Making Plant Pots and Tree Collars - aka "Glenview Working Bees"

Preparing milk cartons

Preparing milk cartons

Stacked Boxes of milk cartons (and yes, this is the right way up!)

Stacked Boxes of Milk Cartons
(and yes, this is the right way up!)

Making plant pots from milk cartons; tree collars from cartons

Making plant pots from milk cartons;
tree collars from used cardboard cartons

What's involved in making Plant Pots?

Supporters save up to 3000 cardboard milk cartons each year, and regular working bees turn them into planting pots for the Nursery, all in readiness for winter tree plantings.

When the tops are cut off the milk cartons, and four small drainage holes cut in the bottom corners, the milk cartons make excellent plant pots.

Seedling trees grown in these can be planted on site and the cartons torn up as bio-degradable mulch.  Great recycling!


What's involved in making Tree Collars?

Cardboard collar to reduce weeds and retain soil moisture

Cardboard collar to reduce weeds and retain soil moisture.

Cardboard cartons are opened out and cut into cardboard "collars".

When the collars are placed round the young trees, they inhibit weed growth and help keep the soil moist.

Where?

Working bees to do all this are held at Glenview School, Cannons Creek, where the school's old boiler room has been kindly lent to the Friends of Maara Roa for use as a Storage and Workshop room.

Anyone who can help will be most welcome.  Cutters are available.  Bring your own light-weight gardening gloves, and if you have one, bring a foldable camp stool or deck chair (with cushion), just in case there aren't enough.

Meet at Glenview School.  Refer to our Diary these Dates page for dates when these working bees are scheduled.