Late-spring gardening tips and tasks for this November
Summer is on the horizon, so best to get your warm-weather produce blooming. Words: Jane Wrigglesworth Plant passionfruit in a warm, sunny spot, sheltered from winds and frosts. Passionfruit will...
View ArticleHow to render fat
Rendered fat cooling in jars. You can use fresh or frozen fat when rendering. Words: Rebecca Stewart WHAT YOU’LL NEED fresh or frozen fat or fatty meat a slow cooker, roasting dish in the oven or a...
View ArticleThe Pumpkin episode three: The marriage of traditional knowledge and modern...
Introducing The Pumpkin, a podcast devoted to homesteading and permaculture in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Join NZ Lifestyle Block editor Michael Andrew as he connects with inspirational and innovative...
View ArticlePermaculture paradise in coastal Waikato
Words: Michael Andrew In a stunning bush block in coastal Waikato, two young enthusiasts are channelling resilience and innovation to create a thriving hub of permaculture, arts and spirituality....
View ArticleHow to control kikuyu
It’s the undisputed bane of many blocks, smothering pastures and strangling gardens. However, kikuyu can be useful if controlled effectively. Words: Michael Andrew There are few block owners who would...
View Article7 ways to create abundant food production on your block
Rebecca Stewart explores the best ways to maximise food production on the block. Words: Rebecca Stewart With so much attention on the cost of living these days, it’s no wonder more people are becoming...
View ArticleAll of the gardening jobs to get done this December
Get out into the sunshine this December and get stuck into the garden. Words: Jane Wrigglesworth 1. Water celery regularly to ensure stalks remain crisp. Plants will thrive with a fortnightly feed of...
View ArticleA fresh start for a January garden
Start the new year with a thriving garden. Words: Jane Wrigglesworth Harvest passionfruit, nectarines, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, apricots, peaches and plums. If whitefly and aphid numbers...
View ArticleThe Food Farm reap the rewards of the coast
After a busy spring, it sometimes pays to take a break from the farm and head to the coast for its own unique bounty of kai. Words and images: Angela Clifford January is the “top of the mountain”...
View ArticleRebecca Stewart: Following in the footsteps
Rebecca reflects on the struggles of those who lived on their block of land before her family. Words: Rebecca Stewart Images: Summer Stewart As a new year dawns, we have been thinking a lot about...
View ArticleTips for mowing on a slope
Simple tips for safely maintaining a steep area. Words: Michael Andrew In a country like New Zealand, seldom is a farmer or block owner blessed with a tabletop-flat piece of land. In fact, gnarly...
View ArticleA mudbrick home in Golden Bay inspired by Native American and Mediterranean...
Inspired by Pueblo adobe architecture, Mike Rimu built his house out of locally-sourced, light adobe blocks. Adobe houses are valued for their thermal performance and low environmental footprint...
View ArticleFire prevention, done by a New Zealand block expert
Hot, dry weather across the world has shown just how easily wildfires can kindle and spread. Fortunately, some of the best and most cost-effective fire prevention experts can be found on many New...
View ArticleJane Wrigglesworth: A guide to garden arches
These versatile structures not only add a touch of elegance, but also provide a framework for climbing plants. Words: Jane Wrigglesworth Gardens are not just spaces filled with plants. They are places...
View Article8 plants to get through droughts
With water shortages becoming more common, here’s how you can keep your garden alive and thriving during the dry months. Words: Michael Andrew It’s extremely disappointing to see well-tended...
View ArticleA garden checklist for the first signs of autumn
Enjoy the final summer goodies and start to prepare for autumn. Words: Jane Wrigglesworth Continue harvesting chillies, tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums and aubergines, taking note of which annuals have...
View ArticleThe Downward Journey: For the love of soil
Angela Clifford reflects on her almost two-decade journey into soil health, and a a recent workshop with the woman who provided the tools to think differently. Images: Camilla Rutherford When my...
View ArticleThe pest berry with plenty of uses
It may often be viewed as a pest species in New Zealand, but the elder tree has been revered by human beings for millennia for its spiritual and medicinal applications. Words and photos: Felicity Joy...
View ArticleHow to keep a fly invasion under control
With flies mounting their usual late-summer assault on New Zealand’s rural properties, Nelson Lebo shares his tips to stiffen defences with an effective yet affordable homemade fly trap. Words: Nelson...
View ArticleThe Pumpkin episode four: The rise and appeal of homegrown milk
Introducing The Pumpkin, a podcast devoted to homesteading and permaculture in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Join NZ Lifestyle Block editor Michael Andrew as he connects with inspirational and innovative...
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