This apple grows beside a retired railway line in Southland. At least it did grow there, 3 years ago when I took this photograph. Perhaps it's been cut down, like the one an elderly gentleman rang me about last week. He'd planned to send us scions from what he said was a very special old 'self-sown' apple, growing beside the rail line but couldn't now, as it had been 'removed' as part of the cycle trail development. I've been thinking for some time now, that the national cycle trail presents exciting opportunities for fruit tree enthusiasts like me, to line those tracks with heritage fruit trees that will produce refreshing and invigorating apples, plums, pears and apricots for the tired and dusty riders to enjoy. The chopping down of the tree that seemed destined to become one we could offer to apple-fanciers throughout Southland, is a great shame, especially in light of its other role as a bringer of refreshment to cyclists. I wonder if, with a little more foresight and care, the tree could have been worked-around and kept for the benefit of many. Now that it's gone, it's worth nothing much at all.
I've written a letter to the editor about that tree.
18 comments:
What a shame, I can just imagine how beautiful a trail like that could be.
That was my favourite part about the Ruapehu area where I once lived, there was always apple trees on the road side that we would stop the car at and pick.....though you did find the odd tree that was tasteless! :)
Where we are failing is in having no clear idea of what we as a community want our countryside to look like In the UK the community get a say through councils and they have a very clear vision. We have changed the countryside since we arrived and opened it up for farming but we are now at the stage that we need to sit back and develop a strategy for the next generation. meanwhile people should think about what they are doing when chopping down or changing things. I understand that many of the apple trees between Gore and Waikaka were self seeded from the apple cores thrown away by teamsters as they headed inland. maybe old wives tale but I still like it
"We" tend, Hootnz, to clear-fell back to 'ground zero' then begin to develop the land for whatever we believe is best. That's a very good tendency to reject, in my view. Those old apple trees have value that isn't generally recognised by 'developers' of any project in NZ and it's a great shame that the cycle-trail people didn't show some discretion when it came to this particular apple tree. By all accounts, it was a 'keeper' and we would have benefited from it's continuation as a producer of fruits. There will be many, many other stories of lost opportunities like this. I hope my letter will give someone, somewhere pause for thought and perhaps encourage them to say, 'we'll just work around it". We'll never now know just how that apple tasted, nor will we be able to enjoy its particular qualities. The Monty's Surprise apple, so lauded for it's health-giving qualities, was such a tree; found by the roadside and otherwise un-recognised for what it offers us humans.
Hi Diane
You are so right. Have you seen my 'Common Ground' proposal?
http://robertguyton.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/common-ground-up-date.html
You seem steeped in what that movement aims to be (as is Hootnz:-)
Old wives, in my experience, tell valuable tales and thanks for passing that one on.
opps computers I never realised I was hiding behind my wife. A couple of years ago I read about some dimwit planting fruit trees in public places and curiosity lead me to planting them in several spots on out property. Past plantings had be done for shelter and birdlife so this is a bit of a change. Still not sure just why but will plant a few more this year and perhaps it will come to me. Also putting a few berry fruit around as well and will have to plant some more so some are left after the birds have had a feed.
We are seeing an uprising in interest growing things which is great. I enjoy looking over our 12 acre block and thinking I planted every tree myself over 22 years and now can knock a few trees over for winter firewood and not even see the gap. Have been privileged to have visited the Eden Project a couple of times over the last few years and think how amazing it would be to have something like that in the south. Just gives people that old fashioned feeling of belonging to a community and wanting to pull together. I think we could go even further and have one that reflected what is unique to the south such as farming, forestry and our countryside. The Eden project is labour intensive and attracts huge amounts of visitors to a out of the way corner of Cornwall.
Philip/Diane, it matters not to us here :-)
An Eden Project that involves the whole of Southland would be my dream. We don't need a dome, we have the sky and closed systems are notoriously difficult to manage. Was it the Eden Project that failed because they imported compost which produced too much CO2 or am I thinking of another? Once our Southland Eden Project was up and running, we could invite Otago to join and then the other regions of the South Island. Then, if they promised to accept a 'younger brother' status, the North Island could come on board. I think Australia is too far gone to be saved, so for now, we'll stick with Edenising NZ.
Not sure if they have had any issues but it has boomed along. I think we should have a Southern Eden and let the others scramble to follow once they realise how successful it can be. However I think it should focus on sustainable land use and be there to show leadership to farmers. Have it close to a dairy farm and develop the worlds leading effluent use system. Get farmers to fence of corners of their paddocks and plant trees for free. Same for councils plant any unused areas for free. nurseries are labour intensive but otherwise cheap to run. labour can come from volunteers and those doing community service and PD.
The other thing around cycle trails that no one has latched onto yet is we have several ready made ones around Southland in the form of floodbanks. I know they have fences but finding a way to enable cyclists to ride over or around fences must be a lot cheaper than building new ones. We have hundreds of kilometres of them built with public funds
Yes, the floodbank idea is intriguing but I wonder if exposure to the Sou'westers might be the reason for not seeing them on the agenda. Insurance issues too, and proximity to stock. I'm not sure. Farmers graze those, with sheep, don't they? I've heard it said that when dairy crashes, the network of cow-lanes and underpasses will make excellent cycleways :-)
I agree wholeheartedly with you that farms are the key to the environmental issues here in Southland. What farmers could do to improve biodiversity for starters, excites me hugely. Progress though
is
very
slow.
There are some good reasons why things take so long nowadays. Had a friend who was a works overseer for the Southland Council years ago. If Mrs Jones from Smith Rd rung up and said her culvert was blocked he would pop out out, have a look, grab a shovel from the back of his ute and in 5 minutes fox the problem. Nowadays she would ring the council, someone would pop out and take a look, go back to the office and write a job sheet which would go to the contractor, the contractor would pop out and take a look and work out a price, go back to the office and confirm with the council the price is OK and finally a workman would go out and clear the culvert. That's just one example and whiles its not quite right its a good example.Every council should have to employ a person to go over their systems and process to see what can be done differently to save money and time.
However that aside in Southland we have a huge resource of retired or semi retired people with a huge amount of knowledge and experience going to waste and that's what needs tapped into to kick something off like an Eden Project. The most common complaint you get when you talk with retired people is that they are lonely. Crazy! Get them involved on the understanding they will be expected to pass on their knowledge to younger people and develop a community project and the car park wouldn't be big enough. Everyone I know would be prepared in some manner or other to be involved and all it needs is some leadership and vision. A big challenge but nothing is easy. Just got to keep way the focus on the project and not get side-tracked by people thinking they should be paid.
"I wonder if, with a little more foresight and care, the tree could have been worked-around and kept for the benefit of many."
I'm a bit dark about this at the moment. There is a new cycle trail going in on the back road between Miller's Flat and Beaumont. Alot of tree damage in the process. And alot of money being spent. I did see they diverted the track around a large boulder sticking up out of the ground, so there is a precedent when the need is there.
I too saw a future where such a trail would be lined with fruit and nut trees. They're going to all the trouble to fence off from stock, so it shouldn't be too hard for some enterprising people ;-)
What is really needed is some good permaculture design for the trails, so that multiple needs get met well.
And hedgerows!
Philip, I share your thoughts about 'retired' people and their willingness to continue as active members of a community. It's a crying shame that we have created the situation whereby many older people are sequestered away through convention, where their skill, knowledge and experience is rendered unavailable. I was rung by a 96 year-old last week, who had some excellent ideas to share with me, regarding crops in Southland. I thought to give him the contact phone numbers for two other elserly blokes, one in Christchurch an the other in Auckland, who know more about growing trees and have boundless energy still, for planting out the country - I bet they would talk up a storm, were I to connect them up. I can see myself in the same position in 40 years time and don't want that to be the case. Building 'communities' within the society we have now is the way to counter this, I reckon, hence my Common Ground proposal and a whole lot of other similar communities of interest that already exist.
Your comment about 'people not getting paid' is most significant and one w (Robyn and I) make often and hold to closely. Once wages/salaries/honorariums come into the equation, something very important is immediately lost. I promote Open Source everything (Open Orchard is but one example). Payment steals something from those who want to contribute freely and it erodes collegiality, in my opinion.
'A bit dark', wildcrafty? I've been pitch-black for years and years on this issue, ever since a 'granddaddy' cabbage tree was cut down here in Riverton for no real purpose at all, and then covered-up (the action) by the local council. That incident began my 'career' as an activist, political and environmental. I figured, this stuff will continue to happen unless I put on my Lorax suit, so I did. I intend to be more effective still than the little hairy little guy (he protested loudly, but no more than that and largely failed in his (short-term) aim to save the truffula trees. His work still goes on though, so that's to be considered). This 'fell all' approach to new roads, housing developments etc is disgraceful and stupid, especially when something mature is lost but 'new plantings' promised in its place. The Government loves the 'off-sets' ploy, and I have to say it really reveals their disconnection with the real environment.
Governments have been for quite a few years pushing things through by frightening people. The last one was the snapper quota. Put out the story that the quota will be cut to 3 snapper. The public goes mad, has meeting and gets all upset then quickly change the detail up to 7 snapper. Everyone goes phew thank goodness but forget the fact they have given away 25% of what they had last week. Its a common thread used by councils as well when they talk about rate increases. Chuck in a huge increase, everyone jumps around then get it back to the rate % they want and everyone thinks they have won the battle. They fail to see the actual facts underneath. It is a cynical way of managing a population but to date it has worked well
Hi Philip. All of my fisher friends who have commented on changes to snapper regulations have expressed their displeasure with the government, rather than describing the relief that the changes could have been worse.
Yes they will still be disgruntled but if they stuck with the 3 they would mutinied. The govt will be doing the figures to see how far they can push before people change who they vote for. My point is really about the fact they have failed to address the issue with is how to manage the fisheries in a sustainable manner. The big business interests who they invite along to their dinner parties are in the ear every occasion they get and no one is prepared to hold them to account for the massive waste and mismanagement that goes on. Watch carefully and see how they react. A good case would be Fonterra. Cost the country millions and sure will be some handsmacking but if the watersiders union held up a large shipment of milk powder the government would be whipping the population into a frenzy.Thats why I am a little cynical. Joys of old age
One word, "Goodfellow".
I smell fish a'fryin'!
Nope you are wrong Robert, he has never talked with a minister about fish. Know it smells fishy but I am sure he wants fishermen and woman to share in our countries resources. We should not doubt his sincerity. Tui Add Yeah Right
Was anyone ever so misnamed?
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