Blogs
An ode to laundry
A gypsy arrives bearing trinkets, spinning yarns and sorely lamenting the fact the kitchen is now indoors.
Kiwis in the kitchen
When nocturnal noises interrupt Polly and James’ sleep, it could mean unexpected visitors of anything from iconic wildlife to decidedly dubious characters.
Ruffling feathers
Polly and James welcome a major upgrade to their culinary arrangements with the arrival of an indoor kitchen and a flock of chooks.
Hunting and gathering for our mud-brick home
Polly and James feel there’s a bit of magic involved in their hunt for building materials.
Gone with the wind
House construction becomes frustrating with unsolicited input from a three-year-old and a devil wind.
Raising a bush baby
Polly ponders the joys of raising babes in the bush
A beginner’s guide to bush fashion
Polly comes to the conclusion that although bush wardrobes owe nothing to fashion, friendships are more desirable than clothes.
Less than willing woofers
The ww part of wwoof is not always obvious.
Showers and cling film
With the arrival of hot water and some imaginative use of cling film, the level of luxury in life off the grid moves up a notch
A shaggy dog story
The newest addition to the family generates a case of puppy love.
Beware the posse of pillaging pigs
The idea of a gift economy works well in a weekend café but is not so welcome when garden pests help themselves
Meeting the neighbours
Although not exactly living next door, James and Polly’s new friends are models of neighbourliness.
Welcome to the Lighthouse
Polly and James bask in the (mostly) golden silence of their surroundings and become involved in a community venture run as a gift economy.
Preparing for guests – in an off-grid house
Polly and James welcome visitors to their one-roomed mud-brick house although cooking in their open-air kitchen is still something of a challenge
A roof at last!
At last there’s a roof over their heads and Polly and James hunt for recycled treasure tales from a rumpty carava
From Versailles to the mud-brick house
Polly and James’ mud-brick house in the bush begins to take shape with assistance from a Frenchman who helped restore the Palace of Versailles.
The definition of “rumpty”
Life in the off-grid remoteness of the Northland bush suddenly blossoms with social conviviality and the good cheer of neighbours.
A newborn in a caravan
Mason bees, mice and a new baby… there’s no room for them all in an off-the-grid existence
The start of a new adventure
It sounded so romantic… living in off-grid self-sufficiency in the country... but then it rained… and rained
