Permablitz # 32

THIS PERMABLITZ IS NOW FULL-registrations are closed!

Location: Welcome Bay, register to find out where

Date: 18 September 10am-3pm

Andrea and Hone are a homesteading family in Welcome Bay, who have a passion for sustainable living and environmental stewardship.

They’ve worked hard over the years as a family to craft a landscape that suits them, and this PermaBlitz is the starting point as they begin a new stage on their property. They’re working hard to re-establish a riparian area of native plants for restoration and traditional rongoa-maori uses. They’re also keen to create a social space for the educational workshops they often host for community events.

This will be a good opportunity to see how permaculture can be applied in a variety of situations; learning about native rongoa-maori plants and uses, riparian restoration, and a permaculture design process in creating outdoor social spaces.

During the course of the day we will be focusing on:

• Traditional rongoa-maori plants and uses
• Riparian restoration
• Permaculture design process
• Creating functional outdoor social spaces

This perma-blitz can accommodate 15 – 20 people.

A main lunch meal will be provided by the host, and if participants are able to contribute a small snack/baking for morning tea that would be much appreciated. Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.

What to bring:
-Gumboots
-Gardening gloves
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade or shovel
-Water bottle
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear

To  register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Permablitz # 31

UPDATE: we have had a few people who can not make this blitz happening tomorrow Saturday 7th November 2020, 9am – 3pm, so if you would like to now come – please register below – we would love to see you!
Location: Otumoetai, register to find out where

At this exciting upcoming blitz, the couple have spent the last two years slowly implementing a food producing oasis in suburban Tauranga. They are finally ready to redesign their backyard and provide useful workshops on what they have achieved.

This will be a good opportunity to see how permaculture can be done in a suburban area, learn how to install a small rain water tank, lasagna gardening, basic fencing and the practicality of converting a hillside into terraced garden beds.

During the course of the day we will be focusing on:
o Converting lawn to garden beds
o Building a fence to keep pets out
o Lasagna gardening and growing soil
o Rainwater tank install
o Pallet Compost setup
o Learn about rainwater harvesting
o Learn about terraced gardening
o Learn about grape and berry trellising

This is a small backyard which can accommodate 15 – 20 people. Plenty of parking on the street.

A main lunch meal will be provided by the host, and if participants are able to contribute a small snack/baking for morning tea that would be much appreciated. Please let us know if you have any allergies or
dietary requirements.

What to bring:
-Gumboots
-Gardening gloves
-Wheel barrow (if you have would be great!)
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade or shovel
-Water bottles
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear
-Any spare plants you may have from your own garden i.e blueberries, lavender, garlic bulbs, calendula, , borage, lemon balm, bergamot, tansy etc This can also be in the form of cuttings which we will put into cutting mix straight away.

To  register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Permablitz # 31

UPDATE: we have had a few people who can not make this blitz happening tomorrow Saturday 7th November 2020, 9am – 3pm, so if you would like to now come – please register below – we would love to see you!
Location: Otumoetai, register to find out where

At this exciting upcoming blitz, the couple have spent the last two years slowly implementing a food producing oasis in suburban Tauranga. They are finally ready to redesign their backyard and provide useful workshops on what they have achieved.

This will be a good opportunity to see how permaculture can be done in a suburban area, learn how to install a small rain water tank, lasagna gardening, basic fencing and the practicality of converting a hillside into terraced garden beds.

During the course of the day we will be focusing on:
o Converting lawn to garden beds
o Building a fence to keep pets out
o Lasagna gardening and growing soil
o Rainwater tank install
o Pallet Compost setup
o Learn about rainwater harvesting
o Learn about terraced gardening
o Learn about grape and berry trellising

This is a small backyard which can accommodate 15 – 20 people. Plenty of parking on the street.

A main lunch meal will be provided by the host, and if participants are able to contribute a small snack/baking for morning tea that would be much appreciated. Please let us know if you have any allergies or
dietary requirements.

What to bring:
-Gumboots
-Gardening gloves
-Wheel barrow (if you have would be great!)
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade or shovel
-Water bottles
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear
-Any spare plants you may have from your own garden i.e blueberries, lavender, garlic bulbs, calendula, , borage, lemon balm, bergamot, tansy etc This can also be in the form of cuttings which we will put into cutting mix straight away.

To  register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Permablitz # 30

Rural Bonanza, Whakamarama

Saturday 3 October 2020, 9am-4pm
Location: Whakamarama, register to find out where

We are working on a few projects at this stunning rural property, including work on the Food Forest, rock walls and  learning about using a “Living Design Process” to site and plant a couple of new gardens at the property.

This is an opportunity to see how bananas can grow in the Bay of Plenty, see how swales and a duck pond can be integrated, and feel creativity alive and humming in a garden. This family home has turned into a communal living space – with many different artists with different forms living together – creativity oozes in every inch of this beautiful property.

During the course of the day we will be focusing on;

• Planting fruit trees
• Planting fruit tree guilds
• Sheet mulching
• Planting banana pups
• Creating a swale from run off water into the duck pond
• Learning to make rock walls
• Learning about using a “Living Design Process” to site and plant a couple of new gardens at the property.

We have a couple of great workshops lined up including; the role of fungi in a Food Forest, an edible weeds walk and a living design process.

This is a large area, and we can accommodate 40-50 people, so if you have missed out on a previous blitz, because they fill so fast – here is your opportunity to be involved and have a great day of learning. We are encouraging car pooling as there is not abundance of car-parking space. If you can please pop your area of where you live into the comments section of the registration box so we can try and connect people for carpooling.

Because this is such a large blitz, we are asking everyone to contribute to a shared lunch.

What to bring:
-Gumboots
-Gardening gloves
-Wheel barrow (if you have would be great!)
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade or shovel
-Water bottles
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear
-Something for a shared lunch
-Any spare plants you may have from your own garden that may work for fruit tree guilds i.e COMFREY – please dig up lots of comfrey root, lavender, garlic bulbs, calendula, jerusalem artichokes, thyme, rosemary, borage, lemon balm, bergamot, tansy, rosemary etc.

To  register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Urban overhaul, Otumoetai

Saturday 25 July 2020, 9:30am-3pm
Location: Otumoetai, register to find out where

THIS BLITZ IS NOW FULL!

We are doing an overhaul of a small backyard urban section in Tauranga town…there will be no lawn left!

This is an opportunity to see how much food you can grow in a small area. During the course of the day we will be focusing on;

• Making wicking beds
• Planting fruit trees and their guilds
• Laying pathways
• Constructing a berry and medicinal area

We have a couple of great workshops lined up as well.

This is a small area, we only have room for up to 12 people.

Our hosts will provide hot and cold drinks, and a lovely lunch.

What to bring:
-Gumboots
-Gardening gloves
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade or shovel
-Water bottles
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear
– Any spare plants you may have from your own garden that may work for fruit tree guilds i.e lavender, garlic bulbs, calendula, jerusalem artichokes, thyme, rosemary, borage, lemon balm, bergamot etc.

To  register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

From Scratch Permablitz, Katikati

Saturday 31st March 2018, 9am – 4pm
Location: Katikati, register to find out where

We are starting from scratch on a newly established, beautiful one-acre riverside site just south of Katikati.

This is an opportunity to be involved in the very early stages of planning and implementing a Permaculture garden. Trish Waugh will talk about the Living Design Process which has been used here to make some initial decisions about the development of the land.

Our hosts are excited about sharing their piece of paradise with like-minded people and invite participants to stay on after the blitz for a shared dinner, swim in the river and to stay the night if you bring your own tent.

During the course of the day we will be focusing on how to;

• Construct a ponga wall
• Set up a fenced chicken run
• How to site and plant fruit trees
• How to build a compost bin and make hot compost
• And lots more

We have some great workshops lined up and there may be special Easter activities for children (and adults) if anyone is keen.

This is a large area, we have room for up to 40 people.

Our hosts will provide hot and cold drinks, morning tea and a vegetarian lunch. If you would like to stay for dinner, please bring something to share.

What to bring:
-Gumboots
-Both Rubber gloves (for handling the mix) and other sturdy gardening gloves
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade or shovel, wire cutters, wheelbarrow.
-Water bottle
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear

To  register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Tauranga Suburban Half Day Permablitz

Saturday 9th December 2017, 9.30am – 1.30pm
Location: Greerton, Tauranga register to find out more

We are developing a vegetable garden and food forest at a suburban home in Tauranga. The large section is flat and north facing.

This will be the first of two or three half-day Permablitzes at this location with a smaller number of people than is typical for a Permablitz (around 10 people).

Possible tasks include: preparing vegetable beds, erect greenhouse, construct gate and fence for wind shelter, plant trees, construct shade for worm farms, organise garage shelves and tool storage area, paint and line strawberry boxes.

Possible workshops will be: air layering plants, double digging, edible weeds, perennial vegetables, bokashi.

Anyone is welcome to teach a short workshop on a sustainable living concept so if you have any special skills that will contribute to the learning of the participants please mention this at registration.

We will have a shared pot luck lunch. The host will provide morning tea.

Hope to see you there!

What to bring:

·       Sturdy Footwear
·       Gloves
·       Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spade, fork, trowel, hammer
·       Water bottle
·       Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear
·       Food to share for lunch

Plants/seeds needed: Tagasaste seedlings, globe artichoke, sweet marjoram (not oregano), dill, wormwood, leek seedlings, Brussels sprout seedlings

Materials needed: something to act as a barrier against kikuyu, such as plastic edging or corrugated iron if anyone has any to spare

We also need someone with building skills to help construct a gate and short fence, so please mention if you have these skills at registration.

To register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Permablitz #26

Earth Wall Building Permablitz, Karangahake

New Date: Sunday 26th March 2017, 9am – 4pm  

This Blitz is now full! Thank you to the wonderful volunteers, here’s hoping that the weather holds out for us 🙂

Location: Karangahake, near Paeroa, register to find out where

We are heading back to a beautiful piece of land that we blitzed in 2015 to complete an earth wall surround to the vegetable garden.

We are fortunate to have Rose Tuffery leading this blitz. Rose is a highly experienced earthbuilder and artist in clay. She will bring her in-depth experience of working with this medium to take us through step-by-step the construction of an in situ earthen wall.

During the course of the day we will be focusing on how to;

• source local and recycled materials for the wall
• figure out the ideal mix
• prepare the wall for plastering
• prepare the mix
• apply this clay mix to the wall
• add creative finishing details.

A good level of fitness is recommended as the work will be quite physically demanding, with plenty of opportunity to get your hands (and feet) dirty.

Rose at trial run last Sunday

The site is west facing with a gradual slope. It is shaded in the morning but can get quite hot in the afternoon.

We will be working in a small area so numbers are limited for this blitz to a maximum of 15 registrants….so be in quick!!

As this is such a special opportunity we ask that you each bring a plate of goodies for a shared lunch. The host will provide hot and cold drinks and a few snacks.

What to bring:

-Gumboots or other footwear that can get wet/dirty

-Two types of gloves; Sturdy gardening gloves (for handling wire netting, stones, etc) and rbber gloves (for handling the mix)

-Clothing that can get dirty

-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear

-Water bottle

-Contribution of food for a shared lunch

–Optional tools and equipment (labelled with your name):

-spade or shovel

-wire cutters

-10 litre bucket

-old dish brush (for cleaning of tools and equipment)

To register please fill out the form below.

Paeroa Rural Food Forest Permablitz

Saturday 18th June 2016, 9am – 4pm
Location: Paeroa, register to find out where

We are developing a three year old orchard into the next phase of a Food Forest. We are also preparing the orchard for chickens to roam and under planting some of the fruit trees with beneficial plants at a large rural property just south of Paeroa.

The site is a north facing, easily accessible, gently sloping orchard.

We’ll be preparing some areas of lawn between the fruit trees with sheet mulching. These areas will be planted with more fruiting plants, some nitrogen fixers and other companion and beneficial plants. Existing fruit trees will be mulched, composted and bedded in for winter.

We will be fixing chicken mesh to the perimeter fence to make the orchard secure for chickens to free range. Housing for the chickens will also be established.

Likely workshops will be; on the care of chickens eg how to clip their wings, feeding chickens from the land, sheet mulching for food forest understorey planting, pruning fruit trees, chook housing from recycled materials, healing herbs and native plants/rongoa.

Anyone is welcome to teach a workshop on a sustainable living concept so if you have any special skills that will contribute to the learning of the participants please mention this at registration.

Please come and help. The hosts will provide a good healthy lunch and snacks. Hope to see you there!

What to bring:
-Sturdy Footwear
-Gloves
-Gardening tools (labelled with your name) – hammer, grass clippers, spades, shovels,wheelbarrows, hand tools
-Water bottle
-Hat and sun protection and wet weather gear

Plants/seeds needed: Tagasaste, Peppermint geranium, Chamomile, Salvia, Siberian pea shrub, Phaelacia, Yarrow, Lavender, Wormwood.

Donations to the sheet mulching pile appreciated: Horse or cow manure, untreated sawdust, seaweed, straw…

To register, fill out the form below. Your details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank you!

Turangi town home Food Forest Permablitz

Sunday 4th October 2015, 9:30am – 4pm
Location: Turangi town home, register to find out where

We’re planting a food forest at a typical home in Turangi.

The site is a north facing,free-draining, front sloped garden, so a warm and dry spot well suited to great growing.

Before the fruit trees go in, we’ll be forming rainwater infiltration swales for drought tolerance and for cycling nutrients into the system. Storm-water runoff from the house and garage will fill a new goldfish pond in front of the house. Once full nutrients from the pond will flow into the swales too.

We’re planting a large range of stone-fruit like cherries, prunes and apricots along with citrus trees fruiting shrubs such as currants and gooseberries. They’ll love the hard frosts and warm dry summers. These will become the structure of the multi-layered food food for this young turangi family and kids passing by on their way to and from school.

Please come and help, likely workshops will discuss Food forest and swale design, composting, tree planting and mulch use. Anyone is welcome to teach a workshop on a sustainable living concept on the day!

There will be a good healthy lunch provided. Hosts will help organise carpooling for anyone willing to come down here. Turangi has great hotpools, walks, and plenty to see and do for a weekend away! (not to mention great permies down here including the sensational Awhi Farm (google them!)

Suitable plant donations for our food forest appreciated.

We hope to see you here!
Hugo & Caro

What to bring:
-Sturdy Footwear
-Gloves
-Own gardening tools (labelled with your name) – spades, shovels, wheelbarrows, hand tools
-Water bottle
-Hat and sun protection

-Extra clothing (Turangi climate is about a month behind the Tauranga!)

To register, fill out the form below you details will be emailed to the hosts who will contact you with further details on how to get there. Thank-you! Hugo & Caro