By Jan Fryer

It is hard to believe it is October already. Spring is in full swing, the blossoms are blossoming, and daylight saving has given us that extra hour of productive time in the garden.

Talking of productivity, New Zealand has had the bold vision since 2018 to have planted 1 billion trees by 2028.

The Ministry for Primary Industries collects data from a range of sources to estimate the number of trees being planted. It includes both native and exotic trees. Tracking planting for the One Billion Trees Programme | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz)

Their tracking to date estimates that New Zealander’s have planted 641,467,000 trees, with both private and public funding contributing.

That’s an impressive number and despite cutbacks of various programs and funding sources, there is still a great deal of energy in the community to continue with this.

Many organisations are emerging that offer to assist with matching donations to tree planting. A great initiative. However, I would suggest that you do “due diligence” to ensure that these are sound projects, with effective outcomes occurring. Any project should focus on not just the numbers planted, but also on how successful the survival of these plantings have been. Also to be considered is cost effectiveness and the impact on the wider objectives of improving bio-diversity. Are the dollars getting spent on plants in the ground, or somewhat lost in a bureaucratic chain? The more organisations there are competing for funding, the more the “on the ground” gains are impacted.

On this note, we have been crystal ball gazing to try and gauge the impacts of the current climate for native restoration type work in New Zealand. An interesting exercise. As with any business, we need to be constantly looking at both external and internal factors that impact on any business.

As a result, here at FuturEcology, we are adapting and shaping the business to enable it to continue the great work it does in restoration, consultation and sales of our internationally award winning EmGuards. It appears that the rumor mill has got to work (even harder than us), with word coming back to us that we are closing down. Please be assured this is not the case at all. Forty+ years of experience will ensure good work for the environment will carry on. We continue to be very busy across a wide range of projects, with visionary clients and cool projects. Anyone who works with weeds will know that there will never be a shortage of work associated with weed control, a job for life! While we are looking at work/life balance, FuturEcology is not going anywhere, but continuing to “Save the Planet one tree at a time”. See our video of the Challies Restoration Project 2024 here.

We have had an insight into the many wonderful projects happening all round the country with our EmGuards travelling the length and breadth of the country. Thanks to everyone for your efforts. Keep up the great work.

Forever Trees Planting Trial Update

By Jan Fryer

Forever Trees are a great team of John and Mandy, who grow many of the plants we use in our revegetation projects and also help us on occasion with some of our planting and maintenance projects.

Mandy and John established a planting trial last year on the Wakapuaka Mouri project, a project we have been working on for 5 years.

They put in 10 plots to reflect a range of common planting scenarios, from just planting straight into a grassy plot and providing no protection with any form of guarding or mulching, through to intensive micro-forest style planting.

The plants have now been in a year and the results speak for themselves.

Click here to get the full details of their trial or scan the QR code.

Tree of the Month – Tanekaha- Phyllocladus trichomanoides

By Desiah Neho

Tanekaha or Celery Pine is a native, softwood conifer that likes warm temperatures, and is found from Northland down to the top of the South Island.

Tanekaha can grow up to 25m tall and 1m in diameter, with smooth greyish bark. Male and female structures are both found on the same tree. They have a very distinctive “leaf” shape which are fern-like and resemble celery leaves. But these aren't leaves, they're phyllocadus; flattened green branch stems which have adapted over time to act like leaves, so it can photosynthesise.

Tanekahas “fruit” aren't technically fruit either, they're more like pine cones, which have adapted over millions of years to appear as the knobby fruit we see today. This adaptation means the tree can spread by attracting birds, instead of being wind spread. Mature trees reach the age of 300-500 years, but some can even surpass this by another few hundred years.

Early Māori used Tanekaha for multiple uses. The bark was soaked in cold water then brought to a boil to produce a red-brown dye. Tanekaha bark/phyllocladus/branches were also dried and boiled in a pot of water to help chronic liver problems and treatment of dysentery and vomiting. The wood itself was also very useful. It's the strongest and most flexible softwood which made it ideal for fishing rods, fishhooks, walking sticks, waka, taiaha, koikoi (doubleheaded spear) among other uses.

As early settlers arrived and discovered the wood, they then used it in a lot of construction such as railways, houses, bridges, wharfs and much more.

Weed of the Month - SevenSharp

By Rob Fryer

Taiwan Cherry Prunus campanulata – we have talked about it before, but it's a good opportunity to do it again. Taiwan Cherry certainly seems to be gaining a foothold into the Top of The South. This spring revealed more plants and a few isolated pockets that will need work over the next couple of years.

For my part, I have been involved of this story for a while. As a nursery apprentice 40 years ago, I remember grafting Taiwan Cherry, which was a great plant to grow. Easy to graft and very even in the nursery row. Later, when I came to Nelson, Jan and I grew and sold Taiwan Cherry with no idea that 30 years later it would become a problem.

Taiwan Cherry is a beautiful tree and one that it is tempting to say, “Tui love it” and “bees work it” and “there are much worse weeds”. The reality is that it is a sleeping giant that will devastate our natural biodiversity. Lindsay Barber from the TDC explains this well when he talks about how it is out of control in Northland, when he and I appeared on the recent Seven Sharp program. Watch Seven Sharp S2024E164 | TVNZ+

We had planted several trees on our property in Nelson North. We removed them several years ago, but are still dealing with the seedlings, and will be for another few years yet. Fortunately, we were able to recognise the issue before it became too large for us to deal with. The lifestyle property I visited in the Moutere recently shows the difficulty landowners will encounter trying to control these trees. Just the sheer number of seedlings and the fact they germinate in heavy cover, emerging years later, makes this a very difficult weed to control. In my view, we have an opportunity now to deal with this issue, perhaps in another 5 or 10 years, it will be too late.

Well done to Lindsay Barber and the TDC for taking a stand on this weed.

Thomas Block Update

By Jan Fryer

The vast landscapes of Marlborough are always inspiring, with the snowy mountains bordering the expanse of the valleys created by the large rivers of the Wairau and the Awatere.

To see the huge swathes of grapes growing in every direction is incredible, but hidden among these vast areas are true natural gems.

Spring-fed creeks and wetlands are a real feature in the landscape and much of our work in Marlborough has been working with some of the large wine companies to enhance and improve these natural features.

We have been involved in a project this year to establish plantings in a wetland area up near Lake Argyll for Delegats Limited. Over 10,000 plants went in and we have just finished madly guarding them to mainly protect the plants from hares and the cold, harsh wind that blows down the valley. It is quite a challenge laying out guards in a strong wind but we have won, and once the guards are firmly on their stakes, the plants seem to breathe a sigh of relief to get the protection from the wind.

Well done to Bridget and the team for battling on in those cold winds.

How to Care for your knapsack

By Rob Fryer

Cleaning and storing a knapsack 101

Most of us are familiar with the Solo 15 litre knapsack used for spraying weeds. In the 40 years I have been using these, little has changed with the design. There have been a few tweaks, but basically it is the same knapsack all these years later.

We tend to use mainly Glyphosate and dye through ours, which is relatively easy on them. Wettable powders and some marker dyes can be hard on the pump mechanism.

We always clearly mark the volume on the knapsack so it is easy to read, with 10 litres being a standard mix.

We try and utilise all mixed spray on the target area. Small amounts of residue in the knapsack are problematic and tend to spill or drip during transport and storage, so for that reason, try not to leave part knapsacks of mixed sprays. Sometimes this is unavoidable and a good practice is to depressurise the knapsack when finished, either spraying it out or rotating the black knob inside the knapsack.

Another handy trick we have taken to using, is to tie our used spray gloves around the nozzle to seal it from dripping during transport or storage. Thank you Dan.

The flters within the knapsack benefit from a regular clean, especially if poor quality water is being used. A few minutes spent on this can pay off when you are trying to maximise the best spraying time in the mornings. Different knapsacks have different filters, with some at the nozzle and others up at the handle. Locate where they are on your knapsack and give them a clean in fresh water.

The same goes for nozzles. We tend to use a flat fan nozzle for release spraying and it is important these are free of blockages and producing the right fan shape. Refrain from clearing a blocked nozzle with wire or sharp objects. The nozzle is very precisely made and even minor damage will make a huge difference to outputs and spray delivery. If you must utilise something to remove a blockage , make it soft like a fine grass seed head or similar.

Lastly, a good check of hose couplings is worthwhile. Knapsacks are made not to leak, but will do so with over pressuring, due to blocked filters or nozzles and poorly tightened joints.

EmGuard Update

By Emma Fryer

The rain event that hit the Nelson/Tasman region last week is a good incentive to get in any remaining planting you might have on the cards. It sounds as if some nurseries still have decent numbers of plants available, so get in quick.

We recently visited one of our community planting sites from last year for a maintenance round. The plants were doing incredibly well, despite the summer drought. This was a site where we used Dagmats for the first time and what was very interesting to see was the difference the DagMats made. Where the DagMats had been installed well, which was about 96% of the site (floods and such like had had some impact), there was very little hand releasing needed. This was great as the plants weren’t competing with grasses and weeds for light and nutrients to the same degree. It made the maintenance required quite minimal, with a quick hand release if needed and a spray on the periphery between the plants.

We will certainly be looking to utilise the mats more in our planting projects. While the upfront cost in both time and money is a little higher, they certainly seem to pay off down the track. A full package of a guard and a mat are very well worth considering if you have planted in a dry site, or know that you will not get the time for a good maintenance regime.

If you need any guards or are keen to try out the DagMats, please get in touch. We have plenty of stock on hand ready to protect, enhance and support your planting projects.

Buy EmGuard ™ now

Interesting Snippets

What we’ve been watching

By Jan Fryer

Explore NZ’s recent history with National Treasures on TVNZ+ We were confined to home a couple of weeks ago with another dose of Covid and didn’t have the energy for doing much at all when we came across this on tv.

It is a lovely nostalgic look at unique historical objects and personal stories about family treasures. Robert was thrilled to see a thermette featuring in one of the episodes. Only the week before we had taken our thermette up to the Thomas Block in the Wairau so we could boil the billy for a much-needed hot cup of tea.

What we’ve been reading

By Jan Fryer

I have belonged to a book group for over 30 years and it is something I look forward to each month. Firstly, reading books that I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen myself and then discussing them. Often I get a whole different perspective on the books from how others in the group have responded to them. I also enjoy the conversations they spark on a whole range of topics.

This past month we read “Forty Autumns” by Nina Willner. A family’s story of courage and survival on both sides of the Berlin Wall.

It was a memoir by the daughter of a young woman, Hanna aged 20, who escaped from East Germany just before the Berlin Wall was erected to separate West and East Germany.

As a result, she was only able to have exceedingly limited contact with the family she left behind for 40 years. The story is sometimes tragic and brutal, outlining what the people of East Germany suffered at the hands of a very hardline East German Communist Leadership and the Ministry for State Security (Stasi).

However, what shines through is the importance of family, resilience, courage, love and of looking for hope wherever it can be found.

I was particularly interested in the importance of the allotments that people were finally allocated when the state could not provide enough food to feed the population. The ability for people to grow not just food, but also flowers and plants to bring some beauty into their lives should not be underestimated.

What also resonated through is the incredible adaptability of humankind and how we adapt to circumstances often beyond our control.

I just wish humankind could learn from history, but given the current state of affairs in the world, I don’t think we do. As the reveiwer’s commented, it is a cautionary tale to those who have already forgotten the lessons of history.

Stay connected to nature wherever and however you can, and value your freedom above all else. We certainly don’t know how lucky we are in New Zealand.

Spinach, Leek and Ricotta Cannelloni

By Shaun Burton

This is a great recipe to make use of the abundant fresh spinach around at this time of the year.

Filling

Cannelloni: 16 tubes of San Remo Instant Cannelloni.

Spinach: 8 leaves of fresh spinach roughly chopped (Silver beet also works).

Leek: Most of a large leek finely diced.

Garlic: 4 large cloves of garlic, minced.

Eggs: 2 medium sized eggs.

Ricotta: 250g.

Parsley: ½ cup fresh parsley finely chopped.

Sweet Paprika: 1.5 tsp.

Chilli powder: ½ tsp.

White wine vinegar: 1 Tbsp.

Salt: 2 tsp.

Pepper: to taste.

Olive oil: For frying.

Sauce

Tomatoes: 1 ½ cans of chopped tomatoes

Garlic: 3 cloves, Minced

Onion: ½ brown onion finely diced

Balsamic vinegar: 2 Tbsp.

Dried Oregano: 1 tsp

Dried Basil: 1 tsp

Salt: 2 tsp

Olive oil: 2 Tbsp

Parmesan Cheese (Or Edam): Grated on top.

Directions

For the Sauce: Add the olive oil to a medium sized pot and bring to heat. Fry garlic and onion for two to three minutes before adding the canned tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Bring to the boil and add the dried herbs and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes.

For the Filling: Heat olive oil in a pan and gently fry leeks and garlic with Paprika, Chilli and white wine vinegar until soft.

Roughly chop spinach and add along with the parsley to the leeks and garlic, fry for two minutes until slightly wilted. Let the mixture cool and mix in ricotta, and raw eggs. Add salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Pour a small amount of sauce into a suitably sized casserole dish to thinly cover the bottom of the dish. Using your hands stuff the instant cannelloni tubes with the mixture lay them side by side on top of the sauce. Pour the rest of the sauce on top of the stuffed cannelloni.

Grate a covering of Parmesan cheese on over the top. Cover with aluminium foil and bake in the oven. After 20 minutes remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Conclusion:

By Emma Fryer

We have had a good month here at FuturEcology. Planting has pretty well wrapped up, and we are making good strides on our maintenance schedule. Grass seems to be growing at an alarming rate at the moment, so keeping on top of the maintenance is critical in ensuring the success of our plantings from the last 3 years.

A few of us have enjoyed a break after the planting/EmGuard season and embraced being able to travel overseas again. Desiah spent a few weeks enjoying the Gold Coast, Bridget went to New York, and I have just got back from doing The Ghan train trip across Australia with my 90-year-old Grandad. It was a wonderful trip, experiencing the vastness of Australia and seeing the world through a different lens. I also enjoyed going to the outback to have a Great Northern beer in memory of Pete, a wonderful team member who died 2 years ago. He was always regaling us with stories of his outback adventures.

Labour weekend is quickly approaching. For my family, it is a special weekend spent in Totaranui (Abel Tasman National Park) soaking up sun (hopefully) and spending quality time together. However, it is easy to forget that it is more than just a three-day weekend, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to delve into the history of the day and what it meant for New Zealanders, as we were among the first in the world to claim the right to an eight-hour working day.

Labour Day commemorates the struggle for an eight-hour working day. Carpenter, Samual Parnell won an eight-hour day in Wellington in 1840, and the provision was soon extended to other centres. However, it was considered a custom, not a legal entitlement. The establishment of Labour Day reflected the growing influence of New Zealand's trade union movement in the 1880s and its efforts to improve employment conditions for all workers.

Labour Day was first celebrated in New Zealand on 28 October 1890, marking 50 years since Parnell’s achievement, and in 1899 Parliament legislated to make Labour Day a public holiday. This public holiday predated Anzac Day and Waitangi Day and was the first public holiday in New Zealand not associated with religion, royal birthdays or the anniversaries of provincial settlements. Since 1910, Labour Day has been observed on the fourth Monday in October. Learn more here First Labour Day celebrations (nzhistory.govt.nz)

If you have any projects in mind and would like to talk further, give us a call or pop in and see us.

We look forward to hearing from you!