I hoe, I hoe The vegie patch I hoe I pull out the weed and sow my seed I hoe, I hoe. Me --------------- There are holes in the clouds where the rain comes in The holes are small, that's why rain is thin !! Spike Milligan Yes Folks it is Spring time in Aotearoa (the land of the long white cloud). That is the Maori (indiginous people) name for NZ. This is the weekend where I get out the Yates seed growing mix and with a heart full of hope and a can full of beer I put in the seed that will obsess me for the coming Summertime. I have been going to pottery classes and my hand thrown pots that have been immersed in my spirit will be the vessels that carry the episodic pumpkins to the scales of Victory on April 5th 1998 at 12 noon in King Edward Park, Hawera. Two M3 of eighty year old sheep poo and suitable lashings of Dolomite Lime steeped in deep North facing volcanic loam await the cute cotyledons that will carry me to botanical ecstacy in the fullness of time. AG or squash matters not, egalitarianistic Aotearoa welcomes all. Our good news is that we have secured a major sponsorship with 'Easy 98 FM' radio station who are giving us major advertising all Sumer and will be MC ing the pumpkinfest as well as the local newspaper who will be pushing hard in the fourth estate. Last year we had 79 pumpkins turn up and now we have tripled our population base so we are hopeful for 150 plus. But first, to make fish pie you must first catch a fish. In this case the fish is a pumpkin so the serious business of growing has begun. The South Island site under the excellent control of Graham and Leeann Smith is all set. Graham will be having his weigh-in on the same afternoon as us so we will be in contact for the great pumpkin of New Zealand. The NZ champ will square off and swap weights with our very good friends in Australia. (Hi Wendy, Hi Tony (sorry about the poem)). I have been busy printing off all the trouble shooting items off the network and will be making up a 'book' that will go out to the N Island growers in time for the Christmas season. Here in NZ, Christmas is the big sumer holiday and nothing happens for weeks after as there are all sorts of public holidays. For my family it will be the usual turkey and lettuce sandwhiches at the beach and a bit of a swim if I can gather the energy. (Perhaps I could make a 'Mighty Mabel' and get to Aussie on the cheap)?? I hope you veterans of the pumpkin patch stay on line as this is my very first try and I will need all the moral support I can get. I will not enter the local comp' as I am the organiser and that would not be Cricket (yes I am really English, or a 'Pom' as Wendy and Tony would say). I am growing one purley for the pleasure of beating Australia and the personal satisfaction of amazing friends and myself at what nature can do. I will undoubtedly keep you posted. Here is hoping you all do well and come back for morewith your weigh-in's in October. Have a 'Parky' day!
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