Kia ora

Ngā mihi o Matariki.

This is our second Toru Education newsletter in our new form for you to read during these cold winter months, with our fires alight, sipping hot drinks, and tucked away reading books.

This is a time of feeling gratitude for the harvest and sharing the bounty, it is a time of slowing down, remembrance, joy, and peace.

Forest School families came together at Rangitumau, north of Masterton, for a lantern parade to celebrate the solstice. We came together the week before at New Forest to make the lanterns, the anticipation leading up to the festival is such a special time for children.

The evening was full of wonder, singing, following the windy fairy light lit track to the centre, where they listened to a Winter story. There was soup, bread and a huge bonfire. We felt nourished and our inner light was shining brighter on the darkest night and day.

It was a beautiful way to mark the natural turning of the year, to consider what we need to let go to ground and become compost, and what the next cycle ahead may bring. What needs to die and be let go, so that other things may arrive and flourish?

Our winter garden is producing well, and on the sunny wintery days, we are pruning, propagating cuttings, and potting up self-seeded seedlings. As well as winter garden activities, we are looking forward to some of the learning and togetherness at the upcoming Toru events.

Hella Coenen, for the Toru Education Trust

P.s. If you missed our first newsletter and are confused as to what this is, you can check out our first newsletter here. And if this doesn’t sound like something you are interested in, please unsubscribe here.

Our day of permaculture learning on a 30 year old permaculture property. Seth Rothery reflects on the most recent Toru Trail event at Garry and Emily Williams' place: Hanawera.

Our day started with a cuppa and greeting some new and familiar faces. For me a visit to Gary and Emily’s place is always a special moment as it was the site of so much of my wonderful permaculture learning on the transformational 2021 modular PDC. There is a wonderful write up here for those interested in this style of learning permaculture.

Before long we formed an all ages circle outside to check in with each other and learn a little about where we had all come from, and…

Will be at Garry and Ali Fosters place in Matahiwi, 10km west of Masterton in Wairarapa on Sunday 18th August from 10am - 2pm, including lunch.

Join Garry and Ali Foster and friends for our next Toru Trail event at the old Matahiwi School to explore their 2.4 acre property near Masterton. Hear about their experiences using “crop circles”, no dig gardening, and Food Forest methods.

We have also been given advance access to the gather.rsvp app - designed to help those attending our events share photos and videos in real-time and colaborate afterwards. We will learn more on the day. 

Click below to read more about the Toru Trail event at Matahiwi Forest Garden, and get your tickets.

Highlighting some of the learning opportunities this season. 

Vegetable Fermentation and Sourdough Bread making with Hella

This is a 'hands on' workshop where you will be introduced to making sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, vinegar and sourdough bread.

There are still a few places left for this Sunday 21st... 

What is Capitalism? with Gary Williams

What then is a capitalist economy? What defines it that makes it different from other economic systems?

We will try to answer that question with your help.

Join this fascinating workshop with one of the founders of Toru Permaculture, Gary Williams on August 25th.

Tailor-Make Your Own Apple Trees Workshop

Would you like to learn how to tailor-make your own apple trees and then go home with new trees to plant?

Grafting is surprisingly simple, particularly with apple trees!

The workshop will be held on Sep 1st, but you will need to book by Thursday August 15th at the latest, to order your rootstock.

We have a humble request of you (yes, you!): please share this newsletter with folks who would like to receive it. We would love it to be read by folks right across the lower north island. 

If you like our vision to connect those who want to learn and get involved in their community projects with those creating and hosting beautiful local events please take a moment to forward this newsletter to all your friends and family who you think might be interested AND ask them to sign up to receive it each month. 

And if someone forwarded this newsletter on to you or sent you the link? Are you interested to stay up to date with our events? Would you like us to promote your events (for free)?

Sign up now! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

The talented folks at Happen Films have released a doco about an 85 year old Wairarapa local, Helen Dew, who lives, gardens, and makes a ruckus in her own special way in Carterton. Helen became interested in activism in her 60s and now spends her days decolonising the economy, growing local currencies and making biochar!

Helen’s story will warm the cockles and show you just what an octogenarian changemaker can do! A brilliant way to spend 12 minutes.

This section is for asks and offers from our community (that’s you!) - we expect this section to evolve as we evolve.

This month we don't have any notices! 😢

We would dearly love to promote your asks and offers to our community, if you have one (or two), please relpy to this email and we can include it in our next newsletter, as long as it aligns with our guidelines. 

This newsletter has come into being because we saw a disconnect in our bioregion. We knew there were many great locals with knowledge to share, and some of them were already creating great opportunities for learning, connection and community spirit.

We also saw that many folks didn't know about these amazing opportunities to wānanga together and grow connections in their own back yards. 

To address these needs, we have started with a few interconnected 'small and slow solutions': our new website to host and promote events (among other things), our series of Toru Trail events across our focus area of Kāpiti, Te Whanganui-a-Tara - Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, as well as this monthly newsletter tying it all together and telling the story. 

If you resonate with our vision, we would love you to be involved, this can be in many ways!  

- Please share the good news far and wide, Sharing really is caring, and we want to find our people!

- Do you have an event or educational opportunity? - check out our guidelines and if it fits in with our kaupapa, then sign up and list your event with us! We are promoting local events for free.

- Join one of our events! Learn with us and our partner organisations. Invite a friend along and learn together.

- Do you have ideas for us? Reply to this newsletter or email us at info@toru.nz with your bright spark!

The Toru Newsletter

Is still evolving, but aims to provide information on:

• Toru events (see below)
• Events by individuals/organisation aligned with Toru values. Add an event here!
• Links to resources or topics of interest to folks learning and growing in our region.
• ‘Notice board’ for the evolving community (offers and requests). Find our first one below.

Toru Events:

Two types of Toru events have evolved:

1. Toru Trail site visits: Monthly visits to different people's places where the host shares their story/vision, passion, skills and experience.

2. Toru Workshops: Covering a specific topic in more depth, practically and theoretically, responding to requests

These events reflect our Toru goals: To provide enjoyable and accessible practical learning experiences that connect folk in the wider Wellington region who care for people, planet and spirit and wish for sustainable lifestyles.

What would you like to learn at a Toru Workshop? Reply to this email to let us know directly.