

FuturEcology will be closed from 4.30pm on Wednesday the 20th December and will reopen at 9am on Wednesday 3rd January 2024.

And that’s a wrap!

By Robert Fryer

What a great year it has been. We are so grateful to work with such a range of clients around the Top of the South and work in wonderfully diverse environments. From the dry rolling hills in Seddon, to the wetlands in St Arnaud and back to the wonderful riparian margins on our doorstep, there is no such thing as a dull moment at FuturEcology.

With the festive season well and truly upon us, we are enjoying reflecting on our achievements of this past year. Our mission here at FuturEcology is to “save the planet, one tree at a time”. 2023 has seen us plant and maintain over 65,000 plants, undertake many specialised weed control jobs, survey hectares of sites with restoration potential, provide cost effective plans and solutions and last, but not least, dispatch hundreds of tonnes of EmGuards from North Cape to Bluff.

Dr. Thomas Fuller said “He who plants trees loves others besides himself.” Jan and I would like to thank our team for their passion and energy they bring to work everyday and their commitment to improving and protecting our native biodiversity.

Thank you to all of you as our clients and customers for your ongoing support. Have a restful break, enjoy time with family and make the most of those all important Christmas mince pies.

Weed of the month

Climbing Doc - Rumex sagittatus

*Photo: Carolyn Lewis, Weedbusters.co.nz*

By Alvin Bartley

Climbing Doc / Rumex sagittatus is a nasty weed that seems to be popping up in all sorts of places. It is most easily identified by its pink/red and green flowers which are present from November to March. It also has a distinct arrow-like leaf shape, somewhat similar to Convolvulus, but more prominent in its form and often with a pink tinge around the edge.

Climbing Doc is a perennial with large tubers. It is problematic as it grows quickly and smoothers vegetation by climbing over it and is very tolerant of wet and dry conditions. It is most simply controlled by shading it.

Alternatively, small areas can be controlled by digging out the tubers and rhizomes or you can use an appropriate spray. Visit Weedbusters for more information.

Broadleaf – Griselinia litttoralis

By Rob Fryer

Normally thought of as a shrub and extensively planted as a hedge, this species is in fact a small tree with a trunk of surprising girth.

Older trees can sometimes be found amongst remnant forests often in advanced states of decline. These are trees that established prior to the introduction of browsing pests and have got to a size and stature that offers some protection.

There are two common Griselinia, the smaller leafed Griselinia littoralis and the larger Griseinia lucida. Both these trees are now widely planted in restoration plantings and gardens around New Zealand. Griselinia littoralis is sometimes referred to as Remuera privet due to its popularity as a small hedging plant. I am not sure whether planters are aware of the ultimate size of these trees.

These are great trees in a restoration, a little slow to start with but with adequate soil moisture they are good strong growers providing good strength and shading.

Keep an eye out for these stunning small trees in a forest near you.

Pocket Restoration Aotearoa

By Emma Fryer

Pocket Restoration Aotearoa is an exciting new web-based app, developed by FuturEcology.

The innovative platform aims to simplify environmental restoration, providing learning opportunities, planning solutions and inspiration for individuals wanting to upskill their environmental knowledge, whether they are a novice or seasoned practitioner. You don't need 10,000 hectares to make a difference, 10 square metres can be enough, and we are here to help.

With features including learning modules, quizzes, mapping functions, a restoration calendar and more!

Pocket Restoration Aotearoa is designed to bridge the gap between technical theory and practical grassroots conservation efforts. Drawing on decades of expertise, the platform addresses industry challenges of consistency, knowledge sharing, and planning, while inspiring everyday enthusiasts to engage in ecological restoration.

Discover more here Landing - FuturEcology (pocketrestoration.co.nz)

Surviving and thriving in the festive season with kids

By Anna Bradley

We are lucky in New Zealand that Christmas is at a time of year where we can enjoy activities outside. Some of our traditions as a family include berry picking and having friends over for a game of backyard croquet. But sometimes the weather doesn’t always cooperate. If you find yourself stuck inside or in a tent due to wet weather, here are some of our favourite family games to play.

Herding Cats, Walk the Plank, Cover Your Assets, The Chameleon and Spot it! These are hours of fun and are suitable for primary school age kids right up to adults. Best of all they are compact which is handy if you are travelling.

Holiday fire safety

By Anna Bradley

In our October newsletter, we talked about fire safety preparation as we head into what is predicted to be a hot dry summer.

As we enter the season for cooking and entertaining outdoors, it’s a good time to be reminded of some basic precautions you can take to keep your BBQ, pizza oven/chiminea or brazier/fire pit under control without putting people, property or nature at risk.

Always set these up on a stable flat surface outside, away from anything flammable. In addition, a fire pit (if portable)/brazier should also be on a non-flammable surface such as gravel or concrete.

Have a suitable way to extinguish the fire within easy reach, such as a fire extinguisher. Never leave your BBQ unattended and stay with your fire until it has burned out. When the ashes and embers are cool, put them in a metal container and cover with water. Give them a stir and check they’re cold before disposing of them responsibly. Ash is great for your compost and your garden.

In most cases, you won’t need a permit for these activities provided you meet a set of safety requirements.

For more detailed tips on outdoor fires, and to check the rules and learn how to reduce your risk and stay safe, visit Reduce your risk | Fire and Emergency New Zealand (checkitsalright.nz).

Unsure? This simple 3-step tool tells you whether you can light your fire or do your outdoor work safely, what the fire risk is and what you should do to stay safe. Can I light a fire? | Fire and Emergency New Zealand (checkitsalright.nz).

Creative and sustainable gifting

By Emma Fryer

Does anyone else struggle when it comes to Christmas shopping when it comes to people who already have everything? I always enjoy making a gift hamper with tasty local products and some fresh cut flowers. Using old jars for muesli and truffles is always a nice treat.

If you have a go to in a Christmas hamper, I would love to hear your ideas.

FuturEcology last orders

EmGuards are another great gift idea, coupled with a subscription to Pocket Restoration Aotearoa.

Get your orders in by Monday the 18th to lock in delivery in time for Christmas.

Buy EmGuard™ now

Gotta Bitta Land

By Jan Fryer

A few years ago, I was sitting at home in January and thinking how our neighbourhood had changed, with lots of new people moving onto lifestyle blocks in the area and how challenging it can sometimes be moving onto a lifestyle block.

As a result, I decided to set up a social group that got together once a month to talk about all sorts of things relating to living in the country. We covered everything from water supply, favourite tools, history of the area, soils, weeds, best apple varieties, lotions and potions, pruning, spraying to wine and beer brewing and anything else that took our fancy.

It has been a lovely group and so helpful. We took a bit of a recess with Covid doing its best to isolate people but the Council Catchment Officer came to see me recently to see about whether they could help in any way to get it back on track.

So I am happy to say, we are kicking it off again in the new year in the Nelson North area.

If anyone else would like to set up a similar group in their area, give me a call and I am very happy to give you some ideas. It is a fantastic way to get to know your community and share knowledge. Links to that theme of earlier in the newsletter of sharing food to strengthen connections