Our Land

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.

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

Rebecca Stewart: Following in the footsteps
Rebecca reflects on the struggles of those who lived on their block of land before her family.

Functional, Beautiful, Sustainable – Mt Nicholas Merino
Mt Nicholas Merino are on a mission to share their ethos for an environmentally responsible way of life well beyond their remote farm gate with the launch of their product range. A collection designed to complement their already highly sought-after yarn.

The Food Farm reap the rewards of the coast
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.

All of the gardening jobs to get done this December
Summer is finally here meaning there's a lot to get done in the garden.

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

Gardening in Summer with Flora
As the garden bursts into full bloom, resident expert Flora Brons of Flora Grow offers some guidance around what needs to be done.

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

Late-spring gardening tips and tasks this for month
Summer is on the horizon, so best to get your warm-weather produce blooming.

Rebecca Stewart: Living with the seasons
Rebecca reflects on the changes that come each day on the farm during a new season's approach

6 ways to create a survival garden
A “survival garden” can thrive perpetually with minimal inputs, conserving your time and energy.

The number one tree in the permaculture handbook
Tagasaste grows fast, fixes nitrogen, feeds bees and stock, withstands extreme storms and droughts, and helps other seedlings grow.

Maintaining the land on Blue Duck Station
A peek inside daily life on one of the country's most environmentally significant stations.

Have your say: The editorial future of 'NZ Lifestyle Block'
Take a quick 10 minutes to weigh in on the future of 'NZ Lifestyle Block'

Why kānuka is finally getting the spotlight
A new study on eczema treatment has started a conversation about the potential value of kānuka on private land.

The Bay of Plenty ginkgo growers
While foraging ginkgo might be relatively easy, growing the trees for their nuts is notoriously difficult and expensive

Half-Arsed Stops Here
The thought of your loved one lying in the ditch in the dark, pinned down under a quad bike, drifting in and out of consciousness waiting for help is a common fear of many with family, friends and colleagues working on-farm in New Zealand. A recent campaign to curb the ‘she’ll be right attitude’ has emerged at a crucial time for farmers under pressure.

The Magic of Gardening with Flora
It’s that special time again when everyone gets the gardening bug, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out. Labour Weekend is on the horizon and the silly season is fast approaching, and the garden has sprung to life! Flora Brons of Flora Grow provides a helping hand for where to start.

Why truffles could be a lifestyle block goldmine
With truffles worth up to $3,500 per kilogram, they could be the perfect money-maker for block owners with unproductive land.

How this Central Otago farm is mastering the art of prepping
They’re often viewed as extreme fanatics training for social collapse. But in light of recent events, are preppers just practising common sense?

Why you need to plant aloe vera this spring
It may seem too early to begin using this after-sun remedy, but now is the time to start growing the medicinal plant.

Why people love or hate the ginkgo nut
It’s infamous for the assaulting odour of its fruit, but the majestic and ancient ginkgo tree can be a forager’s shrine if properly understood.

The community behind the preservation of a key scientific reserve
Waikanae Estuary Care Group volunteers have spent nearly 20 years protecting the area where the river meets the ocean.

Advice from a tree farmer
There are two types of trees: the ones you want to shelter, feed, protect, and warm you, and the trees you need to plant first.

Schools in a Buzz
Hayley Guglietta and Lesley Davidson-Hurst boast contagious enthusiasm for bees, leaving those they touch buzzing with inspiration to care for our precious pollinators.

The catch with predator control
New research suggests predator control may need to be far more coordinated.