Our Land

5 reasons to plant heritage fruit trees

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

From clay soil to a block blooming with herbs

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

How to tell when a persimmon is ripe

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

Walnuts 101: How to grow, store and cook walnuts

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

The best regional firewood trees to use in NZ

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

7 tips for buying good hay

Buying good quality hay can be a fraught business.

Everything you need to know about the ambrosia beetle

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

15+ shelterbelt tree suggestions

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

4 natural helpers to your garden (and how to keep snails away)

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

15+ jobs to get done in May on your lifestyle block

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

The secret life of nocturnal pests (and how to capture them on camera)

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

Why mustard is a garden must-have

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

May gardening tasks: Prepare for asparagus, plant Asian greens

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

Taranaki farmers go with the grain in dairy country

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

Pruning 101 with Kath Irvine

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

A guide to companion planting

Give vegetables a suitable companion and reap the rewards.

Power up your peach tree by giving it a good prune

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

Provenance Meat owner says healthy soil is behind award-winning lamb

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.

Plant rotation 101: How to grow crops in succession

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

Taranaki farmers lead by example with riparian planting schemes

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

160kg of fruit per tree at this Whakatane feijoa orchard

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.

Everything to do this April for a healthy, productive block

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

Plans for organic farming teaching centre in Motueka

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

7 garden tips for April: Sow carrot seeds and dig up those potatoes

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

Seaweed 101: How to forage, harvest and use seaweed

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

How to make an easy seaweed garden spray

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

Make a compact trestle table

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

Self-sufficiency with sweet chestnuts

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.

Beekeeper's tiny house passion stemmed from a teenage illness

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

How hard can it be, to plant a stick?

Two great options for fodder, shelter, shade and firewood can be as simple as a stick in the ground

Let's get ranunculus

Prepare beauties like anenomes and ranunculus this month for a spring filled with gorgeous flowers.

A Waitakere ranger finds joy protecting vulnerable park

The park ranger reflects on the past, present and future protection of Auckland’s Waitākere Regional Park.

10 gardening tips to make the most of March

Planning ahead in March can make all the difference for autumn and winter harvests.

A Waikato block harnesses the power of Paulownia 

Graham and Tess Smith prove that it’s the size of your attitude that counts, not the size of your block.

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