Toru Trail event in June at Hanawera, Manakau

Our day of permaculture learning on a 30 year old permaculture property.

Our day started with a cuppa and greeting some new and familiar faces. For me a visit to Gary and Emily’s place is always a special moment as it was the site of so much of my wonderful permaculture learning on the transformational 2021 modular PDC. There is a wonderful write up here for those interested in this style of learning permaculture.

Before long we formed an all ages circle outside to check in with each other and learn a little about where we had all come from, and why we had joined for the day. Some of our youngest attendees had joined to support their parents' permaculture journey! Gary gave us an introduction to the property Hanawera, and then we were off to the orchard (zone 2 out from the main house). Za the dog was an instant hit and always wanted to be the centre of attention.

Right from the start there was a lot of interest in the orchard. There were some keen fruit and nut growers in the group and Gary was fielding lot’s of questions. The orchard is kept fertile by a flock of hens and two delightful playful kunekune, often Robbie the kunekune had more to say than Gary!

Next we visited the vegetable garden (zone 1) where Emily gave us some in depth history of all the changes and amendments that had gone into this patch over 30 years, it was quite a list, with some successes and dramatic mis-steps made along the way. Again the questions were flying thick an fast and it was evident there was lot’s of knowledge in the group as well as from our hosts.

We then continued out to the Food Forest set up between the house and the dam as part of Gary and Emily’s learning journey for food forests. Here we could taste some of the success in the form of winter fruit, and Gary noted that the flock of hens here produced healthier, richer eggs, attesting to the increased health and biodiversity in this zone compared to the orchard.

Tummies were starting to rumble after all the lively discussion, so after a short walk around the shelterbelts where we discussed the benefits and disadvantages of mixing eucalyptus in with natives and other lessons from decades of growing trees, we ambled in back in to the kitchen and were met by the sights and smells of soup and pizza for lunch!

Seeds and fresh produce were brought out for the crop sharing table so that the bounty could be shared. After lunch we settled into the sitting room with a cuppa to hear more of the history of the property and what it has been like to live in connection with the whenua in the way Gary and Emily have.

Overall it was a wonderful day out filled with new ideas, ah-huh moments when seeing permaculture in action, and connection across generations!

Thank you Gary and Emily!

Seth Rothery