Since 2009 we have been practising our example of natural living. Our actions and activities focus on establishing and refining a sustainable, enjoyable and meaningful existence that works with and improves natural systems.
Motivated by the converging problems of environmental degradation, over population, peak oil and climate change, we employ permaculture principals and philosophies to develop resilient living systems with a focus on biological environmental restoration, food production and living in balance with nature.
Learn more about sustainable living and organic gardening, energy efficiency and permaculture design. Explore, discuss and take part in practical, land based activities. We offer a selection of informative and educational activities and workshops for individuals and small groups.
A peaceful holiday retreat surrounded by gardens and native bush. Relax in the hammocks during the sunny days or soak in the fire-bath under the night sky. A cosy cottage on a rainy day with beautiful private views looking out over the beech trees. Get back to nature and unwind while you enjoy the sights and sounds of country-living. A great place for a memorable holiday! Perfect for a romantic honeymoon or anniversary getaway, or a private artist's or writer's retreat.
Per night - $115 for up to 2 guests Additional guests - please enquire (Our accommodation is not suitable for young children)
Come to Blockhill for the day! Bring a picnic and your gumboots. Explore our young food forest, meet the Kune Kune pigs, free-range chooks, and Muscovy ducks. A great place to enjoy the country with the birds and bees. Suitable for groups of 1 - 8 people.
Adults $10 - Children $5 - (Children under 5 yrs - free)
Natural living - seeking a better way to inhabit the earth
Water is the essence of life and as such we need to be thinking about how to make best use of what we have. The most important work we do is to implement solutions for capturing, storing, diverting and infiltrating rainwater and runoff. This helps build soil, nourish crops, prevent erosion, minimise drought and reduce or eliminate irrigation needs. Learn about the art of land shaping for natural rainfall catchment, a practical guide to water harvesting and management. Make the most of the water available, direct surplus water away from wet areas towards dry areas. Use swales and terraces to halt the flow of water and nutrient off the land and allow it infiltrate and hydrate the soil.August 21, 2014waterswalecontour
A food forest includes a diverse range of trees, shrubs, vegetables and vines to grow healthy, organic food in a multi dimensional, functional and interdependent biological system.
This article aims to give you an introductory overview to laying out and creating infiltration swales. The information is based on experience gained during the design and construction of over 40 swales.swaleprocesswaterirrigationhow-to
Latin name PhaceliaDetails Quick and easy to grow, this fantastic bee plant can get up to a meter tall, covered in purple flowers. As it produces a large amount of plant matter it is also useful as green manure or mulch. Produces plenty of seed for next season.Colour PurpleForest layer herbaceousPropigation method Sow directTags purplebeesseedPrice $3.90100 seeds
Latin name Foeniculum vulgareDetails Super easy to grow requiring no care or attention. Grown as part of our food forest conversion process for transitioning from grass.
Produces a lot of biomass in a season.
Deep root system for soil stabilisation and building via organic mater injection.
Flowers loved by beneficial insects.
Seeds harden in autumn and can be used for tea or left to feed the birds and self seed.
Details This leafy plant can grow to a meter and a half with its tall colourful spires of flowers. Being a legume, lupins fix nitrogen in the surrounding soil for use by other plants making them a useful as well as attractive addition to the garden or orchard. They are also a nectar source for bumblebees and other insects.Tags nitrogenlegumeseedLatin name Lupinus polyphyllusColour mixedForest layer herbaceousNitrogen fixer Perennial Propigation method Sow directPrice $3.9030 seeds
Variety PentagonaCommon name Babaco, Mountain Papaya, Champagne FruitLatin name Carica x heilborniiDetails Grown under plastic. Produces large, yellow fruit pentagonal in cross-section.Harvest time SummerForest layer low-treeDiameter 1.00Height (m) 2Flowers Small whiteEdible Evergreen Frost sensitive Fruit / berries Perennial Price $2.90stem cuttingRating
Grafting is the process of adding a known, desirable tree onto existing, growing roots. This can be done for a number of reasons such as having many types of fruit to one tree or influencing the characteristics of the tree such as size, soil requirements and disease resistance.graftfruittrees
Latin name Chamaecytisus palmensisDetails Fast growing, drought resistant nitrogen fixer (legume). This small tree has white flowers which are loved by bees, bumblebees and native pigeon. Grown as a nurse or support tree during the establishment of more long term tree plantings. Useful as a quick canopy / umbrella over citrus, avocados etc. or used as physical scaffold for climbers such as grape, kiwifruit etc. Good firewood from mature trees.
Pour hot water over the seeds and soak for 24 hours before planting into course sand.Nitrogen fixer Perennial Propigation method Sow pot / trayFlowers WhitePrice $3.9030 seeds
Water is the essence of life and as such we need to be thinking about how to make best use of what we have. The most important work we do is to implement solutions for capturing, storing, diverting and infiltrating rainwater and runoff. This helps build soil, nourish crops, prevent erosion, minimise drought and reduce or eliminate irrigation needs. Learn about the art of land shaping for natural rainfall catchment, a practical guide to water harvesting and management. Make the most of the water available, direct surplus water away from wet areas towards dry areas. Use swales and terraces to halt the flow of water and nutrient off the land and allow it infiltrate and hydrate the soil.August 21, 2014waterswalecontour
Climate change predicts a wetter future with more extreme rainfall events for much of New Zealand.
Trapping water in the landscape is a valuable technique for buffering rainfall to later irrigate downhill crops and trees.August 13, 2012climate changeducksrainswale
Read what some of our many guests and visitors have to say
Knowledge tours
Details Students from the Kaikoura Creation Care Study Program spent an afternoon at Blockhill touring and learning about forest gardening, water catchment and other aspects of sustainable land use.Date May 09, 2017Tags education
A student of 'the way'
Kim was studying organic horticulture at the Lincoln BHU and wanted to get some real life experience by helping out in our garden and working on some permaculture projects. Together we collected materials and constructed a decent sized hugelkultur mound.March 15, 2015
Liz and Andy
We couldn't have hoped for a better first WWOOFing experience. It was great to learn about your farming approach, I'm encouraged to try more. Loved the cool fire bath too - a real novelty.Ireland & South AfricaJanuary 14, 2014
Our short stay on Blockhill Farm was the highlight of our NZ holiday. The place was wonderful. Our hosts were generous with their time, knowledge and produce. The food was delicious. The studio accommodation was beyond expectation. Very comfortable and beautiful. Thanks to Olmec and MelisaAustraliaJanuary 02, 2014
Inspiration for the future
We were delighted to host Chris and Sherry for 3 days at the end of their New Zealand adventure. Together we extended garden cover, pruned trees and processed branches into future raised planting beds and discussed the various approaches and techniques for fruit tree propagation.Our visit with you provided exactly the kind of inspiration we were hoping for as we wrap our heads around our own ideas for our future home. Blockhill is a special place and will stand out as a highlight of our travels this year.December 14, 2013
Hitch-hiking through
Ben and Anna spent a productive few days helping around the garden, pruning trees and processing firewood while finding plenty of time to relax and enjoy the food, coffee and comfort.Living out in the wee cabin was a perfectly peaceful and rustic experience. We will remember our time here with the utmost fondness.United StatesOctober 30, 2013
The in-depth experience
Soni & Kyle have the dubious privilege of being the first paying guests to stay with us. We shared an enjoyable two days discussing and exploring our permaculture inspired planting and water catchment systems as well as an introduction to scything.A special thanks for the food, super delicious... also very colourful, loved the use of herbs. May there always be enough water, sunshine and bees to compliment the labour and love you put into the land. Soni & KyleOctober 04, 2013
A day with the bees
Simply appreciate what you've done for us with warm heart. You and your wife are amazing people who live the nature. We have learnt a lot from you. Hope to see you again one day! With a bunch of thanks In Suk & 2 friendsOctober 01, 2013
The work-a-thon
Jules creating some 'dutch fireworks' with the angle grinder. Among (many) other things Jules helped trim back a section of the shed roof so we could install an improved rain catchment system.I have had such an amazing time here the past week! You are such a great young couple full of energy and ideas, which has made the experience loads of fun. -JulesApril 27, 2013
Theo and Marie spent five hot summer days working with us and sharing their French recipes.February 03, 2013
Willi from Germany
Our second WWOOFer, Willi helped out on a large number of jobs despite the frequent rain. Besides all the digging there was tree cutting, rock work, concreting and construction.This is an amazing place for wwoofing. I love the view and the nice bush walks with Olmec. The food from Melisa is awesome! :) -WilliAugust 10, 2012WWOOF
We had our first WWOOFer, a lively young American, who was most helpful. During her stay she helped process a large amount of firewood, puttied the windows in the guest building, organised the workshop and quite a bit more.July 16, 2012
Keith came to stay with us in October and enjoyed sitting in the sunny garden. He also attended a friend's wedding an hour south of Blockhill and got to enjoy the pleasant back country roads of North Canterbury and the scenic Cheviot area.October 31, 2010
A fresh outlook
Jesse spent a weekend with us, escaping from the wind of Wellington. Our approach to life and a soak in the outside bath gave Jesse a new perspective on rural living.September 12, 2010
Of motorcycle and fiddle
Kerry stopped in on her way south, spent a couple of days enjoying the nice autumn weather and entertaining us with her fiddle before packing her motorcycle and continuing on.April 18, 2010VisitorFiddleMotorcycle
Tamara
Tamara visited us as a WWOOFer (Willing worker on organic farms) and spent several days helping out in the garden and cleaning bricks.February 23, 2010WWOOF
It's been a year since Steve stopped in and planted a tree to offset his flight home to New Zealand.
Returning to the new and improved Blockhill, Steve made use of the hammock and stretched his legs with a cycle ride. www.stevemarksphotography.comJanuary 06, 2010Stevevisitor
Emily
Emily came to stay between Christmas and New Year and was able to do a short day trip to the Hot Pools at Hanmer Springs. During her stay at Blockhill she explored down into the gullies of native bush and also got to enjoy the early season plums that had started to ripen in the orchard.December 30, 2009Emilyvisitor
Mason and Samuel enjoy the river and sandpit when they come to visit.masonSamual.mp3November 09, 2009
First internship
Another first for blockhill, hosting an overseas intern / student for 3 months. Zach joined us in September for a deep immersion permaculture internship and learning experience as part of his agronomy studies. As anticipated he participated in a wide range of activities and events.December 19, 2017
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