Troppo Articles

12 Jun

Events and Community Engagement

Protected: Shocking Betrayal: Te Puke’s Community Builder Dismissed Without Thanks

• June 12, 2025
• By Troppo
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My heart aches as I write this, still reeling from the news that Rebecca Larsen, a true champion of Te Puke, has been unceremoniously terminated from her role. A role she poured her heart and soul into for over a decade. No reasons given. No thanks offered. Just an abrupt, cold dismissal that has se...

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10 Jun

Events and Community Engagement, Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz), Te Puke Region Food Co-op

From Kiwifruit to Jackfruit: A Tropical Paradise Blooms at French’s Farm

• June 10, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

French's Farm: A Slice of Tropical Paradise Flourishing in Te Puke   Just a stone's throw from Waitangi, on the verdant fringes of Te Puke, you'll discover a true local treasure: French's Farm. While the Bay of Plenty is globally celebrated for its vibrant green kiwifruit, a visit to Michae...

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03 Jun

Events and Community Engagement, Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Green Thumbs: A Te Puke Community Collaboration

• June 3, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Here in our vibrant Te Puke community, something truly special is taking root. We're witnessing a remarkable surge of enthusiasm among our rangatahi, our young people, for self-sustainability and the incredible potential of epic gardening. This isn't just about planting seeds; it's about nurturing a...

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28 May

Events and Community Engagement

Ditch the Screens, Discover the Wild: Introducing ‘Kids Unplugged’ – A Kiwi Web Series Inspiring Tamariki to Thrive Outdoors

• May 28, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Okay, I've integrated the bio information for Anton and Kylie Steel into the blog post. Here's the revised version: Ditch the Screens, Discover the Wild: Introducing 'Kids Unplugged' – A Kiwi Web Series Inspiring Tamariki to Thrive Outdoors In an age where digital devices seem permanently attach...

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24 May

Events and Community Engagement

A Day of Unity and Joy: Sirens and Services Merivale Celebrates Community and Whānau

• May 24, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

The sun shone brightly on Merivale School, setting the stage for a truly remarkable event: the Sirens and Services Merivale day. This free, family-focused celebration transformed the school into a vibrant hub of connection, learning, and pure enjoyment. Organized by Neighbourhood Support Western Bay...

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18 May

TROPPO's Food Forest in Te Puke, BOP (www.foodforest.org.nz), Troppo's Plant Collection

Battling the Bugs and Boosting Branches: Air Layering My Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa)

• May 18, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Feeling a bit like a wilted houseplant myself lately, caught in that frustrating in-between zone of illness. But even amidst the sniffles and fatigue, the urge to get my hands dirty in the garden persisted! And today, I managed to tackle a project I've been itching to try: air layering my beautiful ...

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14 May

Crop Swap Te Puke region

CROP SWAP TE PUKE – Sunday June 29th

• May 15, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Te Puke gardeners, get ready to swap and share! Join us for Crop Swap Te Puke, a gathering for our community's garden lovers. Bring along your extra treasures from the garden – think seeds, baby plants, delicious produce, homemade preserves, tasty baking, inspiring gardening books, and even your cra...

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09 May

Events and Community Engagement

EPIC Mother’s Day Night Market Te Puke: A Night to Remember

• May 9, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

What a wonderful Mother's Day celebration we had tonight at the EPIC Mother's Day Night Market! It was a truly special evening dedicated to all the amazing mums out there. The atmosphere was fantastic, with everyone indulging in the delicious food on offer and browsing the diverse range of stalls. ...

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30 Apr

Troppo Articles

A Whisper of Wild Freedom: Hope Echoes Through the Kaimanawa Ranges

• April 30, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

If you felt a stirring in your soul this April, a quiet sense of triumph amidst the rugged beauty of the Kaimanawa Ranges, you weren't alone. The latest news from the annual wild horse muster wasn't just a press release; it was a testament to compassion, a vibrant chord struck in the ongoing harmony...

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27 Apr

Te Puke Community Garden

Te Puke Community Garden: Growing Together

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

A Green Heart in Te Puke Established in 2011 by Jenny Utting, the Te Puke Community Garden has blossomed into a cherished community space where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect with nature, learn new skills, and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labor. Jenny’s dedication to ...

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26 Apr

Events and Community Engagement

Epic Te Puke’s Picture-Perfect Easter Trail: A Community Celebration and Economic Boost

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Despite the weather, the Epic Te Puke event was a resounding success, bringing the community together for a day of fun and creativity. Held at Jubilee Park, the Picture Perfect Easter Trail showcased the talent of local photographers along the scenic Te Puke Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway. This free commu...

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25 Apr

Events and Community Engagement

More Than Just a Day Off: Pausing to Remember Anzac Day in Te Puke

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Anzac Day 2025: Te Puke Remembers | A Tribute from Troppo.nz Today, April 25th, 2025, the familiar rhythms of life here in Te Puke take on a different cadence. The usual bustle associated with our orchards and the title of 'Kiwifruit Capital of the World' gives way to a quieter, more reflective atm...

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23 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Cultivating Passionfruit in Te Puke: Tips for Abundant Harvests (Including My Favourite!)

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the lush world of passionfruit growing right here in our beautiful Te Puke! At Troppo.nz, we're passionate about helping you bring the taste of the tropics to your own backyard. Passionfruit, with its vibrant flavour and exotic aroma, thrives in our Bay of Plenty climate, offering the pot...

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22 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Bananas in Your Bay of Plenty Garden

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Dreaming of harvesting your own sweet, creamy bananas right here in the Bay of Plenty? You might be surprised to learn that with a little know-how, this tropical delight can thrive in our beautiful corner of New Zealand! While we're not exactly the tropics, our warm summers and relatively mild winte...

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21 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Growing Avocados Successfully in Te Puke: A Comprehensive Guide

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the ultimate guide for growing luscious, creamy avocados right here in our beautiful Te Puke! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this comprehensive resource from Tropo.nz will walk you through everything you need to know to cultivate your own avocado bounty. Te Puke'...

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20 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

How to Maximize Sunlight in Your Te Puke Garden for Tropical Fruit Production

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome, fellow fruit enthusiasts, to the Troppo.nz blog! Here in sunny Te Puke, we're blessed with a fantastic climate for growing all sorts of delicious tropical and subtropical fruits. But even with our abundant sunshine, understanding how to make the most of it is key to a truly thriving garden ...

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19 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Understanding Te Puke’s Rainfall Patterns for Efficient Irrigation

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the Troppo blog! Here in sunny Te Puke, the heart of kiwifruit country, water is life. Whether you're a seasoned orchardist or just starting out with your own patch, understanding our local rainfall patterns is key to using water wisely and keeping your plants happy and healthy. This post...

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18 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Best Soil Amendments for Te Puke’s Soil Conditions: A Local Guide

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to Troppo.nz, your go-to source for all things growing in our beautiful corner of the world, Te Puke! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting to get your hands dirty, understanding your soil is the first step to a thriving garden or orchard. Here in the Bay of Plenty, we're bless...

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17 Apr

Events and Community Engagement

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PHOTO COMPETITION! RRR – Rescue, Revive, Rehome

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

We know school holidays are all about creating wonderful memories, and who better to share them with than your beloved furry, scaly, or feathered family members? RRR - Rescue, Revive, Rehome is searching for the BEST photo capturing a special moment between you and your animal during these holidays...

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17 Apr

Troppo Articles, TROPPO's Food Forest in Te Puke, BOP (www.foodforest.org.nz)

Cyclone Tam’s Fury Brushes Te Puke: Northern Communities in Our Thoughts

• April 28, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Well, Cyclone Tam has certainly made its presence felt here in Aotearoa! While we in Te Puke haven't borne the brunt of its full force like our whanau up in the Far North, let me tell you, that wind has been something else! For the past day or so, a constant, howling gale has been whipping through ...

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17 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Identifying and Managing Common Pests and Diseases in Te Puke Gardens

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Identifying and Managing Common Pests and Diseases in Te Puke Gardens Welcome to all our fellow green thumbs in beautiful Te Puke! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting to dig in the fertile Bay of Plenty soil, you'll know that along with the joy of watching your plants thrive comes t...

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16 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Choosing the Right Aspect for Your Garden in Te Puke’s Unique Terrain

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Choosing the Right Aspect for Your Garden in Te Puke's Unique Terrain Welcome, fellow green thumbs, to the wonderful world of gardening in Te Puke! Known as the Kiwifruit Capital of the World, this region boasts a rich horticultural heritage and a climate that can support a fantastic array of plant...

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15 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Using Mulch to Regulate Soil Temperature in Te Puke’s Variable Climate

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the Troppo blog! Here in beautiful Te Puke, we know all about the ups and downs of our weather. From scorching summer days to chilly winter nights, our soil can experience quite a temperature rollercoaster. But there's a simple yet incredibly effective tool that can help your garden thriv...

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14 Apr

Crop Swap Te Puke region, Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz), Te Puke Community Garden, Te Puke Region Food Co-op, Troppo Articles, TROPPO's Food Forest in Te Puke, BOP (www.foodforest.org.nz)

A Community Building Toolkit for Bay of Plenty, New Zealand: Cultivating Edible Landscapes Together

• April 28, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

1. Introduction: Sowing Seeds for Community Resilience The Vision of Community Food Forests in the Bay of Plenty Community food forests, also referred to as forest gardens, represent a holistic approach to land management that draws inspiration from natural forest ecosystems.1 Unlike conventional ...

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14 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Creating Windbreaks for Delicate Tropical Plants in the Bay of Plenty

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! If you're lucky enough to be growing beautiful, but often delicate, tropical plants here in the stunning Bay of Plenty, you'll know that while our climate is generally kind, the wind can sometimes be a real nuisance. These breezes, while often refreshing for us, can wr...

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14 Apr

Events and Community Engagement, Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz), Troppo Articles, TROPPO's Food Forest in Te Puke, BOP (www.foodforest.org.nz)

Cultivating the Future: Jared’s Food Forest Tour in Rural Te Puke – Inspiring Youth and Kai Resilience

• April 28, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Here at Troppo.nz, we're passionate about showcasing initiatives that build a more sustainable and resilient future for Aotearoa. Our recent collaboration with Jared on a visit to his burgeoning food forest in rural Te Puke was a truly inspiring experience. We witnessed firsthand his dedication to c...

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13 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Supercharging Your Te Puke Harvest: Advanced Techniques for an Extended Growing Season

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

We all love the bounty of a Te Puke garden, but what if you could push the boundaries and enjoy fresh produce even longer? Building on our previous tips, this post dives into more advanced techniques, including grow tents, heat mats, in-soil heating, and the crucial element of experimentation, to tr...

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12 Apr

Troppo Articles

Growing Tropical Plants in NZ: 100 Fascinating Facts You Need to Know

• April 12, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Here are 100 unique and interesting facts about growing tropical plants in New Zealand: New Zealand's Northland region boasts the warmest average temperatures, making it ideal for many tropical species. The Kermadec Islands, despite being part of NZ, experience a truly tropical climate unlik...

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12 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Permaculture Principles for a Thriving Home Garden in Bay of Plenty

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the wonderful world of permaculture gardening! Here at Troppo.nz, we believe that creating a flourishing and productive home garden in our beautiful Bay of Plenty doesn't have to be complicated. Permaculture offers a simple, yet powerful, set of principles that work with nature, not again...

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11 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Creating Your Own Urban Food Forest in Te Puke, NZ: A Step-by-Step Guide

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Imagine stepping out your back door and into a lush, edible paradise. A place where fruit trees, berry bushes, and useful herbs grow in harmony, providing fresh, nutritious food right at your fingertips. This isn't a far-off dream – it's the reality of an urban food forest, and you can create one ri...

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10 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Designing a Low-Maintenance Food Forest: Tips for Te Puke’s Climate

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! For those of us lucky enough to call the beautiful Bay of Plenty home, particularly the fertile lands around Te Puke, the idea of a thriving, edible garden is often top of mind. But who has endless hours to dedicate to weeding, watering, and pest control? The good news...

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09 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Integrating Native Plants into Your Urban Food Forest for Enhanced Biodiversity

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! Today, we're diving into a fantastic way to make your urban food forest even more vibrant and beneficial: by weaving in some of our amazing native New Zealand plants. You might be thinking, "Food forest? Native plants? Do they even go together?" The answer is a resound...

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08 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

The Benefits of Guild Planting in a Small Urban Space

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

(Featured on www.troppo.nz) Living in a town or city often means limited space for gardening. You might have a tiny backyard, a balcony, or just a few pots on a windowsill. But even with these small areas, you can create a thriving and productive mini-ecosystem using a clever technique called guild...

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07 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

How to Build a Vertical Food Forest for Limited Space in Te Puke

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Living in beautiful Te Puke often means enjoying the outdoors, but what if you have limited garden space and still dream of fresh, homegrown produce? The answer might just be a vertical food forest! This innovative gardening technique allows you to grow a surprising amount of food in a small footpri...

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07 Apr

Events and Community Engagement

Join the Fun on the Kids Kai Trail at the Flavours of Plenty Festival!

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

This year, the Kids Kai Trail was a big hit at the Flavours of Plenty Festival in Te Puke! It was a day packed with fun, learning, and hands-on activities for kids. From exploring bees to planting in community gardens and even learning how to make their own pizza sauce, the day was full of exciting ...

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06 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Understanding Soil Health in a Permaculture Garden: Te Puke Edition

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome, fellow green thumbs and aspiring permaculturists! Here at Troppo.nz, we’re passionate about creating thriving, resilient gardens that work with nature, not against it. And at the heart of a successful permaculture system lies one crucial element: healthy soil. Especially here in our beauti...

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05 Apr

Events and Community Engagement

Te Puke Community Rallies Together for Mum’s Cancer Treatment: A Heartwarming Movie Night Fundraiser

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

In September 2023, 46-year-old Sarena Crane, a devoted mother from Tauranga, started noticing troubling symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, and discomfort. Initially, these symptoms were attributed to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or endometriosis, but further testing soon revealed a far more serio...

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05 Apr

Events and Community Engagement

🌿 Bay of Plenty Orchid Show Blooms Bright in Rainy Te Puke

• April 27, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

The Bay of Plenty Orchid Society hosted its annual orchid show over the weekend at the Te Puke Memorial Hall. The event took place on Friday and Saturday, running from 10am to 4pm each day. Visitors enjoyed a stunning variety of orchid displays presented by both the Bay of Plenty Orchid Society and...

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05 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Rainwater Harvesting for Sustainable Food Forests in Bay of Plenty: Including the Smart Use of Recycled IBCs

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to Troppo.nz! Here in the fertile Bay of Plenty, we’re often blessed with ample rainfall. But are we truly capitalizing on this natural gift, especially when it comes to nurturing our thriving food forests? Rainwater harvesting offers a clever and sustainable method to hydrate your edible la...

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04 Apr

Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Composting Secrets for a Nutrient-Rich Food Forest in Your Backyard

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Imagine stepping into your backyard and being greeted by a thriving food forest – lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and the promise of delicious, homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It sounds like a dream, right? Well, one of the biggest secrets to making this dream a reality lies right under you...

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