The Big Kumara

"Hurry up and take the foto"

This big kumara (aka 'sweet potato') was one of several dug up from a garden in Tauranga which uses liquid vermicast last weekend. We can't be sure how much credit to give the worm juice but this giant of the Convolvulaceae family has some impressive statistics:

• Circumference 45cm
• Length 27cm
• Width 15cm
• Weight 2.4kg

By the way, a recent carbon-dating study indicates that of the ancient middens found so far which contain varieties of kumara, those from Papua New Guinea appear to be significantly older than those from Central or South America - no real surprise there

Anybody got a good recipe?

The big kumara with fruit


The big kumara with bottle of wine


Waiting for dinner

Scion Vermi-Research Trial at Onepu

Worms mating on Michael's hand

The research site at Onepu (near Kawerau) was established last year by Dr. agr. Michael Quintern of Scion. It contains 18 plots that are being used to trial combinations of different biosolids toward optimisation of the vermicomposting process around primary sector 'waste-streams'

I'm loving it - worms getting into a trial plot containing mulched tomato plants

This used to be lake weed now its premium fertiliser

Don't mess with WormPower!

Large adult worms and their egg capsules

Hera holding some biosolid waste from the pulp & paper industry

Covering for the 18 trial plots

Michael explaining to Helen and Ben about the different trial plots

Wormtech NZ Ltd

Ben Banks of EBOP contemplating the specially designed worm harvester

Wormtech began in 1999 following the desire by Greg Walker - one of the founders of the innovative company - for a career change from farming. Located near Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Wormtech now have more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows which are fed around 10 tonnes of tutae from local piggeries each week

Initially the focus was on producing worms for sale rather than liquid fertiliser or vermicast. Wormtech have since established a partner company that offers liquid fertiliser services for orchard and pasture throughout the Bay of Plenty via soil aeration technology

A point of interest was that the early windrows contained a mixture of both red and tiger worms but over time the red worms have nearly all disappeared whereas the tiger worm population continues to thrive

Thanks Greg for your excellent korero and cheers Michael for organising the trip - WormPower!

Greg Walker of Wormtech showing us around the vermicomposting windrows


Wormtech have established more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows


Worms feasting on fresh tutae-poaka laid out every Monday and Thursday on the windrows


After being processed by the worms the vermicast is left in the windrow until required


Greg with some of the packaged worms ready for their trip to new homes in Auckland

Geothermal Seminar in Rotorua

Reece Moors from the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology (FRST)

Billed as "Providing information on understanding and growing your geothermal capability" the hui - organised by GNS Science & Te Puni Kokiriand held at the Heritage Hotel - was aimed at Maori owners of landblocks holding geothermal resources. According to the invitation panui: "The prime objective of this seminar is to provide opportunities for the Maori economic sector to engage and focus on successful pathways to commercialising their unique resource potential"

As would be expected the majority of those attending were connected with the larger Ngati Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa trusts & incorporations. Overall the hui provided a good range of subject areas and relevant expertise, with the Chilean speaker Luis Urzura (who is also from the Mapuche people on his mothers side) drawing a particularly good response from the audience

But as with last years geothermal conference the resource potential was overwhelmingly focused on energy rather than extremophiles. This imbalance is difficult to resolve given that the financial cost and therefore risk of an unsuccessful drilling exploration on just one site can be in the region of $7 - 8m; larger than the entire annual funding available from FRST for Maori research & innovation. Better to build deals where the energy companies carry most of the risk rather than the landowners or otherwise focus on local solutions for papakainga

Jim Gray questioning representatives from Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Council (EBOP)
Brian White from the NZ Geothermal Association

"Yes our use of geothermal will be sustainable but the point is our people are broke and want to get the maximum return from their resource" - Jim Gray

Jessica Wiseman and Dougall Gordon from EBOP with their koha bottles of wine

"Vision Matauranga" - Reece Moors and Anna de Raadt of FRST

"In many ways [the use of geothermal resources] has to be led and driven by Maori - I don't see it as being government's role in leading where Maori research & development should go" - Reece Moors

Luis Urzula from Mighty River Power talking with trustees of landblocks in the Taupo area

Alec Wilson being interviewed for the Maori tv channel

Thankyou letters from Rotokawa School

Whenua.biz recently helped sponsor a worm digestor as an environmental education resource for Rotokawa School. We received these cool thankyou letter from the kids...