Our Land

Displaying a vase or jar of home-grown flowers on the table is one of life’s greatest joys. We asked Akaroa’s Julia Atkinson-Dunn for tips on how to prolong the experience.

Traditional Christmas cards often feature sprigs of English mistletoe with white berries. Aotearoa’s native mistletoes are a much more spectacular sight at Christmas, lighting up southern beech forests with bright clusters of red, scarlet and yellow flowers.

Only eight years old, Longbush Cottage garden in the Wairarapa has earned four stars from the New Zealand Gardens Trust, and has developed a reputation for bringing colour and gardening inspiration to the region.   

Beechwoods, a first-time entry into the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, is a story of second-time love after loss. The one-hectare country garden has a woodland with a stream spanned by three bridges, a Japanese garden, vege patch, and esplanade along the road front.

October and November are busy times in the garden with spring blooms making themselves known and lots to plant to ensure a continuous supply of florals and delicious edibles in the months ahead.

The goal of building a retreat for people from all walks of life to share their views was overtaken by a plan to afforest a large chunk of hilly land west of Auckland.

One of the greatest pleasures of country living is the peace and quiet it offers; along with the chorus of native birds, I find solace in the quiet moments that are increasingly rare in urban settings.

The Golden Bay orchard dedicated to finding the perfect feijoa

Nigel Ritson has spent the last 35 years breeding feijoas, searching for the perfect fruit.

There's plenty to do in the height of autumn.

Chickens and gardens don’t normally mix, so it often comes down to a choice: do you fence the garden, fence the chooks, or allow them to thrive together?

Hoop-jumping and council consents: Michael Andrew’s journey of building a home from scratch

NZ Lifestyle Block editor Michael Andrew writes about the essential yet tedious hoop-jumping business of council consents.

The Pumpkin episode four: The rise and appeal of homegrown milk

The Pumpkin, is our podcast devoted to homesteading and permaculture in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Nelson Lebo shares his tips to stiffen defences with an effective yet affordable homemade fly trap.

The elder tree has been revered by human beings for millennia for its spiritual and medicinal applications.

Angela Clifford reflects on her almost two-decade journey into soil health.

Enjoy the final summer goodies and start to prepare for autumn.

8 plants to get through droughts

With water shortages becoming more common, here’s how you can keep your garden alive and thriving during the dry months.

These versatile structures not only add a touch of elegance, but also provide a framework for climbing plants.

Some of the best and most cost-effective fire prevention experts can be found on many New Zealand rural properties.

A mudbrick home in Golden Bay inspired by Native American and Mediterranean styles

This Kiwi chef is living his dream to build an adobe earth house and develop a permaculture block.

In a country like New Zealand, seldom is a block owner blessed with a tabletop-flat piece of land.

Rebecca reflects on the struggles of those who lived on their block of land before her family.

After a busy spring, it sometimes pays to take a break from the farm and head to the coast for its own unique bounty of kai.

A fresh start for a January garden

Start the new year with a thriving garden.

Summer is finally here meaning there's a lot to get done in the garden.

Rebecca Stewart explores the best ways to maximise food production on the block.

It’s the undisputed bane of many blocks, smothering pastures and strangling gardens.

Permaculture paradise in coastal Waikato

In coastal Waikato, two enthusiasts are channelling resilience and innovation to create a hub of permaculture, arts and spirituality.

You can use fresh or frozen fat when rendering.

Summer is on the horizon, so best to get your warm-weather produce blooming.

With summer approaching, it's important to take action on the farm now.

Rebecca Stewart: Living with the seasons

Rebecca reflects on the changes that come each day on the farm during a new season's approach

A “survival garden” can thrive perpetually with minimal inputs, conserving your time and energy.

Tagasaste grows fast, fixes nitrogen, feeds bees and stock, withstands extreme storms and droughts, and helps other seedlings grow.