06/09/2026
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While the hazel nut is the famously useful (and delicious) part, hazel trees have an abundance of uses for humans!
We coppice (cut back to near the ground to encourage fast, straight growth) our hazel grove periodically in order to harvest the wood for use around the garden as supports for other plants, and other structures.
Today we honor the Catkins, the long male flowers of the hazel tree, full of protein-rich pollen. These catkins can be made into a tea which has traditionally be used for winter colds, battered and fried as a snack, or dried and mixed into flour for baking!
*** You are always welcome at the Waitaki Community Gardens, so visit anytime. The pedestrian entrances at both the east and west ends are always open, and the vehicle entrance is open when staff are on site. ***
