Our Land

The days are short, but it’s an important time to make plans for spring.

A giant sterile hybrid grass that grows to 4m and looks a bit like bamboo could be the answer to a lot of problems on farms

When Karen Rhind left behind her carefully-maintained Garden of National Significance for bare, dry pasture and a new challenge, she also opened the door to a sweetly-scented business.

Two American environmentalists have turned a run-down campground in Glenorchy into a sustainable development where technology and nature work together.

If power is a problem, gravity may be your best bet for a reliable water supply.

Start planning, planting and prepping your garden now for spring.

If you’re interested in eating more plant protein, a little fermentation can go a long way.

This backyard herb has a colourful history, it was prized by Roman soldiers for its medicinal qualities and used in the 16th Century as a wine additive.

This award-winning organic farmer near Kaipara coast may have hundreds of sheep and cattle, but what she’s really farming is millions and millions of invisible helpers.

Two young Hawkes Bay parents are proud eco-exponents who turned their personal mission into an industrious enterprise. They're helping their little corner of the world go plastic free with beeswax food wraps.

Pugging soil does enormous damage to it, reducing pasture yield by 20-80% for four to eight months, or longer if not remedied. Follow these tips to reduce the amount of pugging this winter.

It’s finally happening. After lots of talk, greener bagging options are set for a checkout near you.

A landscaper with a mini backyard farm believes small-scale food production is key to well-being and urban ecological balance.

New Zealand's first commercial coffee growers share the secrets to growing coffee plants in our temperate climate.

It doesn’t bear fruit, but this little tree will vastly improve your orchard’s productivity.

From garden to posie to plate, scented geraniums are a delight to the senses and fabulous fodder for the experimental gardener/cook.

Posh, Sporty and Scary have nothing on Ginger spice. Brush up on your planting and harvesting skills for this winter.

Good shelterbelt trees are practical, but they can be so much more. Experts from the NZ Tree Crops Association give us their recommendations.

Heating your home using a wood burner is cheaper than ever in New Zealand, if you know how to get the best out of it.

You definitely won’t have eaten as many varieties of apple as a couple who have made it their personal crusade to save the heritage apple trees.

Annika Streefland’s dreams of being a botanist stalled when a formidable headmistress gave her a lecture on the value of independence. How thankful she is now.

Cordwood masonry is an old building technique using short logs and mortar. Cordwood homes are cheap to build and provide excellent insulation, writes Nadene Hall.

When you take on an island heaving with rats, you learn some tricks.

Here’s how to create a future-proof plan for your lifestyle block or farm to make sure you do it once, and do it right.

Getting to grips with the grassroots of growing, and of a community, Lloyd Rooney and Michael Fraser found contentment by leaving the glamour of London for the quiet backwaters of the Waikato.

Plant salsify and scorzonera soon and they'll be ready in time for all your winter soup and steamed veggie needs.

It takes 125,000-150,000 flowers to produce just one kilogram of saffron which can sell for $30,000. So harvesting the stigmas is a delicate process at Wynyard Estate in Central Otago’s Teviot Valley.

When NZ Life & Leisure editor Kate Coughlan left behind her vast veggie beds at the Rocket Ranch for city life, she called in the experts to create a 100% edible courtyard garden.

We raise a glass, and a tasty morsel or two, to the winners of this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

If you're never sure what to do with the ash from your fireplace, don’t be too quick to dump it, give these helpful tips a try instead.

As a cash crop, stevia ticks all the boxes: it's easy to grow; doesn't take up  much space; and doesn't need your full-time commitment.

Growing your own nuts is a long-term plan, but these trees don’t need a lot of attention and having your own fresh, free nut supply is definitely worth a few years of waiting.

If you’re interested in grain-free eating, buckwheat is a great option and you can grow it in your own garden.

Dr Doug Edmeades busts pH balancing myths and explains why you should try adding lime to your soil.