Tours of Dick Robert's Todds Valley property commence at 10.30am and 1.30pm.
4pm: AGM at Tahuna Holiday Park Conference Centre 6.15pm: Welcome and introduction of speakers, guests etc 6.30pm: Dinner and Nelson promotion 7.30pm:
Conference opening by Nelson MP Nick Smith, followed by
opening address from Dr Maxine Thompson from Oregon, USA.
8.15am: Roger and Shirley Meyer from California 9.15am: David Noel (ACOTANC) from Perth, Western Australia 9.45am: Dick Roberts of Nelson 10.30am:
Bus trips to view Jacaranda Park
Olives at Frogs End
Sugar Maples and amenity planting at De-Gray's
Tea planting at Dan Hamilton's
Sub-tropicals at Simpson's Nursery.6.30pm: Association dinner, auction and entertainment.
8.15am Roy Hart, research and information officer for NZTCA 9.15am: Tree crops on the internet with Margot Syms of Nelson 9.45am: Woodturners Ann and Bob Phillips 10.30am: Bus trips to Gardens of the World
Macadamias and avocados at Fry's
Trees galore at Appelton's Nurseries
River Terrace Nurseries walnuts, citrus, hazels etc
Rutherford Memorial garden in Brightwater.4.30pm: Mini market - a showcase of Nelson produce and crafts.
Barbecue tea, panel discussion, question box.
View our photo file of the above trips! (500kb)
Maxine Thompson obtained a PhD in genetics in 1960 from the University of California-Davis. She has since been awarded the Frank M Meyer medal for plant genetic resources. Plant variation, wild and cultivated, has been a fascination for Dr Thompson since her early days at university. As assistant professor in the horticulture department of Oregon State University, her major research involved fruit breeding and genetics (hazelnut and sweet cherry), floral biology, pollination and fruit set, and cytological studies of fruit species. After retirement in 1986 Dr Thompson embarked on a series of sponsored international plant explorations for fruit and nut germplasm. The most recent in 1996 to north east China to collect species of Rubus Vaccinium, Ribes and Fragaria. She has contributed over 1200 accessions to the National Germplasm System. Her visit to Nelson has been sponsored by Air New Zealand.
Californians Roger and Shirley Meyer will talk about their own experiences on their 10 acre farm, purchased 25 years ago. Through trial and error with various crops, they ventured into planting, growing and harvesting new and unusual crops. They will talk about exotic fruits suitable for small farmers in New Zealand and give examples of crops such as root crops which have exciting potential for small farmers around the world.
David Noel, a Cambridge educated scientist has been involved with nuts and tree crops for 30 years. He was founder of the West Australian Nut and Tree Crop Association and helped set up the Australian Conferences on Tree and Nut Crops (ACOTANC). He is committed to introducing and developing less usual nuts and fruits from all over the world, and has written hundreds of articles on tree crops and published two books. He received the Vavilov Centenary Medal for his contribution to plant genetic diversity.
In 1972 Dick Roberts became a founder member of the Nelson branch of the New Zealand Tree Crops Association. He also founded WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) which was formed in 1974. Dick has had a lifetime interest in trees. After arriving in Nelson from England he purchased 300 acres of steep hillside land in Todds Valley. Covered in gorse and bracken fern, he has planted 1000 trees a year, for the last 30 years. Over that time about 3,000 people have helped on the orchard. Many have revisited and some have started similar projects, here and overseas. Dick's talk will emphasise the aims and principles of the Tree Crops Association, paying tribute to the founders - "the far-sighted individuals who were ahead of their time".
Roy Hart's professional career involved 30 years in horticultural and agricultural research. He will endeavour to persuade tree crop members to be cooperatively involved in the association's research effort. Particularly research into newer novel tree crops over all NZ's climatic environments.
SURFING THE NET: Margot Syms and her husband Peter, have a small mixed farm in Dovedale. Margot will talk to members about the advantages and benefits of the internet. She says it is an introductory session using non technical language. As a programmer for Computerland MSL, she will have one of the company's computers set up at the venue so she can illustrate her talk by surfing the net as members watch. She will also show how email can be a cheap and effective means of communication. Margot will be encouraging members to connect up with the internet and will explain how to go about it. It opens up many sources of information, along with university research, nurseries and their catalogues and even travel places such as Kew Gardens which would interest members as they travel the globe. The subject matter is destined to be enlightening and exciting for those who have yet to unravel the mysteries of email and the internet.
Bob and Ann Phillips have been professional woodturners since 1986. Ann who grew up in Nelson has a PhD in science and was doing research work in England when she met Bob, an aircraft engineer. Their work has been hugely successful nationally and internationally. They have published two books relating to their industry with a third to be released in May. Both are committed to responsible use of wood from sustainable sources.
If we've got it wrong or otherwise, please tell us first - Email us: treecrops@nzero.co.nz
Updated: Tuesday, 23 January 2007
http://www.nzero.co.nz/treecrop/conf98/index.htm