North Canterbury News: April 23, 2020
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NEWS &CLASSIFIEDS<br />
14 <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>April</strong> <strong>23</strong>, <strong>2020</strong><br />
Joys of agood vegetable patch<br />
By SHELLEY TOPP<br />
Interestingrowing vegetables has<br />
increasedduringthe Covid19 pandemic<br />
lockdown, with seed companies<br />
stretched to fillorders.<br />
‘‘Theaverage size of most orders is<br />
markedly higher than they would<br />
normally be at this time of year,’’ Kings<br />
SeedsNew Zealand coowner Gerard<br />
Martin says.<br />
‘‘Thedemand has beenabout 10 times<br />
more thanover the same period in<br />
previous years.’’<br />
The most popularseeds are the winter<br />
vegetables, broccoli,cauliflower, carrots,<br />
cabbages,turnips, leeks, Florence<br />
fennel, parsnips, beetroot, broad beans<br />
and swedes. Orders have been delivered<br />
by couriers.<br />
One of Waimakariri’s most prominent<br />
gardeners, Helen Roberts,saysthere are<br />
many creative ways to grow vegetables in<br />
the home garden. Choosing asuitable<br />
site is the firstimportant step.<br />
‘‘Veges need all the light they can get,<br />
at least six hours aday in summer, so<br />
don’tlocate your patchinthe shade.’’<br />
Also,prevailingwinds cause damage, so<br />
considerwhat shelter is available.Close<br />
access to water is equallyimportant.<br />
Home gardeners can start avegetable<br />
plot by simply diggingarectangle on top<br />
of the lawn of about one metre across so<br />
it can be reached from both sides.<br />
She doesnot favour highsided raised<br />
garden bedsasthey require more water.<br />
‘‘Sides of around30cm high are most<br />
efficientunless the gardener is unableto<br />
bend,’’she says. However,the exception<br />
is carrots, which do betterinelevated<br />
planter boxes to deter rust fly,which<br />
tendstofly close to ground level.<br />
‘‘Foraraisedbed you will need to buy<br />
abalanced garden mix (a blend of<br />
compost,bark, pumice and fertiliser).<br />
Happyplace ... Helen Robertsinher Woodend garden.<br />
Don’t use potting mix, because it dries<br />
out and is hard to rewet, or straight<br />
compost, whichistoo rich.’’<br />
She also recommends using plenty of<br />
mulch and soakerhoses with atimer as<br />
the best waytowater efficiently.<br />
Helen is amongthe group of women<br />
who establishedthe popular Kaiapoi<br />
CommunityGarden10years ago.She is<br />
still aregularvolunteer there andalso<br />
has alarge fruit and vegetable garden at<br />
PHOTO: SHELLEYTOPP<br />
her homeinWoodend.<br />
Helen and her husband, Gary, an<br />
arborist,wanted to ‘‘grow justabout<br />
everythingweeat’’ and they have<br />
achieved that with their bountiful,sprayfreegarden.<br />
‘‘I love the lushness of afull<br />
vegetable gardenand just walking<br />
arounditand workinginitiswhat Ilike<br />
most,’’ Helensays.<br />
‘‘Havingflowersinthe mix makes it<br />
morecolourful and enjoyable,’’ she adds.<br />
Ultrasound<br />
gear bought<br />
Kaikoura residents now have access to<br />
crucial acute ultrasoundscanning and<br />
more rapid diagnostic assessments,<br />
thankstodonations that helped secure a<br />
$45,000 ultrasound machine.<br />
Mia Health Foundationbought the<br />
machinefor Kaikoura Health, thanks to<br />
donations of $22,000 each from Pegasus<br />
Health and <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>’s<br />
electricity distribution company<br />
MainPower.<br />
Mia chief executive Michael Flatman<br />
says the machinewill enable ahigher<br />
level of care for local residents and stop<br />
unnecessaryreferrals to Christchurch.<br />
Kaikoura Health’s previous<br />
ultrasound machinewas abasic portable<br />
machine, not fit for purpose. It had<br />
limited uses. Many patients had to be<br />
referred to Christchurch for the quality<br />
ultrasound examinations they needed.<br />
With more than 20 referrals being<br />
made each month by Kaikoura Health to<br />
Christchurch’s Radiology services,<br />
patients often joined waiting lists.<br />
Mr Flatmansays having atopoftherange<br />
ultrasound machineinKaikoura<br />
will make areal difference.<br />
MainPower chief executive Andy<br />
Lester says backingthe cause was anobrainer.‘‘It<br />
was easy for us to understand<br />
the benefit it would provide.’’<br />
Kaikoura Health’s Dr Andrea Judd<br />
says the machine will assist with better<br />
diagnoses and more definitive treatment.<br />
‘‘We’re also hoping that the purchase of<br />
this machine will help towards our longterm<br />
goal of attracting aspecialist<br />
sonography servicetoKaikoura.’’<br />
Move welcomed<br />
Flour is the hot-ticket item<br />
By SHELLEY TOPP<br />
The Covid19 outbreak has sparked<br />
unprecedented demandfor flour in<br />
supermarkets,with panic buyers creating<br />
ashortage.<br />
Rangiora New World supermarket<br />
owneroperator Robin Brownsays<br />
queues of shoppershave been waiting for<br />
the store to open every morningsincethe<br />
level4lockdown began, and flour has<br />
been in bigdemand.<br />
‘‘Flour sales have increased markedly<br />
as customers areathome isolating with<br />
theirfamily and have taken to baking<br />
again.’’<br />
He says he has never seen anythinglike<br />
this kind of demandfor flour before.<br />
‘‘Flourdemand increased after the<br />
earthquakes but not anything near how it<br />
is now.Myunderstanding is that there is<br />
plenty of flour but oursuppliers are<br />
struggling to get it packaged and to our<br />
stores in the volumeswerequire.’’<br />
ChampionFlourMillingNew<br />
Zealand’s chiefexecutive Bruce Peden<br />
says the pandemic has created‘‘a new<br />
demand for flour’’, which began before<br />
the lockdown started.<br />
‘‘Therewas obviously panic buying for<br />
bread and other bakerytypeproducts as<br />
well as retailflour.’’<br />
Theshortage is not causedbyaflour<br />
shortage but ratherthe ‘‘abilityofthe<br />
retailpacking equipment that is available<br />
to keep up with the surge in demand’’.<br />
Mayor packs<br />
groceries<br />
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon took time<br />
out from Zoomcalls on Friday to pack<br />
groceries.<br />
He joinedwith Civil Defence volunteers<br />
and council staff to shop at Rangiora New<br />
World for residents unable to do their own<br />
shopping during the lockdown.<br />
‘‘It was great to be able to support those<br />
whoare vulnerable in our community.<br />
‘‘Hats off to the supermarkets in our<br />
districts for making sure we have got plenty<br />
of food and adequate provisions to support<br />
us through this time.’’<br />
Mr Gordon says his role involved calling<br />
residents, takinggrocery orders and then<br />
fillingthem. The groceries were then<br />
delivered to residents' doorsteps.<br />
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey is<br />
welcoming the Government's decision<br />
to move to alert level 3nextweek.<br />
It will allow more local firmsto<br />
operate in acontactless and safe<br />
manner.<br />
Mr Doocey saysitwill comeasa<br />
huge relief to both local businesses<br />
and residents. ‘‘I think it gives<br />
businesses somecertainty that they<br />
can enter theirpremisesthis week to<br />
ensure theyare ready give a<br />
contactless service and also keeptheir<br />
staffsafe.<br />
‘‘We needtoacknowledge how well<br />
we haverespondedasacommunity in<br />
<strong>North</strong><strong>Canterbury</strong>.’’<br />
It is now time to get businessesback<br />
up and tradingsafely,and to support<br />
thosewho have lost their jobs or<br />
income,hesays.<br />
Mr Doocey says it is important that<br />
residents heedthe restrictions.<br />
Are youan<br />
essential service?<br />
Canyou deliver goods to<br />
your customers?<br />
Please contactuson<br />
info@ncnews.co.nz to seehow howwecanhelpwe help
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