Our Land

Soil needs an open structure. Pugging destroys it.

The garden will be quieter but there’s still plenty to do.

A soil scientist is maximizing her growing capacity by planting well above ground without soil.

These native plants will reward you with health-giving properties (if you know where to look for them).

Even the smallest urban backyard can make room for the humble citrus tree.

If you love summer fruit, or fruit all year round, now is the time to go wild and plant your dream orchard.

Cathy Bouma never planned to have a herb business. Or a block.

The softer and squishier persimmons get, the better they are.

It’s technically not a nut, but Kristina is nuts for this nut.

Winter is coming. Prepare to fill the fireplace with wood from the best-suited firewood trees in your neck of woods.

Buying good quality hay can be a fraught business.

A serious pest of avocado trees has been found in NZ for the first time.

A good shelterbelt will filter the wind, provide food for birds and bugs and above all, keep stock happy.

On any given day you'll find Jane outdoors mixing up a comfrey fertiliser or brewing a chamomile tea.

Looking ahead to winter and summer is a smart move for the mid-autumn checklist.

You may think you know what goes on when you’re asleep, but a night vision camera can be illuminating.

Mustards are the most feared of leafy greens, but they’re now essential in Jenny Somervell's kitchen.

The garden will be cooler but you can still be productive this month.

A Taranaki family with an eye on the future have sown their faith in an ancient grain.

Kath demystifies the art of pruning  in this special extract from her book Pruning Fruit Trees: A Beginner’s Guide.

Give vegetables a suitable companion and reap the rewards.

Pruning a peach tree can be a test of a marriage but the results are bountiful.

Bio-farmed and ethically raised, the lambs grown for Provenance Meat are owner David Crutchley’s pride and joy — and reason for winning the paddock category of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for 2019.

Healthy soil and biodiversity are among the many benefits of rotating crops.

There’s little room for nuance in the debate over the health of the country’s rivers and streams.

Whakatane’s White Goose Orchard produces fantastic feijoas and winning wines, and its owners are huge proponents of the potential nutritional benefits of the aromatic fruit.

Seasons are everything for productivity, so kick start the month with this autumn checklist.

Work is underway on a  teaching centre that will offer workshops, lectures, and  apprenticeships for anyone eager to learn the peculiarities of organic enterprise.

We’re on the road into winter, but there’s still plenty to produce for your kitchen.

There’s a great source of free greens in the sea, if you know the ones to look out for.

Seaweed is full of nutrition, both for you and your garden. Warning: may be stinky.

This trestle is ideal for a compact potting table or a base for a plant container.

It's easy to process, stores for a long time and is incredibly versatile. There’s no other fruit or nut that makes a great baking flour, a lovely soup, or a great-tasting pesto.

Nathan Orr’s enthusiasm for tiny homes and leaving a smaller footprint on the planet is rooted in a teenage illness.