How to integrate animals into a food forest garden

Megarhyssa nortoni

This strange looking insect with the long 'tail' appeared in the house the other day.

Looks like a cross between a dragon fly and a wasp. Fortunately it didn't hang around.

Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Brazil, and South Africa to help control horntail forest pests.

Bunnies treats and chew snacks

Rabbits love to chew, and if you prefer they aren’t chewing your furniture, give them our amazing chew snacks to enjoy instead!

The chew sticks sold here are approved by Norman and Pickles, and are safe and nutritious for all healthy bunnies. Chinchilla and Guinea Pig customers are also welcome to enjoy our apple stick products.

bunnies.blockhill.co.nz

Purple toadflax

Botanical name Linaria purpurea

Family Plantaginaceae

Details Native to Italy. Naturalised in many locations, spreading readily on stony waste ground. Long-lasting flowers which are very attractive to bees.

Diameter 1.00

Height (m) 0.3 - 0.7m

Flowers Purple

Perennial

Discussing the benefits of kunekune pigs

Details The sources discuss Kunekune pigs, a breed of pig known for their docile and friendly nature. The first source explores the intelligence and social behavior of pigs in general, highlighting their surprising cognitive abilities and complex social interactions. The second source provides a detailed overview of Kunekune pigs, covering their history, appearance, behaviour, and suitability as pets. The third source focuses on the use of Kunekune pigs in a permaculture system, emphasizing their value in soil conditioning, grass control, and overall ecosystem benefits.

Date October 15, 2024

Duration 9:39

File size 5.41 mb

Document

podcast/Kuni-kuni-pigs.mp...

Termites

Termites are a beneficial addition to the forest garden, helping to decompose dead wood and turn it into fertile soil.
Additionally, they aerate the soil which can help water and nutrients reach the plants and trees better, meaning trees grow faster.

There aren't many insects, or anything for that matter, that can decompose trees and almost any plant like termites can. Not only that, they also put the nutrients that were taken from that plant and put them back into the soil when they are decomposed.

September 18, 2022

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

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Over the past few years we (and others out there) have been experiencing an explosion in the number of green shield / vegetable / stink bugs (Nezara viridula). We try and be accommodating to the various other creatures we share the world with, however these things are especially annoying with the damage they do to summer vegetables and fruit. In particular we find they enjoy tomatoes, beans and corn with lesser damage done to capsicums and fruit.

March 27, 2020

Olmec Sinclair

Our experience

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

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

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