blockhill - forest garden experience & education

North Canterbury

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Mila & Mattia

Mila & Mattia

Plenty of energy and enthusiasm for permiculture, Mila & Mattia spent a week of hot summer days helping out in the garden, pruning and mulching and building another Hugelkultur / log mound garden.
If you are looking for a place where you would like to learn about permaculture and sustainable life.. Don't miss Blockhill and, of course, Olmec and Melisa. We did different tasks every day and they are really open to explain everything to you. They are very kind, friendly and knowledgeable. They have very delicious and fresh vegetables and fruits. Sweet animals. The accommodation is beautiful and very clean. We had very good time at Blockhill. Was a real woofing, a real exchange.. Give and receive. So, the only think we can say is Thank you to save our world building an alternative and working life stile. Beautiful project! Big hug for both of you!!
Italy
February 23, 2019
  intern  work  wwoof  garden  exchange 
Hollyhock Seeds

Hollyhock Seeds

Flowers   Pink / dark red
Botanical name   Alcea rosea
Details   Easily grown in most soils and climate with plants reaching up to 2 meters tall. Large bright flowers over an extended period, loved by bees. Produces masses of big seeds.
Tags     annual  flowers  pink  red 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Perennial multiplying leek plants

Perennial multiplying leek plants

Common name   Perennial leeks, Multiplier leeks, Perpetual leeks
Details   Easy to grow leek or spring onion substitute that will, once well established and managed, supply a constant supply of fresh leeks. Plants develop new baby leeks around the base. Just pull out the largest, central leek to eat and leave the rest to develop or replant space out the young ones if required.
Edible  
Perennial  
Tags     vegetable  perennial 
Price   $9.90  20 small leeks
Watch Out of stock
False Indigo Seeds

False Indigo Seeds

Botanical name   Amorpha fruticosa
Details   Purple flowering large shrub to small tree growing to 4 meters. Amorphous fruticosa is a deciduous nitrogen fixing shrub in the legume family. Found wild in most of the contiguous United States, southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico and introduced to Europe. Asia and other continents. It is often cultivated as an ornamental plant. It has minor edible use and some additional uses including: Bedding; Dye; Insecticide; Oil; Repellent; Shelterbelt; and Soil stabilization. Common names, including desert false indigo, false indigo-bush, and bastard indigobush.
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  N fixer  purple 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Large fruited thornless hawthorn seeds

Large fruited thornless hawthorn seeds

Common name   Chinese Hawthorn
Botanical name   Crataegus pinnatifida
Details   A deciduous tree or shrub that can grow to heights of 5-10meters. Grown widely in China for its edible red fruits, these seed come from a tree planted in 2013. This specimen is thornless and produces large quantities of big dark red fruit after white flowers. This is the only type of hawthorn we grow and there are no wild ones in close proximity (that I am aware of) so seed should be pure.
Tags     berries  deciduous  edible  fruit  perennial 
Price   $4.20  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Aronia Melanocarpa Seeds

Aronia Melanocarpa Seeds

Common name   Black Chokeberry
Botanical name   Aronia Melanocarpa
Details   Most commonly found in wet woods and swamps, however it grows and fruits acceptably in an elevated location in North Canterbury. Seeds from bushes planted in 2016
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Tags     berries  edible  perennial 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Learn More  Order
Cape gooseberry seeds

Cape gooseberry seeds

Common name   goldenberry, ground cherry
Botanical name   Physalis peruviana
Details   Easily grown in warm climate, this unruly plants can get quite large and produce masses of small yellow / orange fruits a bit like cherry tomatoes, in papery cases. Frequently self seeds in areas where it has grown previously.
Edible  
Frost sensitive  
Fruit / berries  
Tags     berries  edible 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Learn More  Order
Collecting, storing and posting scion wood

Collecting, storing and posting scion wood

Collection
Scion wood is collected during the dormant season from shoots that grew the previous year. In North Canterbury that is June - July. Vigorous growth of at least a 30 centimetres make the best scions. Water sprouts from up in the tree usually make good straight scions. Do not collect scion wood while it is frozen, and avoid wood that has been damaged by cold.

Storage
After cutting, scions should be tied in bundles, labelled, and stored under moist conditions in a temperature range of 4 to 7c. Bundles wrapped with damp paper towelling, sealed in plastic bags, and placed in a refrigerator store well providing it does not contain apples, pears, or other ethylene gas-generating fruit, as this is reputed to ruin the scion wood. However, wood sealed in plastic bags may not be affected?

Grafting time
Choosing when to graft can be tricky. What you want to be doing is performing the graft when the host tree or rootstock is waking up in the spring and the sap is rising and buds starting to swell, prior to blossom or leaf burst. Generally the grafting proceeds in the same order the trees flower and fruit, but earlier. Starting in mid to late august with almond followed by cherry, plum, peach & nectarine, nashi, pear and finally apple in late September.

At grafting time, cut off and discard the tip and base of the scion. Buds near the tip are often flower buds, and those near the base are often weak buds. The remaining portion of the stem is used to make scions each containing three to five buds.

Direct or Green Grafting
Scions of apple and pear (possibly others?) can be collected and grafted immediately in early spring. Mid August to mid October in North Canterbury

Postage
When we send scions they are bundled and labelled, sealed in a resealable bag with a wad of damp paper.
  grafting 
Olmec Sinclair
Reciprocal roof (self supporting)

Reciprocal roof (self supporting)

The reciprocal frame is a roof structure where each beam both supports and is supported by other beams in the roof structure. A minimum of 3 beams is required to create a reciprocal frame roof. As each beam supports the next in a reciprocal manner no internal support structure is required.  Only the outer end of each beam requires support which will normally be a post used for the wall.  The roof loads are transferred to these posts and in turn to the supporting foundation. The beams can be fabricated from timbers, laminated wood, steel or reinforced concrete. A very inexpensive roof structure can be made from logs.

While building it you need to support the first beam temporarily; when the support is removed the whole structure should neatly lock together.
https://web.archive.org/web/20081227232...
  wood  construction  plans  design  calculator 
Olmec Sinclair
Read More

Winter plant propagation by division

June 30, 2020
Clone or duplicate plants by dividing. May also be useful to reinvigorate or restart aging plants.
The exact process will differ for each species but generally involves digging up part or all of the plant, carefully separating or cutting rooted sections before removing most of the leaf surface area and replanting in new locations. Post care includes watering and weeding as required.

 

Divide and replant bulbs such as daffodil, multiplying leeks
  June   July   August  
  winter  propagation  plants 
View Plant List
2020

2020

Tags     2020 
Willi from Germany

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! :)
-Willi
August 10, 2012
  WWOOF 
Polycultures

Polycultures

The other end of the spectrum from monocultures, polycultures are mixed plantings of various species that work together and may imitate naturally occurring collections.

Unlike monoculture, which is prone to pest and disease, depletes and degrades soil, polycultures are ecosystems in themselves, utilising the balancing and collaborative effects of nature.
November 13, 2011
  Mixed planting  polyculture  permaculture 
olmec
Read More
Grubba the ginger pig

Grubba the ginger pig

Date   October 12, 2014
Tags     pig 
Complexity vs resilience

Complexity vs resilience

Complexity
Modern civilisation is a marvel of complexity. An extensive array of entwined and interdependent systems that, when functioning, deliver something much greater than the parts. Unfortunately, complexity isn’t without its failings and is polar opposite of resilience.

It’s easy, as a member of this complex civilisation, to unconsciously introduce complexity into our own projects. The insidious thing about complexity is that it brings with it ongoing support and maintenance which consumes time and resources and in many cases entices the application of further complexity.

Before embarking on something new it is well worth considering what future commitments are required to ensure its continuance. This can then be weighed against the alternatives of less complex solutions or perhaps the simplest of all, doing nothing.

Resilience
The ability to endure changes in circumstance is highly valuable and often the first casualty of the modern drive for efficiency. The current era is likely to be dominated by change (climactic, social, economic) making resilience an essential component to personal future planning.

From the standpoint of resilience, technology is less of a panacea and a potential millstone.
  complexity  resilience 
olmec
Silver wattle growing madly

Silver wattle growing madly

Planted in 2010, this silver wattle has but put on an impressive amount of height since this photo in mid 2012. Nature only needs the slightest nudge to send it down a path of productivity and abundance.
I noticed fantails use the wattle trees as 'stepping stones' or islands to travel across the open expanse of paddock.
In 2014 the tree is now large enough for an 8 year old to climb.
July 06, 2014
  wattle  acacia  carbon  growth 
olmec
View 3 photos
Rooster

Rooster

Having a rooster offers a number of benefits, if you can overlook the noisy crowing:
  • Helps encourage the chooks to start laying earlier
  • Provides some level of predator protection
  • Creates fertilised eggs if yo want to hatch baby chickens
October 01, 2014
  Rooster 
Star tetrahedron rising in Kaikoura

Star tetrahedron rising in Kaikoura

Details   Constructed from recycled 10mm steel rod as a gift for my mother-in-law.
Date   December 04, 2017
Tags     art  sculpture  kaikoura  tetrahedron  2017 

Trees, trees, trees...

It's getting late in the planting season but we have finally taken delivery of more trees and after several days of planting have them all safely in the ground. Let the growing begin.
August 08, 2012
  trees 
olmec
Read More

Mower madness

Today I attempted to use the mower on the rough grass and blackberries down the back. I got down the track ok and was able to do a pretty good job on the flattest areas but anywhere there was the slightest rise or unevenness it proved useless. Getting back up the track proved challenging with such poor traction. Eventually, after all kinds of runups, digging and pushing I was back in the flat paddock.

Late evening bottled first batch of plum wine and moved next batch from brewing barrel to demijohn. The concoction was super active, bubbling right up through the airlock.
March 03, 2011
  mower  wine 
olmec
Reinventing collapse

Reinventing collapse

I'm not sure how I originally came across the name Dmitri Orlov but I have been a follower of cluborlov.blogspot.com for some time, relishing the dry, dark wit and practical experience Dmitri brings to the collapse narrative.

His no nonsense acceptance of the inevitable outcomes resonates with my own desire to build a lifestyle that is as resillient and self contained as possible: We are actively working to reduce our external inputs and produce as much food as possible while practising useful skills such as sewing, wood working and animal husbandry. I'm even in the process of refurbishing one of the outbuildings should we need to house a psychosocially unstable security expert, although I am hopeful it won't come to that.

While his recently rereleased book, reinventing collapse, focuses on the trajectory of the United States versus the former Soviet Union there are many aspects which relate to some degree to the situation here in New Zealand. To support Dmitri in his efforts I felt compelled to purchase a copy of this book as well the accompanying Tshirt, an essential component for the upcoming summer uniform.
cluborlov.blogspot.com
August 20, 2011
  collapse  Dmitri Orlov  TShirt 
olmec
Chooks are laying again!

Chooks are laying again!

We were beginning to question the commitment of our chooks (and the manhood of our rooster) as the winter egg famine failed to break.

I spent numerous evenings digging the ground to expose worms, collecting sea shells for grit and finally they are away.
August 29, 2010
  Laying  eggs  spring  chooks 
olmec
Home office refit

Home office refit

After almost two years of working out of the previous owners spare bedroom I have finally invested the effort in a thorough refit of my home office.
Considering how many hours of the week are spent in here it makes sense to have a comfortable space that inspires creativity.
May 30, 2011
  office  work  renovation 
olmec
Overview of Improvements
Drying Fruit

Drying Fruit

Another way of dealing with surplus fruit is to dry them in the sun for use over winter.

Use a simple wooden frame with fine mesh / gauze stretched over and then place the cut fruit and put the whole contraption out in the sun.
February 17, 2010
  Fruit  Drying  Preserve  Summer 
olmec
Preserving produce
New Blood

New Blood

As our flock of chickens has been actively breeding for a number of years using offspring roosters we thought it might be time to refresh the gene pool.
Until we 'dispose' of our current rooster the new guy must stay in quarantine to avoid bloodshed.
The friends who gave us this good looking fellow said he is a Rhode island red, for meat and eggs, perfect
July 22, 2011
  Rooster 
olmec
Shed upgrade

Shed upgrade

Details   Progress has been made on the upgrade of our chook and pig shed. The overall objective is to reconfigure the north facing side of the building as under cover growing space that we can rotate the chooks through.
Date   July 31, 2015
Tags     Construction 
Freshly created swale

Freshly created swale

Details   It's never too late to add another swale, it's just a matter of squeezing it in amongst the existing plantings, fences and other obstacles.
The swales not only do a fantastic job of capturing and infiltrating surface runoff during rainy times but also break up the land in interesting and attractive ways.
Date   December 03, 2014
Tags     Swale  Food forest  Water 
Quince root stock for grafting dwarf pear and loquat

Quince root stock for grafting dwarf pear and loquat

Botanical name   Cydonia oblonga
Details   Quinces are used as a root stock for producing dwarf pears, loquat and other quinces.

Root stocks can be created from root suckers, stool bed or seeds from overripe fruit planted in late autumn.
Flowers   White
Forest layer   low-tree
Fruit / berries  
Propagation method   Cutting
Tags     graft  dwarf  fruit tree  pear 
Benefits   The primary benefits are smaller trees that fruit sooner
Negatives   Many cultivars of pear are not directly compatible with quince and require double grafting with a compatible interstock
Pears grafted on quince have shorter lifespan than on seedling grown root stocks
Quince trees are prone to suckering, sending up growth from around the base of the tree and near damaged roots. These can be used as rootstocks.
Variety compatibility
A little bit of wind

A little bit of wind

We had a very windy night with some impressive lightning and thunder. At one point it sounded like the thunder exploded directly above us.... an unfriendly way to be woken up.
Power went out for 36 hours and cellphone / internet for 48.
The tunnel house was somewhat damaged, mostly due to the door coming open or disintegrating.
September 13, 2013
  wind  storm  weather 
olmec
Over the edge

Over the edge

Why did the chicken jump off the cliff? We will never really know for sure. But this morning she was a bit jumpy and a bit edgy...and then she just jumped right over the edge and went flapping and squawking to the blackberries below.
June 01, 2011
  Chicken  Ladder  Cliff 
melisa
Cliff Rescue
Rota and Mowa the kunekune pigs

Rota and Mowa the kunekune pigs

Ready to move to the next level of small scale, high intensity land management, it's pig time.
We picked up a deal with some guy giving away these 6 month old kunekune girls.
Very friendly, seemingly live on grass and hopefully turns the ground for planting.
October 25, 2012
  pig  kunekune 
olmec
PigsRead More
Blue lupin

Blue lupin

Details   Grows well in most locations where it improves soil with organic matter and nitrogen. Bees enjoy the flowers.

Practical Plants
Plants for a future
Common name   Blue lupin
Botanical name   Lupinus angustifolius
Family   Leguminosae
Height (m)   1
Forest layer   herbaceous
Nitrogen fixer  
Propagation method   Sow direct
Tags     Bees 
Flowers   Blue
Rating  
Related info
Seeds

Seeds

Collecting and storing seeds for planting in the seasons ahead is an essential component of gardening.
I have a reasonable assortment of purchased, traded and gathered seeds that was in dire need of a tidy up.
September 19, 2010
  Seeds  Seed Saving 
olmec
A Seed Box
Oranges

Oranges

Details   Somehow we are able to grow oranges out doors without cover. There is good wind protection in place and I have been mulching and fertilising regularly with seaweed and pig manure. The tree looks a lot better and the fruit has improved dramatically as a result.
Evergreen  
Edible  
Flowers  
Frost sensitive  
Fruit / berries  
Height (m)   1
Forest layer   shrub
Tags     orange  citrus 
Related info

The Triplets of blockhill

Of the twelve eggs, only three have successfully hatched.  There are three little fluffy feathered babies...all black like the mother, though they may be from other hens eggs...we aren't too sure. We have put some of the remaining eggs under the speckled hen who has also gone clucky, but it's been a few days now, and no other baby chickens have emerged. So it looks like we have just the three. Hopefully they will survive the ferrets and the cat!
November 10, 2009
  chickens  hatch 
Melisa Sinclair
Construction process

Construction process

Fortunately the skeleton and shell of the building was quite sound and really just needed a few minor alterations before we could run wiring and pipes and close the walls and finish the interior.
  accommodation  sleepout  guest house 
Old iron sides

Old iron sides

The weather boards on the exterior walls of the house were looking tired and required patching in a few places. Also, white was not our favourite colour.
Rather than continue to patch new problems and run on the painting treadmill we decided to go for a more serious and long term solution. After much consideration and deliberation we settled on colour coated corrugated steel. Long lasting, easy to install, made of recycled steel (or can be recycled) and available in a range of non-white colours.
The end result looks good and should last for some time.
July 20, 2013
  progress  house  weather  construction 
olmec
A stylish mail receptacle

A stylish mail receptacle

After two years working through the high priority, biggest benefit projects on the property I am finding time for the less essential tasks, like building a new letterbox. The one we had was fine, a fully functioning, conventional metal mailbox, a little small but did the job.

I felt it was time, being winter with dark idle evenings, to create something more. A letterbox that not only kept the mail dry but also said something... Using offcuts and trimmings I pieced together something that looked and felt a bit more us.
June 15, 2011
  mail  letterbox  wood  carpentry 
olmec
Extra long chicken run

Extra long chicken run

The idea behind this chicken run is to provide the inhabitants with a reasonably large area (21 square meters) while being easy to move and providing adequate protection.

Using odds and ends I was able to construct something that looks like it will do the trick. Read more about materials and construction process.
January 30, 2011
  chicken run  chicken tractor  fertiliser 
olmec
Construction
Friendly kereru regularly visit the orchard

Friendly kereru regularly visit the orchard

Details   Seen sitting here in one of the older plum trees, one of the local wood pidgin helps thin blossoms before flying heavily to the next tree.
Date   September 18, 2014
Tags     kereru  plum  blossoms  orchard  native birds 
Creating a pond

Creating a pond

Having recently purchased Gaias Garden, a book on back yard permaculture, I was inspired to create a water 'feature' to extend the diversity of the local biological system.
This is an unlined pond dug by hand down into the clay and has a water depth of no more than about 40 centimetres when full.
May 29, 2011
  pond  water  frog  fish 
olmec
Progress
Tui

Tui

Today I saw the first Tui as he flew lazily and dipped across the paddock, settling on the tip of a tall pine.

Over the next half an hour or so he explored the gully and I could hear his distinctive voice as he called out, seeking cousins.

I just hope he decides to take up residence and not just pass on through. There is plenty to keep him here, but no mates at present.

UPDATE
For the next week or so, 2 Tuis set up residence in our orchard and could be seen and heard playing noisily. At present (24 Aug) they seem to have gone again. We hope they return.
July 17, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tui_%28bir...
  Bird  Tui  First Sighting 
Bunny time

Bunny time

Having recently returned from a 'round the world' trip. Deschia decided to hang out with us and re-acclimatise.

Deschia is holding a baby rabbit that Gibson caught and was slowly playing to death.

Thanks for bringing us a hammock from Thailand!
December 07, 2009
  Deschia  rabbit 
European hazelnut

European hazelnut

Botanical name   Corylus avellana
Details   Broadly columnar, deciduous. Very edible hazel nuts in March with yellow autumn leaves in April. Make great windbreaks yielding nuts, small poles and rods. Coppice readily.
Wind pollinated (not self fertile)
Frost hardy
Family   Betulaceae
Diameter   3.00
Forest layer   low-tree
Height (m)   5
Jugulone tolerance  
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Soil type   Most (prefers moist)
Wind tolerance   High
Tags     nuts 
Propagation method   Sow pot / tray
Plastic house

Plastic house

Details   Well designed plastic house offers plenty of space for growing exostic and out of season crops
Date   July 30, 2013
Tags     garden 

Good News and Bad News...

Well, the bad news is, I found one of the baby chickens dead this morning. Something ate half of it and left the rest. And whatever it was must have gotten into the crib-house which means it is likely a ferret. It is sad. But somewhat expected. We didn't think all three would necessarily make it to full adulthood. I hope the other two will though!
The good news is, a few days ago I found a nest of 13 eggs! One of the bantams has gone clucky again and has hidden her nest right in the middle of the paddock. We've marked it with a white pole so that we won't step on her. So in another few weeks, we will have more babies!
Update: 12 chickens hatch
November 24, 2009
  bantam  clucky 
Melisa Sinclair
Colours of spring

Colours of spring

Details   A lush time of year, when a lot of good growing gets done and the shape of summer is still around the corner.
Date   October 08, 2017
Tags     2017  October  Spring  Blossom 
View 5 photos
Twelve

Twelve

So, the bantam that was sitting on 13 eggs out in the grass just hatched out 12 chicks.
As these are all from her own eggs they share a resemblance to the mother, all tiny and shades of brown.
December 07, 2009
  chickens  hatch  bantam 
olmec
The King is Dead!

The King is Dead!

This morning the king (rooster) was noted absent from breakfast around 8:30. The discovery a mass of scattered feathers at the far end of the track at 11 made his disappearance more sinister. Was it a plot by the 3 young brothers, to unseat their father as head of the tribe. Or was it some kind of wild animal?
Warning: disturbing images
June 04, 2010
  Rooster  Death  Stoat  Ferret  Pests 
The tragic story...
Bird Safety - The clown cat

Bird Safety - The clown cat

Gibson had been catching an unfortunate number of birds over the winter months (as well as mice which we are greatfull for) so something had to be done.

He doesn't seem to mind his bright 'bird safety' collar.
August 04, 2010
  Gibson  birds 
Vegetable Dinner

Vegetable Dinner

Fresh vegetables from the garden are quickly and easily converted to a tasty meal.
Part 1 - Mashed potato, beetroot, onion and basil
Part 2 - Steamed beetroot and silverbeet leaves and beans
Part 3 - Salad of carrot, peas, radish, pepper and feta
February 23, 2010
  Vegetable  Food  Cooking 
olmec
Medieval

Medieval

An evening of social merriment and music.
We made our way to an interesting party out at port robenson where people dressed medieval and enjoyed a robust meal, drinks, flaming fires and music.
It made me think of something from Alice in Wonderland, a kind of mad hatters tea party as the monk played the trombone, costumes and hats swirled in dance surrounded by Ashley's bizarre décor.
 partyMusic.mp3
July 24, 2011
  Music  party  community  medieval 
olmec
Pruning fruit and nut trees

Pruning fruit and nut trees

Time of year for pruning, and an attempt to improve the shape of the trees for easier picking.

Our orchard has a number of large trees as well as a collection of younger ones, all require attention.
June 16, 2010
  Fruit  Trees  Pruning  Almond 
olmec
Reinventing the parking structure

Reinventing the parking structure

A look at possible urban farming in the post petroleum future, making the most of the situation and thinking about survival.

The voices in the peak oil conversation have made it clear to me that problems with the production and transportation of vegetables will demand more food to be grown closer to the point of consumption - back yards, roof tops, window sills and so on.
Kunstler believes that cities will contract, and those on the coast (exposed to sea level rise) are certainly likely to, as are those that require air conditioning or heating to make the climate bearable.
June 21, 2010
  Urban  Future  Farming 
olmec
Full Article

Shortest day

The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year.
The good news is that it's going to get progressively lighter day by day (until the end of the year).
June 21, 2010
  Winter 
Resurrection

Resurrection

As the number of chooks steadily increases so too does the need for housing.
In attempt to prevent the family of bantams from visiting our garden everyday we decided to resurrect the old shed down the far end of the farm.
Click the photo to see before and after
March 09, 2010
  Chickens  Construction  Renovation 
olmec
View map
Oaks from acorns

Oaks from acorns

Growing oaks from seed using locally collected acorns.
This is a low cost approach to establishing a wood lot from seed. By mowing the thick grass and then scattering the hundreds of acorns and covering with grass mulch.
May 13, 2010
  oak  acorn  seedlings  timber 
olmec
View map
The little fellas

The little fellas

In an attempt to diversify our gene pool and add a touch more variety to our flock we acquired 6 new chooks.

The 3 little english game hens, as seen in the foreground, are cute little midgets and the rooster has a hilarious crow...

Also in the mix, 2 bantams and a lavender arikana.
June 29, 2010
  English Game Hens  Small Chooks   
Of motorcycle and fiddle

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, 2010
  Visitor  Fiddle  Motorcycle 
Portable Electric Chainsaw

Portable Electric Chainsaw

Configuring an electric chainsaw for mobile firewood collection.

Electric chainsaws are light, with no fumes, less noise and fewer complex parts to cause issues.

The problem is they require a fair amount of power, thus limiting their portability.

Check out how to set up a useful system for mobile sawing...
April 27, 2010
  Chainsaw  Electric  Inverter  Firewood 
olmec
Read More
Ride on mower - fossil fuel extravagance

Ride on mower - fossil fuel extravagance

Having no grazing animals leaves us with an abundance of tall grass that is beginning to get out of control in the places where I have not attacked it with the scythe.
Bring on the old mower I 'inherited' from my father. Time will tell if it's a useful tool or a lemon...
December 04, 2010
  grass  mowing  fuel  energy 
olmec
Steve

Steve

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.com
January 06, 2010
  Steve  visitor 
Emily

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, 2009
  Emily  visitor 
Frosty

Frosty

Clear calm winter days usually result in severe frosts. After all the rain and with things still being so damp there has been some impressive ice.
July 11, 2010
  Frost  Winter  Ice 
More Photos
Yurtopian swales

Yurtopian swales

I provide some basic guidance and marked out a short length of swale for Deschia and Daniel. This will infiltrate excess water from their yurt roof into the nearby garden.
May 10, 2013
  yurt  swale  garden  teach 
olmec
The bees are back

The bees are back

This year we have seen an impressive rebound in bee numbers. It is unlikely due to anything we have done but it is wonderful to see them working frantically on all the things we have planted in the last couple of years. So we are helping them in some way.
January 13, 2013
  bees 
olmec
The top swale

The top swale

Finally, after discovering and experimenting with swales for some time, I have rerouted the rainwater from the house roof to a newly created TOP SWALE. The new excavations run in a fairly straight line through the orchard and overflow into the recently reconfigured garden swales.
January 18, 2013
  rain  water  swale 
olmec
Plum Wine

Plum Wine

With an excess of plums and apparently to much spare time, I decided to try and make wine. The process is reasonably simple, so I have high hopes.
No doubt as other fruit come ready I'll be experimenting with other flavours.
January 30, 2010
  Plums  wine  fermentation 
olmec
Process
New garden swale

New garden swale

I still got the swale itch and couldn't stop myself creating a new excavation along the top edge of the garden as a second stage catchment for roof run off. This version has a layer of cardboard that spent a week on the floor under the chook perches.
May 07, 2013
  Swale  garden 
olmec
Farming USA

Farming USA

I listened to a recent edition of the podcast "2 beers with Steve" in which he discusses small scale local agriculture and the failings of mechanised, chemical based industrial farming.

In order to better visualise the rise of the mega farm I put together this graph (click to view larger) that depicts changes to US farming over time.
It would be interesting to get hold of similar statistics for NZ.
http://twobeerswithsteve.libsyn.com/ind...
March 15, 2010
  Farming  History  USA 
olmec
Solstice Gathering

Solstice Gathering

In an attempt to break up the gloomy monotony of the long dark winter months we organised a family get together.
Lots of food, good company and the obligatory bonfire.

The burned circular area has subsequently been dug and mulched in preparation for planting in spring.
July 03, 2010
  Winter  Solstice  Bonfire  Party 
Cherry tree

Cherry tree

The bright autumn colours of the wild cherry tree.
May 10, 2010
  autumn  cherry   
olmec
A hot day at the river

A hot day at the river

When it gets hot it's time for a dip down at the swimming hole. A 5 minute drive down the road to the Leader river for refreshing, clean clear water. Perfect way to cool off.
January 31, 2013
  summer  swimming  river 
olmec
Plums

Plums

A bumper crop of plums this year. We have been eating them, freezing them, giving them away and trading into the community.
With several trees yet to ripen there is no end in sight.
January 08, 2010
  plums  trade  organic fruit  freezing 
Dealing with plums
Lowering the cost of living

Lowering the cost of living

I'm pleased to be able to verify (to myself at least) the lower cost of country living.
This chart is based on 4 years of personal expense figures and shows a 50% reduction in average quarterly living costs.
May 02, 2010
  Economics 
olmec
Read More
Snow in October

Snow in October

After a week of damp and cloudy, the weather reached a wintry climax with flurries of snow and a good dumping up on the hills. The ground was wet and boggy for a few days and the streams gushed noisily.
October 09, 2009
  snow  spring 
Drying Plums

Drying Plums

The plum harvest has started and we are using every technique to preserve and offset some of the bounty.
Drying is one easy, low tech way to save fruit for another day. I made some trays with fine wire mesh that can be hung in the sun.
January 02, 2011
  plums  drying  preserving 
olmec
The way of the swale

The way of the swale

A swale is a permaculture technique designed to improve water catchment and retention on slopes. Applicable to varying scales, a swale is basically a ditch or terrace created along a contour line with the removed soil piled on the downhill side. As rainwater drains down the slope above is is caught and absorbed by the swale. Plantings made along the swale will have access to additional moisture for extended period.

My first attempt at a small swale follows the contour line on a northwest facing slope below an existing track. Because of the small size I was able to dig this by hand over 2 periods, using an A-frame level. Over the course of the next few months we will be scattering the kitchen scraps along the length for the chooks to work over, adding their manure and nutrients from the kitchen. Finally it will be planted up in a variety of different plants from ground covers, bulbs and shrubs to fruit and firewood trees.
June 12, 2011
  swale  earthworks  rain water 
olmec

Only so many hours in the day

A recent trip to Christchurch took me past Southern Woods tree nursery so I had to buy something. Today I planted out the 5 blueberries (3 varieties) and picked out locations for the 2 fejoa bushes.

The tree felling neighbour offered me the slash and pine cones from recent trees he chopped down so we ended up with 2 trailer loads of pine for winter. And it only travelled a couple of hundred meters.

Pruned one of the olive trees, more for cosmetic reason than to improve the yield.

Melisa put a lot of time into the latest chicken run and got it to a point where we could add the chooks.

Put some silicone sealant on a leaking joint in the solar water heater (so much for zero maintenance)
March 12, 2010
  blueberries  pruning  firewood 
olmec

Run off swale for pigs and ducks

Details   6 years on - Basic land shaping to capture roof water from a nearby shed provides nutrient rich passive irrigation for food forest down slope while also creating enjoyable habitat for resident ducks and pigs. Plantings include water loving natives that offer wind and frost protection to climbing vines and citrus.
Tags     2018  February  Progress 

Inverted spiral

Details   Combining the popular parmaculture herb spiral concept and the desire to squeeze the maximum amount of edge into a given space, this excavated spiral will serve as an in ground water catchment feature and plant based sun trap with additional aspects such as shaped earth seating and potential fire 'pit'
Date   May 24, 2015
Tags     earthworks  spiral  construction  water 
View 5 photos
Building water catchment swales with a tractor

Building water catchment swales with a tractor

For those with a tractor, plough and simple drag blade, making large scale swales does not necessarily require employing contractors with heavy earth moving equipment. For the cost of the fuel and your time you can quickly add these simple water harvesting and infiltration systems to your land.
  swale  tractor  water 
olmec
Hot dry summer

Hot dry summer

Details   Early January and things are starting to look and feel dry
Date   January 07, 2015
Tags     summer 

Earthquake repairs

Details   Another project that can finally be crossed off the to-do list. The earthquake in November 2016 caused cracking in the brick wall behind our fireplace. While it was still standing and looked ok we were not happy about having this unstable stack of bricks there waiting to come down. I decided to remove most of them before another quake brought them down and caused damage to the hot water pipes that passed through to the log burner. It also allowed for the insulation of these pipes which had foolishly never been done in the first place.
The project required carefully chiselling the bricks apart and reducing he height of the wall to a satisfactory level. Than a concrete bond beam was poured, encasing the top layer of bricks, locking it all together. Finally, after adding some additional timber framing the opening was covered by mini corrugated sheet metal.
Date   March 18, 2017
Tags     construction 
View 3 photos
Perennial Brassica from the forest garden

Perennial Brassica from the forest garden

Details   Having freed ourselves of the expectation of eating vegetables that resemble the unnatural size and uniformity of those found in the supermarket we have reduced our efforts and disappointments in the garden. Perennial brassica are one way that we produce more food with less work. Foraged fresh from the surrounding landscape, these baby broccoli heads (flowers) are tasty and tender.
Date   September 03, 2019
Tags     2019  September  Perennial  Vegetable 
The brazier

The brazier

Details   Both a focal point for outdoor gathering and warmth with perhaps the option for grilling, frying, toasting etc. Constructed from welded metal fencing standards held within a circular 'collar' made from the cut down wheel of an old sheep shearing machine. Located at the focal point of the outdoor spiral.
Date   September 04, 2016
Tags     fire 
Related info
Multi function pruning

Multi function pruning

Details   It's summer and dry. The pigs are unhappy due to lack of fresh green grass. We are supplementing their diet with purchased grains but found they enjoy fresh prunings from various trees.

We combine the chore of summer pruning fruit trees with a treat for the pigs and have found they love to eat most stone and pip fruit leaves as well as grape and willow.
Date   March 21, 2021
Tags     2021  pig  summer 

Sprawling forest garden in the making

Details   6 years on - Working from an open expanse of grass we are well on the way to a productive forest garden filled with interesting, edible and useful plants. The challenge here was getting wind shelter established, this has reduced moisture loss while contributing valuable biomass and soil improvement, shade and habitat for birds and insects.
Tags     2017  October  Progress 
Yellow bush / tree lupine seeds

Yellow bush / tree lupine seeds

Botanical name   Lupinus arboreus
Details   A fast growing woody lupine with yellow flowers and a sweet scent. Grows well in poor quality soil and makes a good source of biomass and quick low growing shelter and habitat. Short lived perennial bush or shrub that grows in poor conditions. Nitrogen fixing
Evergreen  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  N fixer  shrub  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Windows (repair)

Windows (repair)

I discovered some dry rot in the corner of our bedroom window. Being unskilled in the arts of building and carpentry, I put off dealing with it for as long as I could.
Finally I got the courage to pull the rotten bits out and create replacement elements.
May 10, 2010
  Window  repair  building 
olmec
Visit from Tree Crops North Canterbury

Visit from Tree Crops North Canterbury

Details   We enjoyed a hot and sunny afternoon touring 11 people from the North Canterbury Tree Crops group. I think our alternative and rather unorthodox approach and philosophies were quite an eye opener for most of them...
Date   November 04, 2017
Tags     education  trees 
Butterfly weed

Butterfly weed

Details   A species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to 0.3–1 metre tall, with clustered orange or yellow flowers from early summer to early autumn.
Common name   Pleurisy Root, Butterfly milkweed, Rolfs' milkweed, Indian Paintbrush
Botanical name   Asclepias tuberosa
Family   Asclepiadaceae
Height (m)   0.3–1
Diameter   0.50
Forest layer   herbaceous
Perennial  
Propagation method   Sow pot / tray
Shade / Sun   Full sun - part shade
Flowers   Orange
Tags     butterfly 
Read More
Autumn bounty

Autumn bounty

It's harvest time and wine is brewing. This year we got our first real crop of pumpkins, a few of which are pictured here. Also, impressive grape production resulted in 4 litres (7kg) of fermented fruit and an equal amount of cider. Winter is shaping up to be tasty.
May 18, 2013
  autumn  wine  pumpkin 
olmec
Rejuvenating a garden fork

Rejuvenating a garden fork

I recently uncovered the head off an old garden fork. It was badly rusted but was a nice size so I decided to make a handle and put it to work in the garden.
September 10, 2009
   
Step by step
Mouse trappin'

Mouse trappin'

With this year being a mast year for native beech trees there have been an epic number of mice about.
I've lost count of how many we (and the cat) have caught. I have even witnessed the chooks chase down and eat a couple that I disturbed in a grass pile.
May 10, 2010
  Mouse  Mice  Traps  Mast Year 
olmec
Summer Flavours

Summer Flavours

Details   Now is the time of year when the hard work in the garden is recovered. All the planting, weeding and watering has been converted into tasty veges.
Date   December 30, 2009
Tags      
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The cube

The cube

My micro glasshouse constructed out of 5 windows.
With an opening front and lid it provides an ideal (small) space protected from wind and extreme cold.
January 01, 2010
  Glasshouse 
olmec
Read More
Flavour of the day - Raspberry

Flavour of the day - Raspberry

Details   Over the past few weeks we've been getting the odd handful of berries off our small patch of raspberry canes.
Today I noticed they were dripping with fruit. Some so ripe they fell off as I brushed past the plant.
It's going to be raspberries and ice-cream for desert.
Date   March 08, 2010
Tags     Raspberry  Berries  Cane Fruit 
Read More
3 years old food forest

3 years old food forest

Details   This photos shows a young area of planting where pigs and chickens roam free. Largest trees are tagasaste, alder and almond at around 3m. An assortment of fruit trees about 2-3 meters including peach, apricot, apple, cherry. Some black currants and an assortment of flowers and herbs. Additional wind protection and nitrogen fixation from acacia (tasmanian black wood) and cape broom.
Date   November 27, 2014
Tags     food forest 
View panorama
Garden expansion

Garden expansion

We discovered we need more garden area if we wish to grow sufficient volumes of potatoes to see us through the year. As a result I have spent a number of evenings out in the paddock with a shovel, turning over earth and laying compost and mulch.
I have tried a variety of soil amendments including growing lupins, sheep manure from the neighbors shed and cleanings from the chook house.
June 03, 2010
  Garden 
olmec
Read More

Summer 2021

Details   Our eleventh summer and things have been growing well. Here is an overview of how it looks now with some recent drone footage
Date   February 28, 2021
Tags     summer  2021  video 
Related info
Sea Buckthorn / Sea Berry seeds

Sea Buckthorn / Sea Berry seeds

Botanical name   Hippophae rhamnoides
Details   Supply update September 2021 - This seed will be unavailable for the foreseeable future as our last 2 shipments were destroyed by border biosecurity due to improper packaging by the supplier. Our own plants are unlikely to be producing viable seed for another season or 2. Check back here in autumn 2022.
Drought tolerance  
Edible  
Evergreen  
Fruit / berries  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     perennial  tree  berry  health 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Watch Related info Out of stock
Baking apples with waste heat

Baking apples with waste heat

Details   With the recent installation of the chimney oven we have been looking for things to bake and roast. The last of the granny smith apples chopped, drizzled with honey, a scattering of frozen blackberries and a splash of water. Fantastic.
Date   July 20, 2017
Harvest      
Tags     apple  july  winter  baking 
Related info
Spring in the 'forest'

Spring in the 'forest'

Spring is here again and this almond is putting on a show. Planted just 3 years ago, this is the second year it has produced a crop. Looking forward to it. Also in the photo is Dmitry the muscovy.
August 27, 2013
  spring  food forest  duck 
olmec
Long lasting tree identification labels

Long lasting tree identification labels

While I have a detailed planting map in the computer, it is useful to be able to identify trees out in the real world so I made these metal name tags using sheet aluminium. The names are stamped out using individual letter stamp / punches.
September 09, 2013
  tree  technology 
olmec
Production has started

Production has started

It's high summer in 2012 and we have had a pretty good crop of nectarines from the 2 grafted trees and I was surprised to see a couple of almonds on the seedling tree. It is only 3 years old!
The food forest area looks completely different now with all the sweet broom (nitrogen fixing small shrubs) and the primary swale feeding nutrient rich water down to the fruit and nut trees.
December 07, 2012
  summer  food forest 
olmec

9 years anniversary

Details   Our yearly ritual of dressing in aged wedding attire and making a photo shoot to mark the passing of time. This year we had the assistance of intern, Zach, behind the camera to make things more creative.
Date   November 01, 2017
Tags     anniversary  wedding  spring  2017 
View 3 photos
Eating Meat

Eating Meat

We decided to cook our young rooster since he was eating plenty and not making any eggs.
He was about 6 months old, one of our first set of baby chickens.
Follow my easy steps for killing, plucking, gutting and cooking.
April 06, 2010
  Chooks  meat  butchering 
olmec
Instructions
Braeburn Apple

Braeburn Apple

Details   This New Zealand apple is now one the world’s top commercial selections. It has delicious, crisp, juicy flesh and superb sweet-tart flavour with a noticeably aromatic aftertaste. Excellent keeper. Late season. Requires 700 chilling hours to set fruit. Spur bearing.

Located in a damp spot and surrounded by twitch grass, the ground under tree has proven more difficult to control. Currently there is rhubarb, chives, strawberry and some self sown mustards.... and quite a bit of grass.
Date   September 01, 2002
Height (m)   2
Tags     apple 
View map Related info
Lettuce inside and out

Lettuce inside and out

Details   One of the first things we started growing in the new tunnel house was some transplanted red lettuce that had been growing nearby.

It is simply amazing to see how different the two sets of plants are. Those that remained outside have hardly grown at all while those inside the warm humid tunnel house are ready to eat.

Listening to someone discussing this phenomenon recently and it sounds like the plants generate their pigments in response to UV light, of which there is less under plastic.
Date   September 18, 2010
Tags     Lettuce  Tunnel house 
Compare
Strawberries

Strawberries

I love this time of year because finally, after the dormancy of winter, the taste of summer becomes evident.
We got a bumper first crop of strawberries (it's still going). All I did was apply some wood ash around the plants when they started flowering, it seems to have helped...
November 30, 2010
  Strawberries 
olmec
Read More
New season potatoes

New season potatoes

We've been waiting, patiently, and finally the potatoes are ready. Here is a selection of freshly dug and washed spuds ready for cooking. The purple ones are a Maori variety.
January 01, 2011
  potato 
olmec
Read More
Got 'matos precious?

Got 'matos precious?

Our tomatoes are out of control, a huge improvement over last year.

We have a bunch of different varieties but the most prolific by far are the roma. Last year a lot of these ended up in the compost and subsequently sprung up all over the garden. Unable to bring myself to pull them out we are now drowning in tomatoes.
February 19, 2011
  tomato  preserve  stew 
olmec
Processing
Cucumbers

Cucumbers

Details   We are finally starting to get some cucumbers out of the tunnel house. Things have been growing like crazy in there, to the point where access is almost impossible.
However, having only one opening prevents airflow making the temperature too high and reducing bees, required for pollination. As a result, yields have been low.
Modifications are in order....
Date   March 05, 2011
Tags     cucumber  vegetable  tunnel house 
Read More
Black Turtle Beans

Black Turtle Beans

Four months ago I planted a small handful of beans in an area of about six square meters.

Now they are ready to pick and I have gathered in at least 30 - 40 times what I planted.

This has got to be one of the best and easy to measure returns on effort expended.
March 20, 2011
  beans  black turtle  harvest 
olmec
Read More
Harvesting Potatoes

Harvesting Potatoes

I have been digging potatoes, clearing ground for winter improvements and mulching.

6 of the bigger plants that had been in since late September (209 days) resulted in this assortment of spuds, drying inside before going into storage.
April 25, 2011
  Potatoes  Drying  Harvest 
olmec
Read More
Measuring the sun

Measuring the sun

As part of my ambition to get a solar electric system up and running I have been conducting some tests.

My interest is in the effect of the suns angle to the panel array and the relationship to voltage. While there are probably some models put there, I have not seen any and find that actual experience is much more convincing and reliable.

My observations will influence my decision to include tracking capabilities to my solar installation.

Notice the clever little rod below the panels whose shadow (or lack of) can be used to determine if it is pointed directly at the sun.
May 18, 2011
  solar  electric  measure  photovoltaics 
olmec
Knowledge tours

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, 2017
Tags     education 
Cheers!

Cheers!

Improving the quality of seating with a dash of paint and reusing surplus materials.

Now with wheels!
January 20, 2011
  chairs 
olmec
Read More
Bee swarm

Bee swarm

It started with a few bees buzzing around the corner of the house and quickly turned into several thousand.
Hoping to prevent their entry into the roof cavity I blocked up the small hole they had discovered and tried to forget about it. They wouldn't give up.
November 19, 2010
  bees  swarm  insects 
olmec
Read More
The bees and the bees

The bees and the bees

With the invasion of the varroa bee mite there has been a reduction in the number of nearby hives (both wild and domestic).

I was surprised and relieved to witness a large number of bumble and honey bees servicing the apricot tree.

This photos shows one of the more wild bees. Notice the dark colouring, where 'normal' bees are orange an black striped.
September 05, 2011
  pollination  bees  blossoms  fruit  apricot  orchard 
olmec
Blossoms before the storm

Blossoms before the storm

Spring blossoms on the plum tree before an approaching storm.
August 20, 2010
  Spring  Blossoms 
olmec
Russell Lupin Seeds

Russell Lupin Seeds

Colour   mixed
Botanical name   Lupinus polyphyllus
Details   This leafy plant can grow to a meter and a half with its tall colourful spires of flowers which are a nectar source for bumblebees and other insects. 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.
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  N fixer  perennial  pink  purple  white  yellow 
Price   $3.20  20 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Finding the eggs

Finding the eggs

A number of hens have gone clucky, it's that time of year again. Locating the outdoor nests is always a challenge as not only are they well hidden the hens are careful to come and go unnoticed.

Today's nest has 15 eggs slowly turning into 15 tasty chickens.
September 26, 2010
  Bantam  Nest  Clucky  Chicken  Eggs 
Earth moving

Earth moving

Today we had the digger come and lay come cables and pipes. As part of the general improvement project we had a number of small jobs that man and a machine could do so much faster than a man alone.

Unfortunately, now there is a big mess of clay and chewed up grass....
October 12, 2011
  Electricity  Digging 
olmec
Getting older, in style

Getting older, in style

Something of a ritual, we recognised our third wedding anniversary by once again squeezing into our costumes and making a photo for the record.

November is a good time for this with so much vibrant growth and bloom.
November 01, 2011
  anniversary  wedding  ageing  2011 
olmec
little chickens

little chickens

The little bantams have arrived. There are 15 in total: 7 from one mother and 8 from the other. We have put both groups in the same chookhouse. So they have gotten all mixed together and it seems there is a favourite mother. She has 11 at the moment, and the other only has 4. I suppose they will keep swapping and sharing babies.
October 13, 2010
  Chickens  Video  Spring 
Melisa Sinclair
Watch the video
Melting Beeswax

Melting Beeswax

I hate to see anything go to waste so with the fire going to heat the bath I remembered the deserted beehive with the exposed comb.

Crushed up and sitting in an iron pot near the fire it slowly melts down. Once I have skimmed off the impurities perhaps I can make a candle...
November 11, 2011
  bees  wax  fire 
olmec
Chopping the clucky chook for dinner

Chopping the clucky chook for dinner

So, our chooks have started going clucky (broody) on us again. That means fewer eggs and the usual dramas of trying to get them 'unclucked'. Since we have been considering downscaling our operation due to the excess of eggs and the damage caused in the garden by the aggressively scratching fowls it seemed like an opportunity to have a chicken dinner.
January 24, 2011
  cook  eat  kill  clucky  broody  hen  chook 
olmec
Full Story
Spinning with the wind

Spinning with the wind

Experimenting with vertical axis wind energy harvesting mechanisms.
Using old bicycle wheels and pieces of fat pipe I managed to put together a trial device for collection energy from the wind. Determining the angle of the 'blades' is the important factor. The next version will be bigger and better and allow for fine tuning.
January 13, 2011
  wind  energy  VAWT 
olmec
The pheasant

The pheasant

For some time we have 'enjoyed' the company of a roving pheasant. Undoubtedly a majestic bird, he spends most of his time in the garden. While not as destructive as a regular chook his presence is frustratingly obvious. Eating off the brussel sprouts, nibbling a cucumber and generally upsetting the progress of the garden.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheasant
March 04, 2011
  pheasant 
Pomegranates

Pomegranates

We have a small pomegranate tree down the back of the garden. Last year it had 1 small, hard, dry fruit.
This season, after a vigorous pruning, we got 2 plump fruit bursting with pink seeds.
The inside is somewhat like a passionfruit, although not as sweet and tasty unfortunately.
May 28, 2011
  pomegranate  fruit  ripe 
olmec
Harvesting rain

Harvesting rain

It's raining today (as they said it would) and it's bloody marvellous. As a free resource, rain should be collected or focussed for use in the right spots at the right time.
One of my processes includes home made guttering, a bath, and an overflow pipe
March 05, 2011
  rain  water 
olmec
Read More
roast & blend

roast & blend

We have an over-abundance of tomatoes at the moment and it's hard to think of what to do with all of them. A fantastic way to preserve tomatoes is to roast them and then blend them... and then put them into freezing containers or bags and into the freezer.
March 06, 2011
  tomatoes  baking  preserving 
melisa
Recipe & More
New roof for the guest house

New roof for the guest house

The revitalisation of the guest house has been under way for some time but a major milestone has been reached - the new roof is going on.

I had been putting it off for as long as possible (excuses such as waiting for chimney were used) but with summer waning it is clear the leaky old iron needs to go.

This project makes use of most of the recycled concrete roofing tiles I got back before we purchased the property.
February 26, 2012
  Roof  Tile  Construction 
olmec
Guest-house - first visitors

Guest-house - first visitors

After much work our humble outbuilding has been reborn as a cosy cottage. While there are still a few improvements and finishing touches required Emily and Keith have proved that it is very much suitable for short term occupancy.
April 06, 2012
  guest  accommodation  cottage 
olmec

Rainfall catchment calculator

Rainfall (mm)
Catchment Area (hectares)
Cubic meters ?
Litres ?
  water  calculator 

Old Gate vs New Gate

Details   Another use of that glorious construction material, old irrigation pipe.
The old gate was heavy and difficult to open and while it technically worked to prevent wandering stock from entering off the road (if it was closed) there were a number of factors that motivated me to fabricate a replacement.

By using several thickness pipes and threading the thinner vertical pieces through holes bored in the horizontal elements we have a reasonably robust assembly secured together with 200 stainless steel screws.
Date   January 22, 2022
Tags     pipe  construction  recycle 
MacVerna Plum

MacVerna Plum

Botanical name   Prunus domestica
Details   'Mac Verna' is an early-season plum variety, characterized by medium to large-sized fruit with dark red skin and flesh. The fruit typically has a round shape and exhibits vigorous growth. For optimal yeild, it is recommended to cross-pollinate with 'Billington' or 'Wilson’s Early' varieties.
Diameter   1.00
Forest layer   canopy
Flowers   White
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     plum  fruit 
Rating  
Learn More
Finding the culprit

Finding the culprit

Details   A lime tree that had been performing well, several years in the ground and producing plenty of fruit quite suddenly turned yellow, dropped its leaves and died. I quickly ruled out any insect damage and wondered if it had been too wet or too dry. Also it happened to be planed in close proximity to where a sickly apricot had been when we arrived. Could it be something in the soil? Some time passed and I decided to prepare the site to plant something else. When I got the old root ball out of the ground I could see that it was a gnarled, tangled mess. I think I found the culprit, myself, poor planting practice and failing to carefully spread out the roots from a pot bound plant.
Date   October 06, 2021
Tags     citrus   
Related info
Licorice Mint Seeds

Licorice Mint Seeds

Botanical name   Agastache foeniculum
Details   Also known as Anise Hyssop, this strongly licorice scented mint has a distinctive sweet taste and nice purple flower spikes for the insects.
Edible  
Tags     flowers  herb  purple 
Price   $3.90  40 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order

Star tetrahedron

Details   Constructed from two interlocking Tetrahedron to form the star tetrahedron (also known as the merkaba vehicle of light) – represent the innermost law of the physical world: the inseparable relationship between the two complementary halves – the positive and negative, the manifest and the unmanifest – which form a perfect equilibrium. Depending on your vantage point this arrangement will look different as the photos illustrate.
Date   September 05, 2016
Tags     art  sculpture 
View 5 photos
Electric lawnmower upgrade

Electric lawnmower upgrade

After trying various different 'eco' lawn mowing solutions we were struggling to find something that could live up to our expectations. Our latest attempt is so far proving quite satisfactory, despite my misgivings about battery powered tools capability to deliver enough power. Introducing the STIHL RMA 410C A quiet, exhaust free way of keeping the paths under control.
December 01, 2016
  lawn  electric  technology 
olmec
Food is my Favourite

Food is my Favourite

Food is my Favourite is a little rhyming book about a lot of yummy food. Narrated by a very hungry pig who is passionate about eating, the story is full of fruits and veggies, and covers topics like meals, food preparation, and not wasting food. Simple rhyming text and soft colourful illustrations make this a fun book for food lovers.

For preschool and primary school aged children, as well as young readers.


  • Paperback
  • 32 pages
  • Colour illustrations
  • Perfect bound
  • Width: 190mm
  • Height: 148mm
$16.00
  book  children  melisa  illustration 
  Buy Now
Rocktastic

Rocktastic

We took a giant leap toward the long discussed upgrade of garden beds and paths today with the collection of 3 tonnes of river boulders.
The idea is to edge the garden beds to raise them up. This should make weed control a little easier, add some aesthetic and charm and the thermal mass may lengthen the growing season.
July 20, 2012
   
olmec
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Winter vege

Winter vege

Details   At this time of year the garden looks unfortunately grim, with little growing. It was an exciting surprise to discover this beauty.
Date   August 09, 2012
Tags     winter  vege  purple  broccoli 
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Scything like it's 1809

Scything like it's 1809

Trying out some rustic scythe techniques in the orchard. No noise, no smell, just good old fashion manual labour.
The scythe is best known as the weapon of choice of the grim reaper, basically a long, curved metal blade on a wooden pole with handles. Traditionally used for mowing grass and harvesting cereal crops, the scythe has a long history in agrarian (and revolutionary) societies.
December 25, 2009
  scythe  grass  tools 
olmec
The full story
Flea buster

Flea buster

Details   It's hard to see what positive role fleas play in the great biosphere. Summer is coming and the warm dry is ideal breeding conditions in the chicken house. Melisa has declared war and has resorted to chemical weapons (natural neem oil).
Date   October 26, 2016
Tags     2016  Melisa  October 
Tomatoes in September

Tomatoes in September

Details   Ok, so it's only one tomato right now but there are more coming. One of the many end of season tomatoes that was composted into the glasshouse beds during construction is off to a fine start.
Date   September 02, 2013
Tags     tomato  spring  glasshouse 
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Batch tree planting 2013

Batch tree planting 2013

Details   It's tree planting time again and as in previous years, we have once again received an order of 130 trees and shrubs. Carefully selected to fill specific niches, these plants will, as they mature, flesh out the natural forest we are attempting to coax into existence.
3 types of flowering native broom handle strong winds and dry soils while fixing nitorgen in the soil and providing a valuable nectar source for bees and other insects and birds.
Hazels, butter nuts, and several berry shrubs will feed us and the wildlife as well as adding an asthetic and natural mixing of scale in the forest.
Date   September 06, 2013
Tags      
Phacelia seed

Phacelia seed

Common name   Blue tansy or purple tansy
Botanical name   Phacelia
Details   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.
Tags     annual  purple  bees  seed 
Price   $3.90  100 seeds
Forest layer   herbaceous
Watch Related info Out of stock
Fickle climate gets a book in its honour

Fickle climate gets a book in its honour

The notoriously changeable weather in New Zealand is the subject of a newly published book, the first by local author Melisa Sinclair.

Melisa is no stranger to children's literature, having worked in a children's library as well as writing reviews of children's books.

She has been interested in writing from a young age, but says her main credentials for becoming a children's author are simply that she used to be a child, and remembers clearly what used to appeal to her when being read to by her parents.

Weather or Not has colourful illustrations - also by Melisa - and simple text.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-expr...
March 20, 2013
  melisa  book  media 
Pear - Red Bartlett scion / bud wood

Pear - Red Bartlett scion / bud wood

Details   Pyrus communis 'Red Bartlett' produces pears with bright-red skin when fully ripe. The fruit is very aromatic and has a melting flesh with good flavour. It ripens in mid to late summer and is an all-purpose pear that can be used for eating fresh, preserving, baking, and poaching.

Pollinators in the North Island are 'Packham's Triumph' and 'Winter Nelis', while in the South Island, the pollinators are 'Doyenne du Comice' and 'Conference'.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
Harvest     February  
Learn More Out of stock
Shitake Harvest

Shitake Harvest

September 09, 2019
Finally, after several years of waiting, shitake mushrooms are sprouting from the logs. I inoculated these fresh willow logs using the wooden dowel method and kept them in a damp shady location, checking periodically but as time went by and nothing happened, the logs inadvertently dried out and I assumed it was a failure. I ended up partially burying the logs as part of some minor earth works near a small pond. Surprise when month later mushrooms began popping. So harvested and ate.
  fungi  harvest 
View 3 photos
Raised woody swale / hugelkultur construction

Raised woody swale / hugelkultur construction

Details   We used the opportunity of having a small excavator on site recently to construct 5 wood filed raised growing mounds on contour.
This technique is often called hugelkultur and exploits the ability of rotten wood to absorb and hold amazing quantities of water which is later made available to plants growing nearby.
The end result was 5 mounds about 7 meters long and half a meter high, each packed with a full trailer load of rotten willow logs and a wheel barrow of pig manure.
An assortment of fruit trees and berry shrubs has been planted along side in various locations to capitalise on the moisture, slow release of minerals and micro-climate effects of wind, shelter, sun and shade.
Date   July 25, 2014
Tags     swale  digger  water  hugelkultur 
View 4 photos
I am Cat and That is Kitten

I am Cat and That is Kitten

The 'sequel' to I am Cat.
I am Cat and That is Kitten is perfect for children who have just become a big brother or big sister. It explores the topics of siblings and sibling rivalry, learning to share, learning how to get along, and becoming friends. Written in rhyme with humorous illustrations, it demonstrates the feelings an older sibling might go through when welcoming a younger sibling into the family.

For preschool and primary school aged children, as well as young readers.
  • Paperback
  • 32 pages
  • Colour illustrations
  • Perfect bound
  • Width: 190mm
  • Height: 148mm
$16.00
  book  children  melisa  illustration 
  Buy Now
CCSP Kaikoura 6 monthly tour of blockhill

CCSP Kaikoura 6 monthly tour of blockhill

Details   Once again the students from Kaikoura CCSP visited for a tour and explanation for the method.
Date   October 17, 2019
Tags     2019  October  Spring  Tour  CCSP 
Trees for animal fodder

Trees for animal fodder

By now it should be obvious that we need more trees in our landscapes, however inconvenient that may seem. The benefits are numerous. Using trees for supplementary animal feed is a smart strategy in drought prone areas. This includes:
  • Fresh leaves / foliage
  • Fruits and berries
  • Nuts and seeds
Once established, trees are long lived with a deep root system capable of funding moisture in dry times. Large volumes of edible material can be produced, along with all the other benefits provided by appropriate species of trees.
September 04, 2018
  trees  animals 
Olmec Sinclair
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Apricot – Seedling mix scion / bud wood

Details   Assortment of healthy apricots fruiting at different times.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     fruit  graft  scion 
Out of stock

Spring plant propagation

By Cutting
  • Feijoa
  • Kakabeak soft semi
  • Fig
  • Fuchsia
  • Gaultheria
  • Oregano
  • Rosemary
  • Soapwart
  • Artemisia absinthium / wormwood
  • Myrtus ugni
By Division
  • Red hot poker
  • Horse radish
  November   September   October  
  propagation  spring 
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Create a simple flax basket

We will teach you how to weave a traditional Maori square basket. Made from natural flax fibre grown at blockhill, this simple pattern can be used to create baskets of various sizes.

Identify, harvest and prepare flax leaves before weaving your own small basket to take away.
1 hour
  education  craft  weaving 
$40.00
View 4 photos
Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds

Forest layer   herbaceous
Botanical name   Foeniculum vulgare
Details   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.
Edible  
Perennial  
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Tags     edible  herb  perennial 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 6 in stock   Order
Pigs in the young food forest

Pigs in the young food forest

Our 3 pigs sleep in a long concrete shed, the north side of which is 4 garden beds enclosed in plastic through which the chickens are rotated.
During the day the animals are free to roam up to 1 hectare of emerging food forest which is broken into 8 sections (paddocks) of various sizes.
Many of our pig fences are constructed from short log posts driven into the ground and joined by a horizontal run of old corrugated iron since there was stacks of it here. Wire fences will not contain a pig, they can force their way under and through.
We find that by providing plenty of space and regulating their access to different areas means they get plenty of variety, don't over graze and start interfering with young trees or rooting up the ground.
September 19, 2016
  pigs  food forest 
olmec
Osage Orange seeds

Osage Orange seeds

Botanical name   Maclura pomifera
Details   Thorny tree with very hot burning wood, also used for making excellent bows and natural livestock fencing.
Tags     perennial  tree 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Watch Related info Out of stock
Making a wetland in a stony hole

Making a wetland in a stony hole

Details   Attempting to modify water holding capabilities of this stony soil by introducing water loving, wetland plants while actively removing the rocks and gravel. Pulsing diverted run off water and pigs through this muddy hole is slowly shifting the conditions and creating a new assortment of niches. Amplify the diversity!
Date   September 11, 2018
Tags     2018  September  Water  Pond 
Monarch butterflies enjoying blossoms in the forest garden

Monarch butterflies enjoying blossoms in the forest garden

Details   We've had plenty of nice, sunny warm weather and the monarch and red admiral butterflies are getting into the stone fruit blossom, brassica flowers and tagasaste nectar.
Date   September 11, 2018
Tags     2018  insects  blossom 
Apple - Boskoop scion / bud wood

Apple - Boskoop scion / bud wood

Details   Heritage variety introduced in the 1850s in the Netherlands. Large fruit suitable for cooking or eating fresh.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Learn More Out of stock

Starplate geodesic garden structure

Details   It's always nice to have a protected are where birds can't interfere with the growing of produce. We have tried numerous techniques and constructions over the years. One that looks promising (and cool) is this geodesic frame made with starplates, polypipe and plastic netting.

Light, durable and almost circular (5 sided base) this seems like an ideal little garden space for Melisa
Date   December 31, 2021
Tags     2021  December  Construction  Garden  Pipe 
View 3 photos
Sector analysis for optimal land use

Sector analysis for optimal land use

One of the fundamental aspects to designing a sensible landscape for habitation and production is the consideration of the various external energies, forces and factors that can impact the site. These commonly include sunlight, wind, visibility, water flow, wildfire and wildlife.

Mapping the 'sectors' where these threats or energies originate you can help determine the placement of elements (plantings, buildings, earthworks) that benefit from or lessen the impact of these forces.

Most of these sectors are easy to identify with on the ground observation or inspection of detailed maps while seasonal sun angles are available for a known latitude.

Local conditions such as hills, valleys and large trees modify wind directions and intensity, cast shade and impact fire rick and behavior. These site specific characteristics may be evident to a well trained eye or can be learnt over an extended period of time spent on site or in discussion with previous occupants or neighbors.

Exclusion / Restrict flow
Generally it is desirable to exclude strong winds by planting fast growing shelter trees suitable for the site and of appropriate heights. This may be combines with fire 'proofing' by selecting naturally lass flammable species.
Roads and other thoroughfares are a source of noise, possible pollution and fire risk and the curious eyes of passers. For privacy and security reasons it may be advisable this with planting or construction.

Inclusion / Aid flow
Sunlight (solar energy) is essential for growth and can assist in many other processes or activities such as drying fruit or washing, heating water etc.
Allowing water to enter the site is usually valuable but too much can cause issues so having suitable drainage is essential.
Cold air naturally flows down slope but can 'pool' or get trapped behind dense plantings. If frosts are a problem, considering cold air flow may help improve growing conditions.
  permaculture  land  design  mapping  sectors 
Olmec Sinclair
Boosting plant and ecosystem health with compost tea

Boosting plant and ecosystem health with compost tea

Fertigating is the practice of irrigating and fertilising simultaneously. To achieve this we brew liquid compost 'tea' using an assortment of fresh and decaying plant material. Learn how to easily make, brew and deliver compost tea or other liquid fertiliser. You can use all sorts of organic, nutrient rich, biodegradable substance.

The breakthrough come with the venturi mixer which allows for easy distribution of the heavy, smelly liquid.
  compost  nutrient  fertigate 
olmec
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Chimney Oven

Chimney Oven

I first came across this novel concept when I was a kid and friends of my parents had one. Seems like a pretty common sense idea so I've been on the look out for something like this for years.

Finally I got the chance to purchase this stainless steel beauty. On the initial test firing we easily got the temperature up to 350 centigrade and it hovers nicely round 200 with the vents closed and the fire idling.

We have used the oven to cook bread, muffins, roast nuts, muesli and veges. A very versatile and useful addition.
July 17, 2017
  fire  cooking  baking  oven  off grid  sustainable  efficiency 
Olmec Sinclair

Italian Alder

Common name   Italian Alder
Botanical name   Alnus Cordata
Family   Betulaceae
Details   Fast, deep-rooted, nitrogen-fixing tree.  Moderate drought tolerance.  Trims well, excellent shelter for native under-story. Popular for horticultural shelterbelts and soil conservation on hill country. Roots penetrate deeply and so do not spread sideways into valuable crops.
Deciduous. Holds leaves from September to June.  Cold hardy after first season.
Space at 1.5-4m centres for shelter.
Date   July 06, 2010
Height (m)   25
Drought tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Wind tolerance   Moderate
Tags     Shelter  Ornamental  Fuel  Timber  Coppice  Erosion Control  Attractive  Ground Durable  Non-poisonous 
Related info
Laburnum Seeds

Laburnum Seeds

Common name   Golden chain or golden rain tree
Botanical name   Laburnum anagyroides
Details   Also known as golden rain or golden chain due to yellow pea-flowers in pendulous leafless racemes 10–40 cm long in spring, which makes them popular garden trees. All parts of the plant are poisonous, although mortality is very rare.
Drought tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     deciduous  flowers  N fixer  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 1 in stock   Order
Pear - Louise Bonne of Jersey scion / bud wood

Pear - Louise Bonne of Jersey scion / bud wood

Details   Smaller pears with thin skin and soft flesh. Red blush on the skin.Louise Bonne of Jersey is not self-fertile and needs a pollination partner of a different variety nearby. Pollination partners - Packham's Triumph, Conference
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
Propagation method   Graft
Related info Out of stock
Tasmanian Blackwood Seeds

Tasmanian Blackwood Seeds

Botanical name   Acacia melanoxylon
Details   A fast growing nitrogen fixing acacia with valuable ground durable timber. Excellent for firewood and loved by bees. Extensive root system makes it drought proof but can sucker profusely when damaged.
Tags     N fixer  timber 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Learn More Out of stock
2017

2017

Tags     2017 
Chaste Tree seeds

Chaste Tree seeds

Common name   vitex, chaste tree, chasteberry, Abraham's balm, lilac chastetree, monk's pepper
Botanical name   Vitex angus castus
Drought tolerance  
Tags     perennial  shrub  health 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Osteospermum Seeds

Osteospermum Seeds

Common name   African daisies, daisybushes
Botanical name   Osteospermum
Details   Easy care plant for dry areas. Does not tolerate hard frost Covered with bright flowers for much of the year, enjoyed by bees.
Drought tolerance  
Frost sensitive  
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  pink 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Learn More Out of stock
Zucchini Seeds

Zucchini Seeds

Colour   Pale green
Common name   courgette
Botanical name   Botanical name
Details   A vigorous vining plant producing large numbers of dumpy fruit. Harvest regularly while small for a constant supply.
Edible  
Frost sensitive  
Tags     annual  edible  fruit  tender  vegetable 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Hopi Black Dye Sunflower Seeds

Hopi Black Dye Sunflower Seeds

Propagation method   Sow direct
Botanical name   Lunaria annua
Details   Similar to the regular, common sunflower but often having multiple smaller flowers and dark purple / black seed casing that the Hopi people of North America have traditionally used to make a dye for cotton, wool and basketry
Edible  
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Tags     edible  flowers  yellow 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Autumn bounty - pears

Autumn bounty - pears

Details   Ripe pears are simply wonderful and one of the easiest fruit for us to grow.
Date   March 02, 2013
Tags     pears 
6 year old silver wattle

6 year old silver wattle

Details   This tree has put on exceptional growth. It will be coppiced for firewood,
Date   November 04, 2016
Tags     progress 
Tamara

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, 2010
  WWOOF 

Energy efficiency with hot water

Currently most of out hot water heating is done by electricity although we are are working on a number of strategies to reduce this component. One part of the approach is to keep the thermostat set so that the water is just hot enough.

I was having a conversation with someone about energy efficiency and hot water heating and what was the best temperature setting for the hot water cylinder.

The friend was operating under the incorrect assumption that it was better to have the cylinder as hot as possible so that when water was taken out, for a shower say, there was less cold water entering that required heating. There is a certain surface logic to this but it seemed to me that it doesn't matter what temperature the water is, when you have a shower or do the dishes you are extracting the same amount of energy (in the form of hot water) from the tank and so the energy needing to be replaced is the same.

The issue with keeping water extra hot then, is more to do with the extra energy that is required to maintain a greater temperature  differential between the temperature inside and outside the hot water tank.

According to one website:
"The ideal setting is 60°C. It is important that the water in the cylinder is this hot to kill bacteria such as legionella but higher temperature settings only increase your power bill."
June 17, 2011
  energy  hot water  electric  temperature  efficiency 
olmec
Columbine Seeds

Columbine Seeds

Common name   granny's bonnet, columbine
Botanical name   Aquilegia
Details   Purple flowers, loved by bumblebees. Grows well in a range of sites. Seeds are poisonous.
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  purple 
Price   $3.10  40 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Siberian Pea Shrub seeds

Siberian Pea Shrub seeds

Botanical name   Caragana arborescens
Details   A genus of shrubs mostly native to Central Asia, some inhabiting dry, half-desert regions with hot summers and bitterly cold winters. They include some of the toughest and most accommodating of all plants, some able to survive temperatures down to -40°C

Seed is normally harvested late summer - autumn.

Due to drought our neglected plants did not set seed. Check back summer 2025 or join the wait list
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     perennial  shrub  legume 
Price   $5.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Exploration

Exploration

As a random act of 'leisure' I decided to extend the frontier and go exploring. Following the currently dry creek bed up into the hills with a packed lunch and camera.
The 2 highlights of the walk were the inlet of the neighbours unpopular water reservoir (why the creek is dry) and three wild deer.
5km loop in 3 hours
February 20, 2011
  deer  walk 
olmec
The view
7 years of permaculture progress

7 years of permaculture progress

Details   A serious amount of improvements resulting from considerable effort. Learnt a lot along the way.
Date   November 05, 2016
Tags     progress 
Related info
Rota takes a bath in a swale

Rota takes a bath in a swale

Details   We have a number of swales out where the pigs live but this one is their current favourite. Nothing better for the pig than a mud bath on a hot sunny day. It seems that the action of the pigs hooves (feet) and their rolling in the mud actually help seal the swale so it holds water better.
Date   October 31, 2013
Tags     pig  swale 
Video
Food forest concept discovery

Food forest concept discovery

In early 2011, after discovering the food forest concept, we launched into action and began the process of converting the barren chook paddock into an edible, multi layered botanical paradise.
Not much to see at this point, seen looking south back towards the house.
January 03, 2011
  food forest 
olmec
First decent snow in a while

First decent snow in a while

Details   A nice clear day after several wet, dismal snowy ones. We're going to have some cold nights now but it's a nice way to recieve moisture.
Date   August 07, 2016
Tags     2016  August  Snow 
Globe Artichoke

Globe Artichoke

Botanical name   Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Details   The globe artichoke is a variety of a species of large thistle cultivated as a food. The edible matter is buds that form within the flower heads before the flowers come into bloom.
Edible  
Perennial  
Tags     perennial  shrub  vegetable 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Forest layer   herbaceous
Watch Out of stock
Summer produce

Summer produce

Details   Fresh chilli and capsicum from the plastic house
Date   April 08, 2015
Tags     Capsicum  Vegetable 

Bumblebee nest

Our efforts to create a hospitable environment for bumblebees seems to be paying off. The fuzzy little creatures can be seen on almost any of the numerous types of flowers we have spreading across the property. To top if off we discovered a nest inside the concrete block wall of the chook house and piggery.

There is a contented buzzing humming emanating from the wall and every now and then individuals can be seen bumbling in and out.
November 20, 2012
  Bumblebee  nest  hive 
olmec
Feijoa

Feijoa

Common name   feijoa, pineapple guava
Botanical name   Acca sellowiana
Family   Myrtaceae
Flowers   Pink
Diameter   4.00
Height (m)   4
Forest layer   shrub
Drought tolerance  
Edible  
Evergreen  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     hedge  autumn  fruit 
Rating  
Propagation method   Graft
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Snow

Snow

Nothing says winter quite like snow. Despite being cold and inconvenient it's also magical and exciting.
We are warm by the fire and watching the snow drifting down outside.
The cat is not too sure. This is his first snow experience and he seems a bit nervous about the white stuff falling out of the sky.
July 25, 2011
  snow  winter 
Photos
Quail

Quail

While cutting wood the other day I uncovered a nest containing 14 quail eggs. These birds are common round here and apparently make good eating so I transfered the eggs under a clucky hen in the hopes she will hatch them out.
November 29, 2009
  quail  birds  eggs  incubate 
olmec
Swinging

Swinging

Last weekend we were inundated with overly energetic little people (boys) who proceeded to vigorously damage our nice hammocks. Motivated by this and wishing to avert future destruction (unlikely) I put together a robust tyre swing for more aggressive boyish entertainment.
January 27, 2013
  swing 
olmec
Blackberries

Blackberries

Wild blackberries are a bit of a curse round here, growing rampantly wherever they can. However at this time of year they redeem themselves somewhat by offering up sweet berries.
In addition to the thorny wild plants, we have a thornless variety in the garden that produces larger, more accessible berries.
February 16, 2010
  Blackberries  weed  fruit 
olmec
More...
Apricot Seedling - Jumbo

Apricot Seedling - Jumbo

Harvest     January   February  
Details   Healthy seedling tree of unknown parentage that produces very large flattish freestone fruit ripening in January. Blossoms late August to early September. First fruiting 2017 (7 years old).
Propagation method   Sow pot / tray
Date   June 01, 2010
Tags     apricot  seedling 
View map Related info
Elaeagnus x ebbingei

Elaeagnus x ebbingei

Botanical name   Elaeagnus x ebbingei
Details   Fast-growing, wind, cold & salt tolerant. Dense evergreen dark-green shrub with glossy leaves.
Highly-scented white flowers in autumn followed by orange-red edible fruit mid spring (Early October at blockhill).
Fruiting after 4 years
Nitrogen fixer.
Family   Elaeagnaceae
Flowers   White
Diameter   5.00
Forest layer   shrub
Height (m)   5
Drought tolerance  
Edible  
Evergreen  
Fruit / berries  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full shade to full sun
Soil type   Most
Wind tolerance   Maritime exposure
Tags     berries  spring 
Read More
Autumn

Autumn

Autumn is here and I couldn't resist making this autumn bouquet, combining flowers and leaves in an array of autumnal hues. It brings some nature into the house and gives a nice feeling of the seasons passing.
April 18, 2011
  autumn  flowers  leaves 
Concrete bench top - faux granite

Concrete bench top - faux granite

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen as we do you will appreciate the value of a quality bench and sink configuration.
The one we had was a single tub with a wooden bench top constructed of poor quality materials and it wasn't living up to our requirements.
In typical style I decided I needed a challenging new project and launched into building a complete replacement with a concrete bench top and double tubs. This is the story.
August 01, 2012
  concrete  kitchen  bench  tub  sink 
olmec
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Garden swales

Garden swales

Reconfiguring the garden after some inspiration from Geoff Lawton permaculture DVD.
By laying out the garden beds along the contour we get easy access with improved water infiltration and retention. The width allows for easy reaching to the centre from either side. In the rare instances when we want to irrigate it is simply a matter of flooding the path for a while.
July 31, 2015
  swale  garden  2012  2015 
olmec
View 4 photos
Grubba, the ginger pig

Grubba, the ginger pig

Someone nearby was giving away pigs so we went to check them out and fell in love with this little guy. Having 2 female pigs already we decided to take this little boys manhood away for every ones sake.
April 24, 2014
  pig 
Video
Peaches

Peaches

Our crop of peaches came ready unexpectedly early. Thanks to the wet season they are sensationally juicy.

As with the plums we have more than we know what to do with and so jam making was in order.
February 15, 2010
  Peach  Jam  Preserve  Fruit 
melisa
Recipe
Converting an existing orchard to food forest

Converting an existing orchard to food forest

When we took over the property it came with an orchard consisting of plums, almonds, cherry, apricot, apples, peaches, nashi and pears. The trees are of varying ages and were planted more or less randomly across what was once an open paddock. Slowly I have been contouring, inter-planting, removing grass, mulching and generally intensifying the productivity of the area.
September 01, 2013
  food forest  conversion  progress 
olmec
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The swale situation

The swale situation

Things have gotten a little out of hand. Since I discovered the swale concept a little over a year ago I have been unable to stop modifying and shaping the water cycle on the property.
Water now takes a very long time to leave the landscape and all sorts of interesting little garden features and microclimates have resulted.
October 11, 2013
  swale 
olmec
Baby praying mantis

Baby praying mantis

A recently hatched young praying mantis. These guys hunt and eat other insects which is generally a beneficial trait.
  insect 
More Trees

More Trees

This weekend I planted a number of crop trees. For the most part it was seedling walnuts collected from under my grandmothers tree but also included 5 grafted fruit trees I purchased.

2 x apricot
2 x nectarine
1 x almond
July 25, 2010
  trees  planting  walnut  apricot  nectarine  almond 
olmec
Restoring China's Loess Plateau

Restoring China's Loess Plateau

Home to more than 50 million people, the Loess Plateau in China’s Northwest takes its name from the dry powdery wind-blown soil. Centuries of overuse and overgrazing led to one of the highest erosion rates in the world and widespread poverty.

Two projects set out to restore China’s heavily degraded Loess Plateau through one of the world’s largest erosion control programs with the goal of returning this poor part of China to an area of sustainable agricultural production.
  land  water  terracing 
olmec
Results
The myth about tree & pasture incompatibility - photographic evidence

The myth about tree & pasture incompatibility - photographic evidence

I am passionate about trees and their numerous benefits so I frequently encounter this commonly held misconception when I try and encourage grass growers to consider incorporating trees on their farms. The argument goes something like this: "I can't plant trees in or around my pasture because they compete with grass for light, water and minerals, grass production would suffer".

This photo, taken a few hundred meters from my home on a conventional sheep and beef farm during the worst drought in decades is evidence that certain tree species can actually improve the performance of grass. If only people were as observant as they are quick to dismiss the value of trees in the landscape.
May 06, 2015
  trees  grass  drought 
olmec
Benefits of trees on farms
Muscovy ducklings

Muscovy ducklings

Details   Young ducklings enjoy exploring the swales with their mother
Date   February 07, 2015
Tags     ducks 
Fertigate with ducks

Fertigate with ducks

A simple and effective way to fertigate (fertilise while irrigating) fruit trees or other productive plantings using an old bath tub. Like all good permaculture solutions, this stacks functions by providing the ducks with a source of water to enjoy while collecting their nutrient, discharging it via gravity. It could also provide some thermal mass to help nearby plants during cold times...
  ducks  water  nutrient 
Check out the diagram

Terracing and trees

Details   8 years on - Adding terraces to steep slopes reduces runoff keeping valuable water of site longer while also improving access for planting, maintenance and harvest. Trees can be more densely planted, stacked and over hanging one another for maximum productivity. This natural sun trap is the ideal location for a solar powered clothes dryer and a wonderful micro climate with excellent cold air drainage.
Tags     2017  Progress  September 
Books

Books

New books, how exciting. I splashed out an ordered some books online to flesh out my library and to indulge in on long winter nights by the fire.

Two are practical self sufficiency and permaculture reference books that should be informative and inspiring. The other two are recent publications by thinkers and social commentators focused on the changing state and predicament of modern times.
May 27, 2011
  books  education  reading 
olmec
Titles
Forest garden bounty

Forest garden bounty

Details   A nice assortment of root veges foraged from the forest garden while weeding. Includes parsnip, carrot, radish and potato. These make a great roast.
Date   July 17, 2017
Tags     food  veges  forest garden  july 
January 2017

January 2017

Details   It's been a hot, dry summer (again). Despite the ongoing drought things are looking fairly good. Most of the trees have a decent amount of fruit set with apricots already harvested and drying. There are lots of flowers buzzing madly with insects. Guest numbers have picked up again post earthquake and now all we could wish for is a drop of rain.
Date   January 31, 2017
Tags     Summer  January 
View 4 photos
Beneficial insects

Beneficial insects

Insects play an import role in the health of our gardens and the wider ecosystem. By creating a conducive environment we can encourage the tiny helpers to hang around. Insects prey on others, pollinate plants, are food for birds and generally add to the richness, complexity and diversity of a healthy ecosystem.
  insects 
olmec
Plants to encourage beneficial insects
Plastic house

Plastic house

I recently inherited this kit-set plastic house from my sister (designed by my father).
Assembly was relatively simple and I am now looking forward to allocating a piece of ground to it.
November 10, 2009
   
Melisa,Olmec
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Perennial multiplying leeks

Perennial multiplying leeks

Common name   Perennial leeks, Multiplier leeks, Perpetual leeks
Details   This is one of my favourite vegetables to grow as it is easy care, quick to multiply and can be used raw or cooked in many meals. If you want a perennial spring onion / leek then this is the one to grow and is productive for much of the year

Forming clumps over time, this onion / allium can be harvested and divided at any time, sitting ready and waiting in even poor, weedy soil. Rapidly bulk up your patch by dividing regularly and not eating too many at the beginning.
Forest layer   herbaceous
Edible  
Perennial  
Soil type   Most
Tags     vegetable  perennial 
Rating  
Solar - third time lucky

Solar - third time lucky

After several failed attempts to create a low cost, low tech solar water heater I gave in and purchased a complete kit off the shelf. It's only August but we've been having some nice fine days and the temperature has been getting up to high 50's. This unit has 20 evacuated glass tubes with some kind of antifreeze that exchanges heat with water that is pumped through the header. While I would have preferred a passive system I do like the modular nature and programmable smarts of the control centre.
August 21, 2013
  solar  energy  water  technology 
olmec
Brimming with rain

Brimming with rain

The first serious winter storm hit with a snowy wet blast and dumped over 75mm in 24 hours. This is exactly the kind of situation the extensive network of swales was built to handle. During the day I made numerous excursions out into the cold to assess and marvel at how the water was collected, channelled and redirected, distributed and absorbed.
June 20, 2013
  winter  snow  swale 
olmec
More photos
Ducklings

Ducklings

After 35 days sitting patiently on 8 eggs, our first time mother muscovy hatched 3 cute little babies.
Now if only we can out smart nature and keep them alive.
December 05, 2012
  duck 
melisa
Bull shit - Garden gold

Bull shit - Garden gold

It's not everyday that you get offered a trailer load of bull shit and hay.

Friends of ours had access to a supply of the rich smelling garden additive just over their fence and I couldn't pass it up.

Our new, extended garden area is now fully mulched and the worms are doing their bit to transform it into the ideal growing medium.
August 29, 2010
  Compost  Manure 
olmec
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Overpopulation

The elephant in the room (or, the 6.78 billion inhabitants of the earth).
Rewarding no-child families in an effort to halt population growth.

An attempt to think our way out of the population situation.
May 30, 2010
  Population 
olmec
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Sprinkling (at high pressure)

Sprinkling (at high pressure)

Details   It has been really drying out and we have been busy moving hoses to  water as many trees and veges as possible.
We have a well with a pump that delivers 25mm of water at high pressure. While I was trying to come up with a way to apply this water gently to the garden I came up with this simple circular terminus mister (click for photo).
It effectively produces a 4 meter high column of mist. Wonderful on a scorching afternoon.
Date   December 05, 2010
Tags     summer  water  garden  sprinkler 
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Garden update

Garden update

Our garden is bigger and better this year with more planning, improved soil and larger variety of plants in the ground. We are just starting to reap the rewards.
December 09, 2010
  garden  summer 
olmec
More Photos
Holy radish!

Holy radish!

An impressive specimen of the common radish. This plant just got out of control. Because it got to be such a large plant I decided to hang onto it for seed. May the next generation be equally extreme.
February 16, 2011
  radish  vege  seed 
olmec
The life sotry
Last of the apples

Last of the apples

Details   The last 2 apple trees are now ready for picking. For some reason, these are some of the cleanest apples we have had this year.

Both of these trees have been improved with supporting / companion plants such as bulbs, foxgloves, lupins and strawberries.
Date   May 18, 2011
Tags     Apples  harvest 
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Energy efficient bulbs

Energy efficient bulbs

I recently purchased a couple of compound LED light bulbs. These use an extremely low level of power (11 Watts each) while providing a useful illumination.

Available in either Edison thread or bayonet they fit into a standard light socket. Being LED they do not contain any mercury.

Unfortunately I have already had one cut out for some reason.
http://www.eoutlet.co.nz/catalog/viribr...
June 10, 2011
  LED  Light  Energy 
olmec
Signs of a greenie

Signs of a greenie

As part of the upcoming elections Melisa organised a sign for us to show off our true colours as the leader road greenies.

Jumps right out at the milk trucks, hanging from our recently erected sign post.
October 28, 2011
  Green Party  Election  Signs 
olmec
Chicken Prism

Chicken Prism

The latest development in our seemingly endless quest for perfect chicken containment, our version of the chicken tractor.
The chicken prism seems, so far, to be a fairly successful system. Good for converting grass to garden or invigorating existing garden while restricting the roaming and destructive nature of the birds.
April 07, 2012
  Chicken tractor  Teepee 
olmec
Water smart design and land use

Water smart design and land use

Plan for dry and survive drought with carefully designed and implemented rainwater catchment systems built directly into the landscape. Three core elements to mitigating the effects and impact of drought:
  1. Identify and intercept water flows to keep moisture on the landscape
  2. Improve soils ability to absorb and retain water
  3. Reduce the impact of hot, dry winds
Find out how simple land use patterns and strategic planting can achieve all these benefits and more.
  water  rain  land  farm  service 
Discuss your situation
A hint of garlic

A hint of garlic

Details   It's high summer, we've passed the longest day and our garlic had been in the ground for 7 months.

This represents about 40-50% of the crop and is the first time we have grown garlic at our place.
Date   December 27, 2011
Tags     garlic  summer  harvest 
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Clavulina rugosa - edible fungi

Clavulina rugosa - edible fungi

Details   After several attempts to inoculate and produce edible mushrooms I decided I might be better off educating myself on the local edible varieties that grow themselves. On several occasions we have found and eaten large field mushrooms but these are less common as the land rapidly returns to forest.

One species that I felt comfortable identifying due to lack of poisonous lookalikes is Clavulina rugosa, commonly known as the wrinkled coral fungus. Knowing that it occurs in symbiosis with conifer roots I went looking and was surprised to find some growing less than 100m from the house. Now that I know what I'm looking for I have found them in other locations.
Date   August 05, 2021
Tags     fungi  food 
Related info
Laburnum

Laburnum

Common name   Golden chain or golden rain tree
Details   Yellow pea-flowers in pendulous leafless racemes 10–40 cm (4–15.5 in) long in spring, which makes them very popular garden trees.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, although mortality is very rare. Symptoms of laburnum poisoning may include intense sleepiness, vomiting, convulsive movements, coma, slight frothing at the mouth and unequally dilated pupils.
Family   Fabaceae
Flowers   Yellow
Diameter   6.00
Height (m)   6
Forest layer   low-tree
Drought tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun / part shade
Soil type   Most
Wind tolerance   Good
Tags     perennial  tree  legume  hardy 
Propagation method   Sow pot / tray
  Buy
Weather or Not

Weather or Not

Weather or Not is a little book about changeable weather, changing your mind, and changing your clothes!

This story covers terms and concepts of New Zealand weather.

It will appeal to preschool and primary school aged children, and is perfect for young readers with its simple rhyming text.
  • Paperback
  • 32 pages
  • Colour illustrations
  • Perfect bound
  • Width: 190mm
  • Height: 148mm
Click the pdf link below to see the first few pages.
 Weather or not - sample p...
$16.00
  book  weather  children  melisa  illustration 
  Buy Now
More grass than you can shake a scythe at

More grass than you can shake a scythe at

The abnormally wet summer has caused tremendous grass growth. Not that we complain, as other things are also growing well.

Everyday is an opportunity to hack back a bit more grass... if only there were 7 of me!
January 05, 2012
  scythe  summer 
olmec
Garden working-bee

Garden working-bee

A group of us gathered to help install a new vegetable garden for Heidi and Nuk out at Gore Bay. Many hands made things progress quite quickly and we were able to create and plant an area directly beside the house for easy access as well as a new contour garden mound in what was lawn.
August 14, 2016
  garden  community 
I am Cat

I am Cat

I am CAT is narrated by a shamelessly proud feline who is happy to be unique from other animals. The story touches on concepts of self esteem and uses humour to reveal some of the ways in which Cat prefers being himself above all else. With it's simple rhyming text and soft colourful illustrations, the story will appeal to preschool and primary school aged children. The larger size (28cm x 21cm) with the larger font also makes it a great book for early readers.
  • Paperback
  • 32 pages
  • Colour illustrations
  • Spine: perfect sewnbound
  • Width: 280mm
  • Height: 210mm
Click the 'view photos' button to see sample images of the story.
$20.00
  book  children  art  gibson  cat 
View 5 photos   Buy Now
Dung beetles

Dung beetles

Aphodius fimetarius is a species of scarab beetles native and common to Europe.

I first noticed them in kunekune pig manure in 2018. Reportedly first seen on Banks Peninsula in 2004.
Adult bugs are up to 8mm long and emerge to fly to new sites after spending their juvenile phase inside the manure.
December 08, 2020
  insect  beneficial 
Hand woven flax baskets

Hand woven flax baskets

Details   We have been growing flax for a number of years and I use it frequently as a natural, free, biodegradable 'twine' for tying plants. Depending on the thickness and application it lasts a few months to a year.
I had seen fantastic woven baskets, many traditional Maori designs. I wanted to know how to make something practical that was easy to remember and teach. Next stop youtube... A few minutes of video and frequent use of the pause button and I was ready to make my first food basket (rourou). I made a couple more over the next few days and improved slightly.
Date   October 11, 2016
Tags     2016  October 
Cacti

Cacti

Details   It's spring, we've had some rain followed by sun and the gardens have burst forth in bud, leaf, flower and young fruit.
Date   October 19, 2016
Tags     october  2016 
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Japanese Chinquapin

Japanese Chinquapin

Botanical name   Castanopsis cuspidata
Height (m)   25
Diameter   10.00
Forest layer   canopy
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Evergreen  
Edible  
Perennial  
Date   August 01, 2015
Shade / Sun   Semi shade
Soil type   Most
Tags     nuts  evergreen 
Round wood timber construction

Round wood timber construction

Details   A newly created 'roof' for grapes to climb and better weather protection for the firewood shed.
Date   March 13, 2018
Tags     2018 
Hugelkultur gardens in summer

Hugelkultur gardens in summer

Details   Every year, since their construction, our hugelkultur raised woody garden beds have been improving in performance. While waiting for the perennial plantings to establish we have been gardening with seasonal crops including maize, pumpkins, tomatoes, salad, cucumbers and of course lots of beans. Modest additions of straw mulch, trenched in pig manure, compost tea and all plant residues are contributing to the overall fertility of the beds and on occasion where I have exposed the wooden core while digging it is clearly breaking down into a crumbly organic 'compost'.
Date   February 18, 2018
Tags     garden  hugelkultur  2018  summer 
Some specifics
Mediterranean style preserved olives

Mediterranean style preserved olives

Details   While looking for the simplest recipe for processing small scale harvest of home grown olives I came across the following process:

Step 1: PREPARING OLIVES
Make a simple, straight cut into each one or poke each with a fork. This will allow them to release some of the bitterness and soak flavour faster. Place all olives in a big pot, cover them with water and place a big, heavy plate in the pot to keep the olives at the bottom, fully submerged. Leave olives in water for 2 weeks, changing the water every day.

Step 2: ADDING OLIVES TO BRINE
Sterilize your glass jars and lids first by washing them with warm soapy water and then popping them in the oven at low temp (120C) until completely dry. Allow to cool before handling. If lids are plastic, do not put them in the oven but pour boiling water over them. Add olives to jars, making sure they are packed as tight as possible. Stuff as many as you can. To make brine, for every 500ml water, add about 100ml vinegar and 2 TBSP coarse salt. Pour brine in the jars filled with olives, to the top of the rim, until it begins to overflow – it is key that no air remains in the jar. Screw the lids on the jars, label them and leave them in a dark cupboard for about 2 months

Step 3: MARINATING THE OLIVES – make enough for 1-2 weeks at a time
Now your olives are ready to take on the flavours of the marinade. Put the olives into a saleable container and add the following:
  • Chilli powder or flakes
  • Lime juice + zest
  • Finely chopped garlic
  • A nice coating of olive oil
Marinade oil leftover after eating will make a wonderful addition to salad dressings! Place olives in the fridge for 1-2 days. Flavours develop as they sit. Keeps well for few weeks in the fridge.
Date   July 03, 2017
Link To   http://talesofakitchen.com/raw/easy-hom...
Harvest      
Edible  
Tags     olive  preserve  recipe 
Notes
Living on contour - working with water flow

Living on contour - working with water flow

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, 2014
  water  swale  contour 
Water wise landscapingMore about contour gardening
Diversity is key

Diversity is key

Details   This wild and and colourful 'garden' is packed with edible and beneficial plants, a completely different ecosystem from the boring grass monoculture that preceded it. Fruit and nut trees mix with annual crops arranged along raised log planting mounds that provide valuable water storage and nutrients.
Tags     2017  October 
Early October

Early October

Details   We've been working flat out with our Intern, Zac, and so it's been a while since our last horn tooting photo update. So here it is, bellbirds, blossoms, native nitrogen fixers and food forest progress. Enjoy and then get out there and invite nature into your bit of the world.
Date   October 06, 2017
Tags     2017  October 
View 5 photos

Plum - Dan's Early scion / bud wood

Details   First plum of the season (December in North Canterbury). Japanese of medium size
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Price for 4 or more   $3.00  each if you buy 4 or more
Tags     plum  scion  grafting 
Related info Out of stock
Senna Seeds

Senna Seeds

Forest layer   shrub
Common name   glandular senna, downy senna, buttercup bush
Botanical name   Senna multiglandulosa
Details   A fast growing evergreen shrub which become treelike. The leaves are each made up of several pairs of thick, hairy, oval-shaped leaflets each measuring up to about 4 centimetres long. The leaves are studded with visible resin glands between the leaflets.
Evergreen  
Frost sensitive  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  N fixer  tender  tree  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 10 in stock   Order
Summer gardening

Summer gardening

Details   It's been another exceptionally dry summer but things are holding on. Our land shaping captures and retains moisture and the mixed planting reduces competition while maximizing shade and surface area.
Date   January 04, 2018
Tags     2018  January 
View 3 photos
Visualising yearly rainfall distribution

Visualising yearly rainfall distribution

This chart shows annual rainfall by month for the years 1990 - 2014 (and partial 2015). While there is a definite tenancy for rain to occur in June and July there is also obvious bumps in October, March and April. Wider areas of colour represent times of high rainfall while narrow regions are dryer.
It becomes clear that rainfall can occur at any time throughout the year and that dry years follow periods high rainfall. With this in mind it makes a lot of sense to be approaching water catchment and management with a multi year view of charging up soil moisture during wet times to carry us through periods of below average rainfall.

Data obtained from NIWA Ferniherst dataset
September 20, 2015
  weather  rain  climate  chart 
olmec

Summer plant propagation

Date   February 14, 2017
Details   From Cuttings
  • Kiwifruit
  • Fuchsia
  • Gazania
  • Hebe
  • Fig
  • Currant
  • Rosemary
  • Buddleia
  • Grape
  • Elaegnus (soft & semi)
Available     January   December   February  
Tags     propagation  summer 
Psoralea Pinnata

Psoralea Pinnata

Common name   fountain bush, penwortel, blue broom, Albany broom, African scurf pea, taylorina, blue psoralea, Dally pine
Botanical name   Psoralea Pinnata
Details   Native to South Africa. Looking a little like rosemary.
Flowers October to December extremely attractive to bees.
Flowering is followed by the production of small pods, each of these contain a single dark brown seed.
Establishes in Gumlands, dry shrubland, coastline, estuaries, bush tracks, forest margins, and fernland, especially in warmer areas.
Will even persist under pines and wattles. It would seem that it can successfully compete with established trees in difficult wet areas.
Family   Fabaceae
Flowers   blue, white, pale purple
Height (m)   1.5 - 4
Forest layer   low-tree
Drought tolerance  
Evergreen  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun to part shade
Soil type   Prefers damp
Wind tolerance   Good
Tags     legume  nitrogen  succession 
Propagation method   Sow pot / tray
Wild-flowers spreading

Wild-flowers spreading

As part of our commitment to the humble bumble and our general enjoyment of displacing grass, we have established a bunch of micro pioneer gardens. These are bubbles of hardy, self seeding, bee friendly blooms that will (hopefully) expand and spread until they join and fill the available space.
This approach of trying to passively replace grass using seed dispersing annual flowers did not work. Poppies returned for a few seasons before vanishing.
December 14, 2012
  flowers  bumblebee 
olmec
Predatory insects

Predatory insects

Since arriving at this location in 2009 and allowing it to revert to a more natural way while introducing lots of new biodiversity, we have noticed a continual increase in the numbers and types of insects and other small creatures. There is a whole world of barely noticed activity where spiders and flies, ladybugs and butterflies live out their tiny dramas...
Here a preying mantis devours a fly on a pear tree.
April 02, 2019
  insect 
Olmec Sinclair

Apricot – Moorpark scion / bud wood

Details   Freestone variety that has superbly flavoured fruit that are medium to large in size. Skin is deep yellow with orange blush that's fuzz free. The soft and juicy flesh of Moorpark allows the fruit to be suitable for fresh eating, bottling or drying. A mid-season variety best suited for cooler climates.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     fruit  graft  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Sustainable firewood

Sustainable firewood

A lot of activities get labelled as 'sustainable' these days, despite having a hidden subsidy of non-renewable resources or energy. The only truly sustainable energy source is the sun and the various manifestations of that energy such as biomass, wind etc. The rate and method (technology) used to harness or extract that energy determines it's long term sustainability. Wind turbines constructed from huge volumes of concrete, steel and carbon fibre are not sustainable while harvesting a tree with a stone axe is sustainable if practised at a rate that permits regrow under local ecological conditions.

Note: I used a pseudo sustainable electric chainsaw rather than a stone axe to dissect this manuka tree. It will be replaced by a five finger (Pseudopanax arboreus), already growing up out of the decaying stump.
August 19, 2018
  firewood  energy  sustainability 
Olmec Sinclair
Pumping with free energy

Pumping with free energy

Using water to pump water, now that is cool! I have been building a small ram pump for lifting water. The design uses off the shelf components assembled and then cast in concrete.

Overview: Water from a small creek enters a screened intake and is carried via 32mm polythene piping. This has a drop of perhaps a meter over about 70 - 80 meters. This connects to 18 meters of rigid steel 25mm pipe which drops a further 10 meters to the pumping unit. The outlet from the pump delivers water via 15mm poly tubing up to an elevation of around 30 - 40 meters.

While the device works technically it has a number of drawbacks:
  • The water delivery is very slow, perhaps 1 litre every 2 - 3 minutes. This is a result of the various measurements. More water in, dropped from higher or delivered lower would improve the situation.
  • The pump unit stops every day or so due to (I believe) air accumulating at key points in the delivery line. This can be improved by eliminating high points from the line.
  • Pump stops when river drops too low
August 15, 2015
  energy  water  technology 
olmec
View 3 photos

Direct graft nectarine

July 26, 2018
3 x scions from goldmine direct grafted onto seedling peach at 2 locations - west end of log mound 4 and in front of container house
  graft  nectarine  july  2018 
View map
Learn to graft fruit trees (seasonal)

Learn to graft fruit trees (seasonal)

Grow your knowledge of fruit tree cloning through the ancient art of grafting. Learn by seeing and doing with hands on examples and one on one tuition and explanation. We will cover:
  • Collecting and storing grafting (scion) wood from desired trees
  • Understanding and propagating rootstocks
  • Grafting tools and techniques
  • View many examples of grafted trees of various types, complexity and age
2 hours
  July   August   September  
  grafting  education  trees  propagation 
$80.00
Log Swale / Hugelkultur

Log Swale / Hugelkultur

There is a theory that burying rotting logs can improve the water retention and that plants growing above can tap into that water trapped in the rotting 'sponge' of wood.

Since we had the digger on site I figured we should give it a go - stay tuned for results on this
October 12, 2011
  Water  Drought  Digger  Swale  hugelkultur 
olmec
Read More

Spread lime fertiliser

September 25, 2020
Hand spread 400kg zoom fertiliser from Conway river lime. Contains sulphur, mag rock...
Focused around trees and productive garden beds.
  lime  fertility 
View map

Autumn plant propagation

Date   April 15, 2017
Details  
From cuttings
  • Kiwifruit (Actinidia)
  • Strawberry tree (Arbutus)
  • Citrus
  • Kakabeak (Clianthus)
  • Loquat (Eriobotrya)
  • Feijoa
  • Fig (Ficus)
  • Fuchsia
  • Gazania
  • Hebe
  • Lemon balm (Melissa)
  • Mint (Mentha)
  • Oregano / Marjoram (Origanum)
  • Geranium (Pelargonium)
  • Rosemary
  • Sage (Salvia)
  • Myrtus ugni
  • Wisteria
  • Blueberry - Blue Dawn
Division
  • Raspberries
  • Rhubarb division until early spring
Available     March   April   May  
Tags     activity  plants  propagation  autumn 
Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Details   A well designed, large greenhouse is great way to grow plants that otherwise would have a limited season or not be possible to grow at all. Here we are growing (from left to right) tomatoes, purple passion fruit, thai ginger (galangal) and babaco (mountain pawpaw)
Date   December 23, 2014
Tags     glasshouse  tomato  passion fruit  galangal  babaco 
Related info
Green Tea

Green Tea

Details   The leaves are infused in hot water and used as the drink that is commonly known as tea. It is widely drunk in many areas of the world. Green tea is made from the steamed and dried leaves.
Botanical name   Camellia Sinensis
Family   Theaceae
Height (m)   2
Forest layer   shrub
Evergreen  
Perennial  
Date   June 29, 2013
Tags     Tea 
Colour   White
Phacelia

Phacelia

Details   Quick growing manure crop or as a sanctuary for predator insects to feed and plan their assaults from. Dig or plough in anytime. Sow from September through to April at a rate of 30g per 10m2 or 1kg per 300m2.
Common name   Phacelia
Botanical name   Phacelia tanacetifolia
Height (m)   1
Forest layer   herbaceous
Date   July 08, 2013
Propagation method   Sow direct
Tags     bees 
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Soil type   Most
Flowers   Purple
The reversal of the economic engine

The reversal of the economic engine

A brief article summarising my understanding of the current and possible future economic modal based on energy and resource extraction, consumption and growth.

The picture seems far from bright and there are a number of factors that could influence the outcome but the overall direction seems clear.

Picture: Neville Sinclair
June 08, 2011
  future  post peak  energy 
olmec
Read More

Grunt - tail of misunderstood pigs

Details   Our kune kune pigs featured in a student mini documentary. Filmed in 2019, it's finally available online for your viewing pleasure...

Grunt - tail of misunderstood pigs is a 10 minute film depicting how pigs are social and intelligent beings. As domesticated animals, pigs are often seen as an object or a good rather than an animal. This documentary sheds light on the fact that pigs can be great pets. It is uncomfortable for many
Tags     video  pigs 
Related info
Natural woven flax weed mat

Natural woven flax weed mat

Details   Here's a simple technique for reducing weeds in a small garden. Biodegradable woven flax mats with seeds or small plants added in the gaps.
Date   September 11, 2018
Tags     2018  September 

Grafting calendar

There are 2 main activities related to grafting that are season and weather specific.
  1. Collecting desired varieties of scion wood from healthy trees while they are dormant. For deciduous fruit and nut trees this is mid winter or late June to July in New Zealand
  2. Grafting the stored scions onto the appropriate rootstocks in early to mid spring when growth is commencing. Here in North Canterbury this is from early August to to mid October.

Correct timing is only part of the grafting process. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the technique, compatibility and after care for the best results.
  grafting  calendar 
Olmec Sinclair
Learn More
Female oak leaf papaya cutting

Female oak leaf papaya cutting

Common name   Oak leaf papaya / pawpaw
Botanical name   Carica quercifolia
Details   Grow your own papaya plant from cutting.

This species is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. You will need at least one of each to get fruit.
Handles temperatures down to -5 celcius
Wind tolerance   poor due to big leaves
Forest layer   low-tree
Frost sensitive  
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Propagation method   Cutting
Tags     cutting  subtropical  fruit 
Price   $3.90  15 cm stem cutting
Learn More Only 8 in stock   Add to order
Mulch, soil carbon and organic matter to improve moisture holding

Mulch, soil carbon and organic matter to improve moisture holding

Mulching is the practice or process of covering the soil with a thick layer of organic matter. This has a number of benefits depending on the mulch material and desired outcomes. Some of the advantages include preventing moisture evaporation, smothering weeds, feeding soil life and increasing soil carbon and water holding capacity.
Use as much mulch as you can get your hands on.
June 06, 2015
  mulch  carbon 
olmec
Building great soil
Nitrogen fixing plant species suited to temperate climate such as North Canterbury New Zealand

Nitrogen fixing plant species suited to temperate climate such as North Canterbury New Zealand

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth. Certain plants have a useful ability to capture nitrogen from the atmosphere. This is often achieved through symbiotic relationship with fungi in the root zone. Being able access unlimited nitrogen allows these plants to grow quickly while also making some available to surrounding plants. The practical reality is that including nitrogen fixing plants of various shapes and sizes amongst other productive plantings improves overall health, vigour and fertility,
  nitrogen  permaculture  plants  collection 
Plant list
Setting of expectations

Setting of expectations

The expectations we have about what we should be eating and when determines what options are open to us in terms of where and how we obtain our sustenance. By adjusting our requirements and evaluations of what makes something desirable food we open up new sources and types of fruit and vegetables. This is a prerequisite of low input forest gardening.
November 22, 2015
  food forest 
Expectation setting
2022

2022

Tags     2022 
2023

2023

Tags     2023 
Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower Seeds

Botanical name   Helianthus annuus
Details   This easy to grow plant will produce a single large yellow flower 1 to 2 meters above the ground.
  • Plant climbing beans amongst the sunflowers when they are a meter high, the beans will climb the stem
  • The seeds ripen in April and can be fed directly to chickens or left for birds
  • Can get blown over by strong wind
Edible  
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Tags     annual  edible  flowers  tender  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Colour   Yellow
Propagation method   Sow direct
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Tagasaste (tree lucerne) seeds

Tagasaste (tree lucerne) seeds

Botanical name   Chamaecytisus palmensis
Details   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.
Drought tolerance  
Evergreen  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  N fixer  tender  tree  white 
Price   $2.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Hawthorn - Crataegus Pinnatifida scion / bud wood

Hawthorn - Crataegus Pinnatifida scion / bud wood

Botanical name   Crataegus pinnatifida
Rootstock   Hawthorn
Details   Chinese Haw (Crataegus pinnatifida) producing large dark red fruit and no thorns. Offering scions as people have struggled to grow this variety from seed. Graft onto wild hawthorn seedlings.

These are sold for budding or grafting purposes. Technically it is possible to grow these as cuttings in early spring but they have a low success rate.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     hawthorn  scion 
View 4 photos Only 8 in stock   Order
Teasel Seeds

Teasel Seeds

Botanical name   Dipsacus fullonum
Details   Fast growing tall short lived perennial flowering plant that needs no care or attention. The distinctive seed heads are popular in floral arrangements. Values include: wind break, shade plant, water holding plant, soil improvement / stabilisation, biomass production, insect habitat, food source for birds, ornamental
Drought tolerance  
Perennial  
Tags     annual 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Forest layer   herbaceous
Propagation method   Sow direct
Watch Learn More Only 6 in stock   Order
Painted Mountain Corn Seed

Painted Mountain Corn Seed

Common name   Maize
Botanical name   Zea mays
Details   A dry corn rather than a sweetcorn, featuring brightly coloured cobs bred for hardiness, earliness and high nutrition flour. Height around 1.5m. Early maturing 90 days from sowing.
Edible  
Frost sensitive  
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Tags     annual  edible  tender  vegetable 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Propagation method   Sow direct
Watch Learn More Only 2 in stock   Order
Kakabeak seeds

Kakabeak seeds

Common name   Clianthus
Botanical name   Clianthus
Details   Seeds collected from assorted red and pink flowering shrubs in the blockhill gardens. Seed can contain some white fluff, the dried pulp from the seed casing, this is NOT mould or fungus.
Drought tolerance  
Frost sensitive  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Propagate     November   January   December   October  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  N fixer  native  red  tender 
Price   $4.40  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 9 in stock   Order
Assorted capsicum seed

Assorted capsicum seed

Common name   Pepper
Botanical name   Capsicum
Details   A random selection of sweet to mild peppers. We find these plants will last for several seasons in the glasshouse but die off in winter outside in North Canterbury.
Edible  
Frost sensitive  
Propagate     November   September   October  
Tags     annual  edible  perennial  tender  vegetable 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 7 in stock   Add to order
Service berry seeds

Service berry seeds

Common name   June berry, Saskatoon
Botanical name   Amelanchier alnifolia
Details   Produces flowers and edible fruit after 5 - 6 years. Slow to germinate as seed requires sold stratification
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Propagate     February   March   April   May  
Tags     berries  perennial 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Out of stock
Hardenbergia vine seeds

Hardenbergia vine seeds

Common name   Coral vine
Botanical name   Hardenbergia
Details   Vigorous evergreen climber native to Australia. Requires a warm, sheltered location. Can grow in dry conditions. Purple or pink and white flowers loved by bees in early spring.
Drought tolerance  
Evergreen  
Frost sensitive  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  N fixer  purple  tender  vine 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Flowers   Pink / purple
Watch Learn More  Order
Red cherry guava seeds

Red cherry guava seeds

Common name   Strawberry guava
Botanical name   Psidium cattleianum
Details   Small evergreen tree or shrub slowly growing to 6 meters. Native to Brazil. Red fruit, up to 3cm in diameter, with numerous hard small seeds. Rich in vitamin C
Edible  
Evergreen  
Frost sensitive  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Tags     edible  evergreen  fruit  perennial  red  tender  tree 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 7 in stock   Order
Thornless Honey Locust Seed

Thornless Honey Locust Seed

Botanical name   Gleditsia triacanthos f.inermis
Details   Excellent shade and autumn colour tree. Produces very large pods with sticky sweet pulp, valued for stock fodder. Thrives in the heat and dry.
Drought tolerance  
Jugulone tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Tags     deciduous  N fixer  tree 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order

Learn about foodscaping / food forest gardening

Develop an understanding of how to design and implement your own food forest garden with a one on one guided tour and discussion session.
  • Explore the extensive, established forest garden at blockhill
  • Learn identify, develop and exploit niches to grow a wider range of useful plants
  • Discuss mixed and companion planted polycultures and guilds
  • Understand plant succession for ecosystem transition and transformation
  • Witness beneficial insects and extreme biodiversity
  • Meet the chooks, ducks and pigs and see how they fit into the system
  • Overview of useful hand tools
2 hours
  food forest  education  gardening  permaculture 
$80.00
View 4 photos

Water wise land shaping and rain harvesting strategies

  • Tour the numerous terraces, swales and water other catchment systems and learn how they intercept, redirect and retain water in the landscape
  • Witness how swales and raised beds can be deployed in a food forest setting and how they benefit chickens, ducks and pigs
  • Discuss and demonstrate various tools and techniques
  • Rainwater harvesting, tanks, piping and pumps
  • Utilising grey water and run-off with trees and gardens
2 hours
  swale  water  education 
$80.00
View 4 photos
Lavender seed

Lavender seed

Botanical name   Lavandula
Details   Seed collected from a selection of different lavendar plants of varying type, some seed grown and some commercial cultivars.
Drought tolerance  
Perennial  
Tags     flowers  purple 
Price   $3.90  40 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Purple Akeake Seeds

Purple Akeake Seeds

Botanical name   Dodonea viscosa
Details   A reasonably fast growing NZ native bushy shrub or small tree with purple leaves. Good for creating shelter and controlling erosion. The timber from akeake is one of the hardest native woods. It was traditionally used for paddles, weapons, digging sticks and spade blades.
Drought tolerance  
Evergreen  
Perennial  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  native  purple  tree 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Colour   Purple
Flowers   Pink
Forest layer   low-tree
Wind tolerance   Excellent
Watch Learn More Only 1 in stock   Order
Honesty seeds

Honesty seeds

Common name   Annual honesty
Botanical name   Lunaria annua
Details   Easy to grow from seed and tends to naturalize. An annual or biennial growing to 90 cm with large, coarse, pointed oval leaves. In spring and summer it bears terminal racemes of violet flowers, followed by showy, light brown, translucent, disc-shaped seedpods the skin of which falls off to release the seeds, revealing a central membrane which is white with a silvery sheen, 3 - 8 cm in diameter.
Tags     flowers  pink 
Price   $2.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 1 in stock   Order
Parsley seeds (mixed)

Parsley seeds (mixed)

Common name   Garden parsley
Botanical name   Petroselinum crispum
Details   A mix of flat and curly leafed parsley. Great herb and insect plant.
Edible  
Tags     edable  herb 
Price   $3.90  40 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 8 in stock   Order
Kowhai seeds

Kowhai seeds

Botanical name   Sophora tetraptera
Details   Large yellow flowers from September to November loved by bellbird and tui. Seed requires scarification before sowing. Mechanical scarification works best for this species. Reasonable results can also be achieved with hot water treatment.
Drought tolerance  
Evergreen  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  N fixer  native  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Watch Learn More Only 2 in stock   Order
Catnip seeds

Catnip seeds

Botanical name   Nepeta cataria
Details   A short-lived perennial, plant that grows to be 50–100 cm tall and wide, which blooms pink or white from late spring through autumn. Loved by felines, catnip is also used in herbal teas. It can be a repellent for certain insects, including aphids.
Drought tolerance  
Perennial  
Tags     cats  fragrance  perennial  seeds 
Price   $3.90  50 seeds
Watch Learn More  Order
Paulownia Seed

Paulownia Seed

Common name   princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree
Botanical name   Paulownia tomentosa
Details   Deciduous hardwood tree with very large leaves. Fragrant flowers, large and violet-blue in colour are produced before the leaves, in early spring. Native to central and western China. An extremely fast-growing in the right conditions reaching a height of 10 - 25m
Perennial  
Tags     deciduous  flowers  pink  tree 
Price   $4.90  20 seeds
Learn More Out of stock
Snapdragon seeds

Snapdragon seeds

Common name   African daisies, daisybushes
Botanical name   Antirrhinum
Details   Antirrhinum is a genus of plants commonly known as dragon flowers, snapdragons and dog flower because of the flowers' fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed. They are native to rocky areas of Europe, the United States, Canada, and North Africa.
Tags     annual  flowers  red 
Price   $3.90  50 seeds
Learn More Only 8 in stock   Order
Red Broom Seeds

Red Broom Seeds

Common name   Ruby Scotch Broom
Botanical name   Cytisus Ruby
Details   Seed collected from Cytisus Ruby, a small, fast growing, shrub with an abundance of deep, crimson-red flowers from late spring and early summer. Due to cross pollination or genetic diversity the seed may produce plants with some yellow flowers as per photos.
Drought tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  N fixer  red  shrub  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Learn More Out of stock
Date   December 23, 2018
Details   Zone 4 conversion / improvement - Moving plastic sheeting that had been in place for several months
Tags     2018  December  Progress  Zone4 
View map
Babaco cutting

Babaco cutting

Common name   Mountain papaya
Botanical name   Vasconcellea × heilbornii or Carica pentagona
Details  

Stem cuttings from mature plants growing under cover in North Canterbury

Propagate and grow your own babaco plants quick and easy with stem cuttings. Simply place the cutting 1 third into the soil (right way up) and keep damp in a sunny, sheltered, warm location. Roots will form around the bottom cut surface.

Plants are self fertile, so only one plant is required to set fruit.

High success rate and should produce fruit in 12 – 18 months.
Wind tolerance   poor due to big leaves
Flowers   white
Forest layer   low-tree
Frost sensitive  
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Propagation method   Cutting
Tags     subtropical  fruit  cuttings  propagation 
Price   $3.90  15cm stem cutting
Watch MORE Only 9 in stock   Order

Regenerative planting - 10 year update

Details   The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now...

When we arrived most of the land was grass, exposed to the sun and wind. Heavy clay soil added to the challenge and progress was slow initially but as our knowledge and understanding improved things accelerated and once our pioneer, nurse trees reached shoulder height then things really kicked into high gear.

Lifting the wind off the surface of the land, blocking some of the strong sun and increasing biomass all helped to improve the conditions for our subsequent plantings as well as the earlier, initial attempts that did not enjoy life out in the open.

Grass has mostly been replaced by deep rooted, perennial plants, many of which we chop heavily and regularly to feed the soil and aid the productive fruit, nut and berry plants.

The photos show 10 years of progress looking North
Date   December 30, 2020
Tags     progress  zone2 
Related info
Tree growth on terraces

Tree growth on terraces

Details   6 years of growth from 2014 - 2020
As part of our water wise landshaping, we spent considerable effort creating a number of hand dug terraces as well as having a mini digger create an access track on a sloping amphitheater.
Terraces allow for improved rainwater infiltration, reducing runoff and erosion while also making it easier to work and harvest from the trees.
This particular area is a nice sun trap and has excellent cold air drainage. The biggest challenge is the dry and, in some places, the blackberry. Here we grow a number of fruit tree types with a focus on apricot.
Date   April 28, 2020
Tags     terrace  trees  progress  zone3 
Read More
Planting shelves

Planting shelves

I grow a lot of plants and trees from seeds. One space saving way that I have come up with is to use the vertical wall space at the back of the house where my nursery is located. Adding these metal 'gutters' as plant growing shelves has given plenty more growing area situated at perfect working height.
March 23, 2019
  tree  seedling  planting  zone1 
Olmec Sinclair
Arbour Construction

Arbour Construction

After hand milling macrocarpa tree with electric chainsaw I was looking for a project to utilise the rugged timber and decided to create a rugged arbour behind the house to improve the look and feel while usefully supporting some deciduous fruiting vines, the hardy kiwi berry.

This area had never really been well used, despite being so close to the house and easily accessible via the concrete pathway. Part of this project involves improving the productivity of garden.

After coming up with a suitable plan there was a decent amount of work clearing the existing plants and attempting to eradicate the twitch grass. I imagine this is going to take several passes. At this stage it has been sown in a cover crop for winter.

Concrete footings were cast with galvanized metal brackets to create a sturdy base, elevate the posts to keep them dry and make any future repairs reasonably easy.

Melisa helped assemble the heavy timber framework and metal piping.

Final phase is the planting of the vines (waiting patiently in pots) and training them up and over the arbour frame.
May 18, 2020
  construction  zone1 
Olmec Sinclair
View 4 photos
Rosa Rugosa Seeds

Rosa Rugosa Seeds

Botanical name   Rosa Rugosa
Details   Large edible fruits (hips), which resembles cherry tomatoes, 2-3cm diameter, in late summer and early autumn. Plants often bear fruit and flowers at the same time. The leaves typically turn bright yellow before falling in autumn.
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Tags     berries  edible  flowers  perennial  shrub  white 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
Flowers   White
Watch Learn More  Order
Grafting Loquat

Grafting Loquat

Details   After several seasons of failure with established, outdoor trees I refined my technique.
Finally I can report on my successful attempts at grafting improved varieties of loquat onto seedling grown trees, both indoors in pots as well as outdoor trees up to 12 years old.

The summary:
  • Switched from whip and tongue to cleft technique for the graft union
  • Covered entire scion with buddy tape
  • On outdoor grafts enclose in plastic bread bag for several weeks
Date   April 22, 2024
Tags     grafting  loquat 
Olmec Sinclair
Lear More
Spring grafting season for fruit and nut trees August - October

Spring grafting season for fruit and nut trees August - October

Wood is cut and graded in June for dispatch in July – August. On receipt, scion wood will need to be stored refrigerated until the appropriate local grafting time.

Length: 150 – 170mm with 3 - 4 buds

Diameter: 5 – 12mm


Grafting is the process of adding part of a known, desirable tree onto existing, growing roots of a similar species. This process offers many benefits such as having many types of apple on a single tree or influencing the characteristics of the tree such as size, soil requirements and disease resistance.
  June   July   August   September   October  
  graft  fruit  trees 
Scion / bud wood for graftingAll about Fruit Tree Grafting

Fertilised Silkie Eggs

Details   Silkies are the sweetest, fluffiest chickens and make fantastic pets. They have a docile nature and if handled from a young age make excellent 'lap chickens'. They require all the same care as regular chickens, but because they have special fluffy feathers that look like fur, they need a dry place to keep out of the rain. Their feathers can become saturated with water quite quickly. Once their feathers get too wet they can get chilled and this could lead to health problems. So it is important they have shelter from wet weather.

We do not always have eggs available but please contact us to check on availability. Eggs are not posted due to risk of damage during shipping. Eggs can be picked up directly from Blockhill. The fertilised eggs are from Mottle Silkie hens and a White Bearded Silkie rooster. Babies usually have a mix of black and white feathers. We also occasionally have unsexed silkie babies to go to good homes.

If you would like to come meet our Silkie friends, or if you would like to buy some fertilised eggs then please get in touch by filling out the form below, or email melisa@blockhill.co.nz
Tags     buy  silkie eggs 
Price   $15.00  per half dozen
Learn more

Rootstock compatibility for different types of tree

Scions of desirable species must be grafted onto a suitable, compatible root system or ultimately the graft with be rejected by the host tree.
The roots determine to size, growth rate and suitable soil conditions for the tree while the scion controls the flowers and fruit type and timing.
Most are only self compatible and so apple must be grafted to apple but as usual there are exceptions such as almonds onto peach.
  grafting 
Olmec Sinclair
Learn more about Grafting Compatibility
Pear - Ya scion / bud wood

Pear - Ya scion / bud wood

Botanical name   Pyrus bretschneideri
Rootstock   Pear, Quince with interstock
Variety   Chinese white pear
Details   This Asian pear originated in China but is now grown in various regions around the world.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
Learn More Out of stock
Plum - Black Doris scion / bud wood

Plum - Black Doris scion / bud wood

Details   Japanese plum of medium size, with purple black skin and dark red sweet, juicy flesh. Ripening mid to late season.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Price for 4 or more   $3.00  each if you buy 4 or more
Tags     plum  scion  grafting 
Harvest     March  
Learn More Out of stock
Nashi - Hosui scion / bud wood

Nashi - Hosui scion / bud wood

Details   Absolutely delicious to eat, Nashi Hosui pears are renowned for their sweetness, juiciness, and perfect balance of acidity. Their large, golden-brown fruits boast a distinctive russeted texture, and their fine consistency adds to their appeal. Additionally, Nashi Hosui trees are partially self-fertile, simplifying the pollination process for growers.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     fruit  graft  scion 
Harvest     February  
Learn More Out of stock
Plum - Purple King scion / bud wood

Plum - Purple King scion / bud wood

Details   Large, rounded, yellow fleshed fruit with red-purple skin. Sweet and juicy with a tendency to go dry and mealy when over ripe. Heavy cropper performing well in warmer areas. Cross pollinates with most other plums.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     plum  scion  stone fruit 
Harvest     January   February  
Learn More Out of stock
Shiro Plum

Shiro Plum

Botanical name   Prunus domestica
Details   A Japanese variety, this tree produces medium sized golden yellow fruit with dense sweet and juicy flesh that clings to the stone.
Early to mid season
Supposedly best pollinated by Santa Rosa although I have been getting good yields despite not having Santa Rosa
Forest layer   canopy
Flowers   White
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     plum  fruit 
Rating  
Learn More
Cherry - Mix scion / bud wood

Cherry - Mix scion / bud wood

Details   Selection of large fruiting cherries suitable for eating fresh, varieties unknown
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     fruit  graft  scion 
Harvest     December  
Out of stock
Luisa Plum

Luisa Plum

Botanical name   Prunus domestica
Details   This plum variety boasts large, red-yellow skinned fruit with a vibrant yellow flesh and a unique dimple on its cheek, taking on an elongated heart-shaped form. Notably sweet and juicy, it offers an exceptional taste experience. The tree yields heavily, exhibiting precocious and consistent cropping year after year.
It is self-fertile, though cross-pollination with 'Billington' can enhance fruit set.
The plum is nearly freestone, making it easier to enjoy.

Typically ripe for harvesting in January or February.
Diameter   1.00
Forest layer   canopy
Flowers   White
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     plum  fruit 
Learn More
President

President

Colour   Purple skin, gold flesh
Harvest     February  
Details   Late season, large to very large, dark purple/blue skin, oval, sweet when ripe, juicy
Grafted to seedling tree along with many other plums, east of driveway
Diameter   1.00
Tags     plum  fruit 
View map Related info
Almond - Paper Shell scion / bud wood

Almond - Paper Shell scion / bud wood

Details   Sweet almonds with easy to open shell (no tools required). Self fertile.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     almond  scion 
Out of stock
Apple - Braeburn scion / bud wood

Apple - Braeburn scion / bud wood

Details   The Braeburn apple is a popular and well-known variety of apple known for its unique flavour profile and attractive appearance. It is believed to have originated in New Zealand in the early 1950s as a chance seedling. Since then, it has gained popularity and is now grown in various apple-producing regions around the world.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Apple - Freyberg scion / bud wood

Apple - Freyberg scion / bud wood

Details   A yellow green skin with some russeting. A juicy, aromatic apple with, creamy white flesh with a firm texture. Flavour is a combination of apple, pear and banana with a touch of anise and liquorice.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Apple - Fuji scion / bud wood

Apple - Fuji scion / bud wood

Details   A large, sweet, crisp, fine textured, and complexly flavoured apple. This vigorous tree produces excellent eating fruit that store very well. A late season apple, Fuji has eating qualities that are similar to Red Delicious. Requires 500 chilling hours to set fruit. Tip bearing.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Apple - Granny Smith scion / bud wood

Apple - Granny Smith scion / bud wood

Details   The classic late season green apple that ripens to a pale preen-yellow. great for eating fresh or cooked although skins can be a little tough.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Apple - Irish Peach scion / bud wood

Apple - Irish Peach scion / bud wood

Details   Irish Peach is a very early season apple. It has good natural resistance to many of the diseases that affect apple trees. For such an early apple, the flavour is good, although like all early varieties it really needs to be eaten straight from the tree.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Apple - Royal Gala scion / bud wood

Apple - Royal Gala scion / bud wood

Details   The Royal Gala apple is a popular variety of apple known for its sweet and crisp flavour, making it a favourite among many apple enthusiasts. It is one of the most widely grown apple cultivars in the world.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     apple  scion 
Related info Out of stock
Alexanders Seeds

Alexanders Seeds

Common name   alisanders, horse parsley, smyrnium
Botanical name   Smyrnium olusatrum
Details   With a taste live celery or parsley, this easy care plant can be eaten raw or cooked. I have grown this plant with good results in areas infested with twitch / cooch grass. The plants self seed and grow again the following season, replacing the grass.
Edible  
Tags     annual  edible 
Price   $1.90  20 seeds
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Apricot - Jumbo scion / bud wood

Apricot - Jumbo scion / bud wood

Details   A chance seedling grown in 2009 that produces huge fruit with a free stone. Best eaten fresh a some fibre near the stone.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Price for 4 or more   $3.00  each if you buy 4 or more
Tags     apricot  scion  stone fruit 
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A bespoke rain gauge

A bespoke rain gauge

Our high tech, digital rain gauge device finally failed and rather than replace it with another complex 'solution' I decided to construct a more basic, traditional instrument, only on a larger scale. Essentially this is just a funnel that intercepts and collects a given area of rainfall and concentrates it in a narrow tube, magnifying the results for easy measuring.

I purchased a cheap stainless steel funnel with a diameter of 52mm connected to 2 meters of clear plastic tubing with a diameter of 12.5mm.
The ratio of cross-sectional area between the two diameters is 17 so each 1mm of rainfall gathered by the funnel displays as 17mm in the tubing.

The tap at the bottom is required to drain the gauge after each measuring period.
August 25, 2019
  rain  technology  zone1 
Olmec Sinclair
Pear - Beurre Hardy scion / bud wood

Pear - Beurre Hardy scion / bud wood

Botanical name   Pyrus
Rootstock   Quince (dwarfing), Pear
Details   Medium to large, yellow with cinnamon russet. Smooth, melting, buttery and very juicy. Rich aromatic flavour. Vigorous, healthy tree, quite hardy. Regular heavy crops in a warm location.Beurre Hardy (Pyrus communis) is in flowering group 4. Beurre Hardy is not self-fertile and needs a pollination partner of a different variety nearby. Pollinate with Clapp's Favorite, Conference, Nashi Hosui, Williams B COne of the few pear cultivars compatible with quince rootstock and therefore suitable for creating dwarf pear trees.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
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Pear - Conference scion / bud wood

Pear - Conference scion / bud wood

Details   A long necked pear, one of the most popular varieties, known for its sweet and juicy flavour, making it a favourite among many fruit enthusiasts.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
Out of stock
A plague of rats

A plague of rats

What with an abundance of edibles and great places to hide at blockhill there has been something of an epidemic of rats. While we are generally happy to share with all the creatures it gets a little concerning when they can be heard chewing on things in the ceiling. Fearing our water pipes and electric cabling might be damaged we decided to push back. With a little help from Victor we were soon dispatching rats (also named Victor) daily.
August 15, 2019
  rat  pest  zone1 
Pear - Doyenne du Comice scion / bud wood

Pear - Doyenne du Comice scion / bud wood

Details   Large classic variety of dessert pear, bearing delicious pears in mid-to late autumn. Green skin flushed red with white, melting juicy flesh of rich flavour. Tastes like sweetened cinnamon. Mid to late season. Upright and vigorous habit. High chilling hours needed to set fruit.As most pears need cross pollination, the planting of more than one variety is recommended or the growing of a double grafted tree. Pollinators include - Beurre Bosc, Williams bon Cretien, Winter Cole, Winter Nelis, Nashi Hosui and Nashi Nijiseiki.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
Propagation method   Graft
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Little brown frog

Little brown frog

Often heard, never seen, this little creature has been chirping away quite frequently since our wetland has matured.
I was surprised and excited to discover it hiding in the pile of bricks.
March 01, 2013
  frog 
Myrtus Ugni AKA Chilean Guava or NZ Cranberry

Myrtus Ugni AKA Chilean Guava or NZ Cranberry

Tags     2022 
Baby Fantail

Baby Fantail

Known for its friendly 'cheet cheet' call and energetic flying antics, the aptly named fantail is one of the most common and widely distributed native birds on the New Zealand mainland.

It is easily recognised by its long tail which opens to a fan.
February 24, 2010
  Fantail  Native  Bird 
Hover fly

Hover fly

Tags     2022 
Hugelkultur 101

Hugelkultur 101

Date   February 03, 2019
Details   A hot dry summer like this reminds us of the value of hugelkultur and retaining soil moisture. So, with the help of our young and energetic French helpers we threw together another log mound garden using rotted willow sourced from the nearby stream.
  1. Dig a hole
  2. Pack in the logs and any other surplus organic matter trying not to have too many air pockets
  3. Cover it over with the dirt from the hole
  4. Stop and have a beer
  5. When favourable weather returns add seeds and plants or just let nature do its thing...
Tags     hugelkultur  zone2 
View 3 photos
Quooks!

Quooks!

Today the baby quails have hatched and the big clucky chook has become a mother! There are six babies altogether. There were 7 this morning, but that's a sad and rather funny story.....basically the little quail was sitting up in the nest box and was chirping away. It then got excited and jumped giddily out of the nest box, bounced off the ramp, landed on the floor and was promptly picked up in the beak of hungry chook who thought it was a scrap of food. We tried to rescue it, but it was too tiny to survive such a trama. But at least it got to have a near flight experience in it's short little life.
December 05, 2009
  chooks  chickens  quail 
Melisa Sinclair
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Parnassus Heights

Parnassus Heights

Looking west from the top of the hills that form the southern edge of our valley. The Waiau river can be seen catching late evening sun.
March 22, 2010
  waiau  view  river 
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Pig on a leash

Pig on a leash

Ever since we got our first kune kune pigs we had imagined tethering them, or using them on a leash to 'mow' grass in various areas where free ranging pigs would be a disaster. Our most recent addition, Potamus, is proving to be very willing and trainable and quickly got the hang of the harness and the resulting reward of visiting fresh pasture.
August 05, 2018
  pigs  grass  zone2 
Olmec Sinclair
Pigs
Pear - Williams Bon Chretien scion / bud wood

Pear - Williams Bon Chretien scion / bud wood

Details   The Williams Bon Chretien pear, also known as the Williams pear or Bartlett pear in North America, is a popular and well-known variety of pear.Large long necked, green-yellow fruit, that is ideal for eating and bottling. Fruit will naturally fall in February and will keep up to 3 months. Good pollinator. Early season.Pollinators include - Beurre Bosc, Doyenne du Comice, Taylors Gold, Winter Cole, Winter Nelis, Nashi Hosui and Nashi Nijiseiki.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     pear  scion 
Propagation method   Graft
Related info Out of stock
Babaco

Babaco

Common name   Babaco, Mountain Papaya, Champagne Fruit
Botanical name   Carica x heilbornii
Details   Produces large, yellow fruit pentagonal in cross-section - Self fertile.
Easily propagated from stem cuttings.
Variety   Pentagona
Diameter   1.00
Forest layer   low-tree
Height (m)   2
Flowers   Small white
Edible  
Evergreen  
Propagation method   Cutting
Frost sensitive  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun - part shade
Soil type   Rich, free draining
Wind tolerance   Low (large leaves)
Tags     exotic  sub-tropical  fruit 
Rating  
LEARN More + BUY

Garage improvement - 3 years later

Details   Secret swale at west end of workshop. Planted with bulbs, tagasaste for nitrogen and quick frost canopy over lemon and climbing kiwifruit. Ground cover of oregano and alpine strawberries.
Date   August 24, 2015
Tags     upgrade  zone1 
View 4 photos
Plum - Elephant Heart scion / bud wood

Plum - Elephant Heart scion / bud wood

Details   Japanese variety with very large heart-shaped fruit and extremely dark red, sweet and juicy flesh. Superb freestone plum. Mid to late season. Good pollinator. Pollinators include - Omega, Santa Rosa and Sultan.
Price   $3.90  each
Price for 2 or more   $3.50  each if you buy 2 or more
Tags     plum  scion  stone fruit 
Out of stock
Zones as a design concept

Zones as a design concept

Thoughtful placement of elements within the overall system and their relationship to one another is key to achieving an effective layout and efficient working space.

The zone model of permaculture in its simplest form is generally represented as a number of concentric areas radiating outward from the primary dwelling space or focal point of activity. The basic ideas is that the more frequently we interact with an element the closer and easier to access it should be. Like many aspects of the permaculture way, this is really just commonsense, something eroded by cheap, abundant energy and technology.

As always, this concept is a guide only and there may be exceptions. For example it may make sense to locate a seasonal garden at at a distant location if that site reduces the need for daily irrigation.

Sometimes placement is non-negotiable, such as a rural mailbox requiring daily visits. This can result in zones being drawn out along routes of frequent travel or focusing around areas of high productivity (water bodies, rich soils etc.)

Being a subset of a living, dynamic system, zone boundaries are not set in stone and may pulse with the seasons or shift as the biological state or built environment changes and develops through time.
  permaculture  design  mapping 
Olmec Sinclair
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Calendula Seed

Calendula Seed

Common name   pot marigold, common marigold or Scotch marigold
Botanical name   Calendula officinalis
Details   Yellow or orange flowers, the petals of which can be added to salad. Makes a great companion plant in the garden.
Edible  
Tags     edible  flowers  orange  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
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Piptanthus nepalensis seeds

Piptanthus nepalensis seeds

Flowers   Yellow
Common name   Evergreen Laburnum
Botanical name   Piptanthus nepalensis
Details   This Himalayan shrub grows easily from seed, is evergreen in mild sheltered sites, semi-evergreen elsewhere, losing its leaves in hard frost but soon recovering again in spring. The growth is upright and flexible, allowing plants to be trained on warm walls where they are sheltered and flower more profusely. The blooms are large and bright yellow, like those of laburnum but in short upright clusters. Although good drainage is important, make sure plants are watered in summer to prevent sudden die-back.
Evergreen  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     evergreen  flowers  N fixer  shrub  yellow 
Price   $4.50  20 seeds
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Foxglove Seeds

Foxglove Seeds

Botanical name   Digitalis purpurea
Details   Foxglove, scientifically known as Digitalis, is a striking and charming biennial or perennial flowering plant renowned for its tall spires of tubular, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers come in a range of colors, including purple, pink, white, and occasionally yellow, adding a touch of elegance to gardens and natural landscapes.

Notably, foxglove is a favorite among gardeners and pollinators alike.

The plant is characterized by its rich green, lance-shaped leaves and can reach heights of 2 to 5 feet (60-150 cm). However, its exquisite beauty conceals its toxic nature, as all parts of the foxglove plant contain compounds known as cardiac glycosides, which can be highly toxic if ingested. While its toxic properties make it unsuitable for consumption, foxglove has been historically used in traditional medicine for its potential cardiovascular effects, though its use in modern medicine is carefully controlled and regulated.

Whether for its aesthetic appeal in gardens or its historical significance in medicine, the foxglove plant remains a captivating and enigmatic botanical specimen.
Tags     annual  flowers  pink 
Price   $3.90  100 seeds
Family   Plantaginaceae
Forest layer   herbaceous
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