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The in-depth experience

The in-depth experience

Soni & Kyle have the dubious privilege of being the first paying guests to stay with us. We shared an enjoyable two days discussing and exploring our permaculture inspired planting and water catchment systems as well as an introduction to scything.
A special thanks for the food, super delicious... also very colourful, loved the use of herbs.
May there always be enough water, sunshine and bees to compliment the labour and love you put into the land.
Soni & Kyle
October 04, 2013
Food Forest Weekend Experience

Food Forest Weekend Experience

Bali Experience

Bali Experience

May 11, 2005

Another day in Bali and I decide to make the most of it by traveling the short distance down to Buket (hill) Peninsula and visiting the cliff top temple of Ulu Watu.

hands on experience

hands on experience

Details   empower + improve + together
Unique experience and useful skills

Unique experience and useful skills

We want your experience and memories of blockhill to be positive and educational.
  • Spend time with like minded people.
  • Experience and learn new, useful and exciting things
  • Discover joy and value in living simply and lightly
  • Reconnect with the natural world
  • Learn to observe and interact
  • Turn problems into solutions
Food Forest Weekend Experience

Food Forest Weekend Experience

Summer 2023-24: North Canterbury, New Zealand

Grow your passion, interest and understanding of food forests and natural gardening

Experience and explore 2 hectares of established, 14 year old forest gardens

Liz and Andy

Liz and Andy

We couldn't have hoped for a better first WWOOFing experience. It was great to learn about your farming approach, I'm encouraged to try more. Loved the cool fire bath too - a real novelty.
Ireland & South Africa
January 14, 2014
Hitch-hiking through

Hitch-hiking through

Ben and Anna spent a productive few days helping around the garden, pruning trees and processing firewood while finding plenty of time to relax and enjoy the food, coffee and comfort.
Living out in the wee cabin was a perfectly peaceful and rustic experience. We will remember our time here with the utmost fondness.
United States
October 30, 2013
Malaysia : 3 Weeks

Malaysia : 3 Weeks

From KL to Kuantan and Kota Bharu, Mayalsia is a full-on experience. Spires and cal to prayer contrast with the steel and glass of a capitalist ecconomy.
May 14, 2005
View Exhibition:
Bali - Into Asia

Bali - Into Asia

April 16, 2005

Bali explodes on your senses in an exotic, vibrant and pungent experience. The roads, even in the main town of Kuta, are narrow, crowded and rough. I even had a game of chess with some local masters, sitting on the edge of the road.

Ubuntu 9.04 - Small Steps

Ubuntu 9.04 - Small Steps

I shaved 47% (17 seconds) off my boot up time by upgrading from 8.10 to 9.04. I was a little concerned about destroying my installation and 'starting over' but thanks to my experience from previous installations and good decisions made in planning I was able to get things running and transfered quite efficiently.

April 25, 2009
2009/ubuntu904.jpg
Misty dawn by the pond

Misty dawn by the pond

Details   If you're an early riser this is the type of scene you might experience on a misty morning.
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 

Valuable Exchange

Enjoy an empowering hands-on experience without having to hand over a lot of money

Your payment helps cover running costs

We value the contribution you make while you are here
Power out

Power out

We just experienced 32 hours without electricity thanks to a big dumping of snow. A sneak preview of post collapse civilisation?
June 07, 2012
First internship

First internship

Another first for blockhill, hosting an overseas intern / student for 3 months. Zach joined us in September for a deep immersion permaculture internship and learning experience as part of his agronomy studies. As anticipated he participated in a wide range of activities and events.
December 19, 2017
Need a reason? Here are a few...

Need a reason? Here are a few...

We want your experience and memories of blockhill to be positive and educational.
  • Experience and learn new, useful and exciting things. A self reliant lifestyle means confidently performing a wide range of tasks. Get involved in daily activities
  • Discover joy and value in living simply and lightly. Feel the freedom of low cost, low impact living in harmony with the rhythm of the seasons.
  • Reconnect with the natural world. Recognise patterns in nature and draw off of those when designing.
  • Turn problems into solutions. Limitations feed creativity and lead to unexpected and beautiful outcomes.
  • Comfortable and funky accommodation
  • Educational experiences and dedicated learning activities such as flax weaving and plant identification

David Weiher

We had a wonderful time at Blockhill Forest Garden, hearing from Olmec about water-wise landscaping and his journey and experiences with this place that he and Melisa have put in so much effort and passion to create. Highly recommend coming here to appreciate and learn about “working with Nature”
April 04, 2023

2 nights in the tiny house accommodation

A rustic little getaway surrounded by nature. Relax in the hammocks on sunny days or soak in the fire-bath under the night sky to complete your immersive weekend experience.
Sit on the private deck overlooking native bush and hilly farmland. Enjoy birdsong and insects humming during the day, and in the evening get ready for the snuffling of hedgehogs and the possibility of possums on the roof.
  • A cosy and private cabin with queen sized mezzanine loft bed and additional fold-out futon downstairs
  • Easy access to outdoor composting toilet and fire/solar heated shower and outdoor bath
  • Cooking with wood fire or use the electric toaster, hotplates and oven for convenience
  • The cabin has running water and mini fridge
  • Suitable for up to 2 guests
  • Unsuitable for young children
  • No wifi (minimal cellphone and data coverage)
  • No smoking anywhere on the premises
Food and cooking
  • Provide your own food, prepare your own meals
  • Make use of Cheviot's local supermarket options Cheviot 4 Square and Harris Meats (25 minute drive)
  • Enjoy supplementary fresh fruit and seasonal herbs and vegetables from the forest garden

Erin Smith

Our experience at Blockhill was very enjoyable and educational. It was inspiring to see the relationship Olmec and Melisa have with their piece of land. We left with many ideas to get started on our own smaller project. Thank you
November 21, 2022
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
Flowers   White
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     plum  fruit 
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 
Rumi

Rumi

I got to stay with Olmec and Melisa for only 10 days, but every single day I learned so much about permaculture and sustainable living from them with a variety of tasks, and it was absolutely an amazing eye-opening experience! They have created a very unique and fascinating garden designed and managed in the way that makes the best use of beauty and strength of nature, which inspired me a lot. The organically grown vegetables and fruits were super fresh and delicious, and all the adorable animals made me smile every day:)) They are extraordinarily considerate and kindhearted people, full of useful knowledge and creativity. I cannot thank them enough for such a fruitful stay. Highly recommended for those who are willing to learn about permaculture practically to make it your own!
Japan
March 17, 2023
Tree Crops Follow-up Visit

Tree Crops Follow-up Visit

Details   In a follow-up visit, 5 years after their original blockhill experience back in 2017, the members of Canterbury branch of Tree Crops Association met for a wander round and catch up. A great afternoon of sharing our enthusiasm and appreciation of the botanical.
Date   March 12, 2023
The work-a-thon

The work-a-thon

Jules creating some 'dutch fireworks' with the angle grinder. Among (many) other things Jules helped trim back a section of the shed roof so we could install an improved rain catchment system.
I have had such an amazing time here the past week! You are such a great young couple full of energy and ideas, which has made the experience loads of fun.
-Jules
April 27, 2013
A student of 'the way'

A student of 'the way'

Kim was studying organic horticulture at the Lincoln BHU and wanted to get some real life experience by helping out in our garden and working on some permaculture projects. Together we collected materials and constructed a decent sized hugelkultur mound.
March 15, 2015

Shipping container tiny house

Self contained modified shipping container house with enclosed outdoor kitchen

Embrace the concept of 'less is more' and experience a simpler, low impact, small footprint way of living. Making extensive use of recycled materials and low-tech solutions, the container house is comfortable with clever use of space. Enjoy lush views out the expansive windows into the forest garden, alive with birds and bees.

The shipping container offers both a double and single bed as well as a hammock for relaxing in the attached conservatory. A small but well equipped kitchen will allow for simple meal preparation. The kitchen includes a mini fridge and gas cooking. You can also make use of the wood fire oven situated in the container space. The wood fire also heats the water for both the kitchen and the outdoor shower. The outdoor toilet is a rustic little outhouse in close proximity.
  • Suitable for up to two people
  • Not suitable for young children
  • No wifi (cellphone and mobile data coverage)
  • No smoking anywhere on the premises

Day 63 - Mount Taranaki

Dawn, the birth of a new day and fresh slate on which to burn the experiences of the day. A frame in time, a reference, a simple element with naturally defined start and end.

My motivation

Having grown up in rural New Zealand on a small organic farm with no electricity, low impact living was an obvious choice but not one I had really contemplated until about 2005.

I had lived in several cities since leaving home to study at high school. The urban lifestyle was exciting and was, at the time, a prerequisite for my career path into software and web design. After some time I decided to get outside my comfort zone and embarked on the obligatory overseas experience.

During my travels I encountered poor people, unfortunate conditions of over population, pollution and conflict yet almost everywhere a strong sense of family and community. This inspired me to return home with a new appreciation for the fantastic privilege we have here in New Zealand.
At first I just fitted back into my old life in Wellington but the more I looked about the more I realised that this experiment called civilization that we have come to take for granted is headed for rough times and possibly the rocks.

It became evident that serious issues like species extinction, peak oil and climate change pose an enormous challenge to humanity and that even minor disruptions to our 'just in time' way of life would have severe impacts on city living.

So I worked hard and kept my eyes peeled for a suitable location that might shelter me from the coming chaos. I wanted to be able to garden, raise a few animals, avoid rising sea level and generally attempt to survive the converging catastrophes of the 21st century.

A Cliffy Adventure

Yesterday morning started with a big adventure. We got up and fed the chooks but realised 2 of them were missing. The night before we had checked on them to see if they were going to sleep inside because it was so cold and snowy. But it turned out they were all getting in the tree. But then there was a bit of a squawk and a flap and flutter and Olmec said, 'I think one of them just went down'.

Well, the next morning when we found that two of them were missing, we thought well maybe two of them fell down the cliff! They didn't show up for a few hours. But then Olmec went over to feed the chooks again, and to dig for them so they could find worms, and to give a little bowl of food and water to the chook under the umbrella.....(isn't he sweet)....anyway, and he thought he heard the chooks somewhere down in the bush. So he climbed down in there (not where it was too steep) and he found them both, all disheveled and wet and feathers all chaotic and looking a bit disastrous.  He actually carried one of them back to safety. The other one had already almost found it's way up, so it just came on it's own.
Hopefully they won't be afraid to sleep in the tree after their traumatic experience. Though, now that they've eaten some grain, they've probably forgotten all about it.
October 11, 2009
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
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.
August 20, 2011
Benjamin

Benjamin

Of the four stays I had on my wwoofing experience in two months of wwoofing in New Zealand, my stay with Olmec and Melisa was the most comfortable. This couple is kind, welcoming, dedicated and smart. Staying in their container home was a treat and working with Olmec on the land was a great pleasure. All of the tasks set up were interesting, were explained in great detail, and included great conversation about many aspects of permaculture, grafting fruit trees, animals, and life! If you are wwoofing to really learn more about permaculture and sustainability and you would like to work in a closed-loop food forest, stay with Olmec and Melisa! Thank you both!
USA / Korea
February 11, 2019
Japanese Raisin Tree

Japanese Raisin Tree

Details   A deciduous Tree growing to 10 m by 7 m. It is hardy to zone (UK) 6 and is not frost tender.
Common name   Japanese Raisin Tree
Botanical name   Hovenia dulcis
Family   Rhamnaceae
Height (m)   10
Edible  
Perennial  
Date   July 14, 2013
Flowers   June, July
New Year 2004-05

New Year 2004-05

A 10 day road trip round the North Island with my Danish flatmate Signe. Costal camping, rainy days, new year concert, lakes and snowy mountains.
December 27, 2004

Making dollars and sense

A brief look at how to be a lifestyle entrepreneur and make the ends meet while living on a small rural 'farm'.
I find it helps if hobbies and interests or things that you are doing anyway can be used to generate income or reduce expenses. This makes life a lot more enjoyable.
Pecan

Pecan

Details   North American nut tree growing to 50 meters. Prefers sunny stream sides
Common name   Pecan
Botanical name   Carya illinoinensis
Family   Juglandaceae
Height (m)   50
Seeds / nuts / tubers  
Edible  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Soil type   Moist
ActionThis

ActionThis

August 23, 2007
Recently I have been involved in the production of ActionThis, a web based project management application. The system offers a suite of tools designed to improve productivity and performance while making use of the latest in web technology and design.

Successful Web Design

As the internet has grown in complexity and become more competitive marketplace the opportunities for good and bad design have also increased.

This article is an overview of things to avoid and guidelines to follow for successful web design and development.

 

June 04, 2008
Bio fuel (turning food into energy)

Bio fuel (turning food into energy)

Ok, so this isn't what most people mean when they say bio fuels but turning lunch into energy certainly can reduce dependence on fossil fuel.

Our push mower is cheap to run, quiet, doesn't smell bad, easy to service and takes up hardly any room in the shed. Oh, and it keeps you fit! What's not to love.
October 22, 2009
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
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 

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.
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 Only 3 in stock   Order
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
Osteospermum

Osteospermum

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
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 10 in stock   Order
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 
Related info Only 3 in stock   Order
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 Only 1 in stock   Order
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
Flowers   White
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     plum  fruit 
Rating  
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
Flowers   White
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Tags     plum  fruit 
Rating