Summer at Earthsong

We’ve enjoyed the last few summery weeks at Earthsong. Many families are away, no meetings or community meals have been scheduled. So we’ve had time to swim at Te Henga, to watch tennis and to be with friends.

Steph and Annette took time off from their dairy farm at Whangarei Heads to stay a couple of nights with us and go to the Women’s International Tennis with Tanya, including seeing Venus Williams play a couple of times- a highlight, her 190km/hour serves.

Julie (foreground) and Suria, wwoofer, weeding

Julie Ganson (a wwoofer at earthtalk 20 years ago, but now working at Syracuse University in Upper New York State) stayed for a few days, and volunteered in the garden too.

Lema with her crocheted Christmas Tree in the Ranui Library

Our local friend, Lema, shared her favourite African green, lengalenga, with us, and showed us her lush garden plot in the Ranui Community Gardens.  She also crocheted a vibrant Tree of Life for Christmas for the Ranui library, representing life and joy arising from pain and death.

Farida and Tanya, with Eric and Suria, wwoofers, at Tanya’s compost-making demo

Farida, who has a garden at her home in Swanson, near us, popped in for a hot-compost-making demo.

Shila and her mother Retna

And  Shila brought her mother, Retna, a keen gardener, for a visit.

Amanda, of Earthsong, scything long grass in the orchard for compost and mulch.

Mio with her first garlic plait

On the garden front, plenty of summer activity: weeding, scything, mulching, compost-making, and daily picking of beans, cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes, greens and plums.

We’ve had great help from Suria and Eric, wwoofers from Brazil, who have now become expert at building hot composts – four so far.

And Mio has learnt to plait garlic!