Diane Coleman is a 2013 ERWA Entrant

Diane Coleman was announced the Supreme Winner of the Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Women Awards on 23 May 2013. She is also the Love of the Land category winner (sponsored by Agrisea).

Her business is based 20km north of Rotorua in the small community of Kaharoa. Treeline Native Nursery grows and supplies native trees, shrubs and grasses for revegetation and ornamental purposes. Established in 1996, in its first 12 years of operation production grew from 10,000 trees to 300,000 produced and sold.

An essential part of the nursery production is seed collection, and eco-sourcing seed has become a major factor in customer requirements. Diane travels through BoP and Waikato, contacting farmers for this task. The nursery’s location at 419m above sea level ensures plants are hardy and relatively pest free.

An interesting development over the last three years has been joining a bio-dynamic group and exploring planting by the moon, using an old Allied Farmers Co-op lunar calendar, which has streamlined the company’s propagation with surprisingly good results. Plants are supplied in bulk to councils, farmers, landscapers, developers and the home gardener.

You can view Treeline Native Nursery’s catalogue and learn more by visiting its website.

Check back here often to see the latest updates on Diane, including videos and stories from around the web.

Stuff.co.nz, Grower ignored downturn

Rural TV (NZ) produced two videos of Diane. Watch her category win acceptance speech. Watch her interview as the Supreme Winner.

SunLive, Rural woman winner