Banana Growing with Aaron Millar

Aaron Millar took over the helm of Tallyman Bananas (in Bream Bay) from founder Hugh Rose in 2021. Hugh spent years helping to develop the banana industry in Northland and Aaron now continues his legacy. From the beginning, farmers were encouraged to use bananas to offset their carbon footprint and to help with effluent issues and now the demand for the plants and the fruit have continued to grow. Once people eat a locally grown banana they find it hard to go back to the store bought varieties due to the simple fact that the taste is superior than anything imported. Locally grown fruit are more nutrient dense as they have been left to ripen naturally and are spray free.

Bananas are an amazing plant (large amounts of biomass produced from leaves, fibre can be made into cordage, the flower can be used in cooking, and best of all, the bananas are a super food) . There are a number of people growing bananas successfully in the Taranaki region and we hope after this workshop there will be a few more.

What you will learn from Aaron in this half day workshop:-

Banana Anatomy and history

Planting – demonstrating how to plant out a banana circle

Plant maintenance - feeding, thinning out, harvesting

Commercial growing

A delicious, nourishing lunch AND a banana plant is included in the price $125pp. Bookings are essential and only 12 tickets available. For more information contact Maria Lempriere peihanafarm@gmail.com