Coromind - Issue 34 - October25 - Coromandel's Collaborative Magazine - Flipbook - Page 25
Living in Whitianga for over 50 years, I have witnessed the rapid
decline of our native trees/shrubs/grasses/food sources and
habitat for our native birds, insects, bees and butter昀氀ies. Hilton
Park to use one example once was bustling with dragon昀氀ies, frogs,
wax eyes, tūī and kererū. Muehlenbeckia and other native plant
species grew along a beautiful stream (swale), which ran through
the middle of the park with edible watercress growing in the
drain which was sprayed regularly with glyphosate (Roundup);
the stream has since been buried so birds no longer have access
to water during summer months.
Our street, Moewai Park Road, is full of young families from
newborn to youth (our future leaders); we are also close to the
Moewai Sport Complex and access to fruit trees after a game
would give youth FREE organic (spray free) fruit. To create a fruit
forest, the 昀椀rst thing you need is patience and knowledge that you
are starting a long-term project. The second is a piece of land (the
bigger the better), so check out the green spaces near you.
To create a sustainable system, you need to imitate patterns
you see in nature. Soil is important; it is the 昀椀rst thing you
need to pay attention to, given the rapid rate of development
seen here in our community with no concern for the wide
variety of insects such as our native wētā, bees, native
butter昀氀ies (especially our 昀椀eld butter昀氀ies), birds, trillions of
microbial insects, skinks and geckos.
Before Covid, Thames Coromandel District Council cut down a
well-established chestnut tree and then removed our playground
here in our park. Also, the largest and oldest stand of macrocarpa
and gum trees were cut down by developers while the grey heron
were nesting and feeding their young – displacing the heron
chicks and stressing the parents’ nest and security; so action
needed to be taken – not only for our future native insects but
for our children and their children, and this sparked the creation
of a fruit forest for future generations. Given the ‘Cost of Living’
narrative we were constantly hearing, our community decided to
provide fresh fruit and berries for lower socio-economic whānau
(families) and to organisations such as Bellyful (mums get
ready-made meals when they bring their babies home) and the
combined churches’ Monday meals needing additional kai (food).
catchment system similar to barrels stacked on top of each other
with a small sheet of iron feeding the rain into the barrels with a
tap we can use to hose our trees during summer months.
Fruit forests o昀昀er a multitude of bene昀椀ts, such as:
• Increased biodiversity – habitats for plants and animals
• A degree of o昀昀set for climate change – trees and plants absorb
carbon dioxide
• Strengthened communities – by providing healthy food and
improving air quality
• Improved soil health – by stabilising soil, reducing erosion,
improving soil structure and fertility
• A natural haven for pollinators – 昀氀owers send out an electrical
signal to attract bees; a fruit forest provides food and shelter for
pollinators essential for plant reproduction
• Fewer shopping expenses – families with access to free fresh
produce can save a signi昀椀cant amount of money each month.
There has been too much emphasis on our 昀椀nancial future;
however, we need to create an ecological future for our children,
and their children – just like other species we are supposed to live
here in unity. The most inspiring documentaries to learn from
are on YouTube, such as: Back to Eden Gardening Documentary,
Permaculture Ponds, Down to Earth Org India, Sustainable
Permaculture Ananda, Permaculture Farming India.
Reach out to TCDC and ask for some fruit trees and native shrubs.
Then get together to plant them out and watch them grow each
year until you can share the produce with your local pre-school,
schools, care providers and youth as they will be able to share
it with their children in the future and the insects, bees, birds
will be grateful for a habitat and food source. Remember Mother
Earth, our beautiful Papatūānuku, gives to us for free.
Let us cloak her with trees so she can allow
us to breathe again.
Trees are the heart of permaculture – fruiting and non-fruiting
trees help provide resilience in the ecosystem. Swales can be
important for rain catchment and sequestration of rainwater for
dry months. We need help with anyone who can build a water
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