Our Land
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A garden of surprises
Planting in this geometrically composed garden was underway long before the decision was made to build a Restoration-period house in its centre. The two are a seamless match
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5 common mistakes made by beginner organic gardeners
Making the switch to organic gardening can take some adjustment, but follow this cheat sheet to avoid common hurdles.
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Dr Libby on nutritional deficiencies
In a two-part series, Dr Libby fronts up to a question about nutritional deficiencies.
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10 tips for growing good seedling transplants
You can save yourself a lot of money growing your own plants from seed, but getting them to transplant size can be frustrating.
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10 clay-loving native trees
There’s nothing more disappointing than having an ugly gap where little will grow because of clay soil.
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6 organic ways to get rid of gorse
Gorse is one of New Zealand's worst weeds, and your best ally in tackling it will be diligence.
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A beginner's guide to becoming certified organic
Organic farms make up just a fraction of New Zealand's total farmland, but there's big potential.
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Prosperity through permaculture
This enterprising couple don’t just want to create a green future for their family – they want to create a sustainable lifestyle for their whole community.
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5 fencing jobs you can do yourself
Anyone can build a fence, but it's a science and an art to build a good quality fence.
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Innovation driving success at watercress farm
A gravity driven watering system is just one of the innovations in use at an organic watercress farm in Raglan.
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How do you like them heirloom apples?
An orchard of organic heritage apples, plums and pears is proving an educational experience for its owners and their community.
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Grow your own sweetener
To be truly self-sufficient, especially in colder climates, you may think you have to give up sugar, but that’s not the case.
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Sheep hard at work at organic winery
Going organic was a pragmatic decision for the owners of Bellbird Winery.
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2 natives that you don’t want to mess with
You may think of all natives as friendly plants, but two common ones have a deadly secret.
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It's not easy being a green beekeeper
It's not easy being an organic beekeeper when bees can forage as far as 5km for their food.
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3 organic fertilisers
Two of the best additions for your soil are byproducts of everyday activities, and one of them you can make in your sleep.
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Why messy orchards are best
The last thing you need is for your orchard to look neat and tidy, at least not ground level anyway.
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10 things to know about growing walnuts
The fabulous walnut is a tasty treat for the home orchard owner, or a potential future crop with New Zealand’s climate meaning we can produce high quality nuts.
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What to sow in the garden right now
The wind-up to spring planting is starting, and one big decision is going to have year-long repercussions.
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Things to consider when buying a ride-on mower
If you’re tired of pushing yourself to do the lawns get our tips on how to buy possibly the biggest investment in a single product you’ll make when you live on a lifestyle block.
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Success with bush basics
The secret to Diane Coleman’s successful tree nursery business is in the way she’s grown it.
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How to buy a wheelbarrow that will last
It used to be that when you wanted to buy a wheelbarrow, there was only one choice. Now there’s wheels for every occasion.
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6 drought-resistant pasture plants
If you’re planning to renovate pasture and you're in an area that gets dry or drought conditions, consider something tougher than ryegrass.
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How to prepare a vege patch
It’s almost time to get the vege garden ready and for that, you’ll need to make the earth move.
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Boosting the Maori land economy
Taranaki-born Jamie Tuuta is enhancing the potential of Maori land and assets in his role as the Maori Trustee
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Give your soil the sniff test
You may think you know a good soil, but have you had a good sniff of it lately?
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Garden jobs for August
Spring is just around the corner, get ready by planting tomato seedlings and aubergines.
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Mulching over winter
Mulching is an easy way to protect your soil until you’re ready to use it in spring.
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What gardeners can learn from this man
The late Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka created a revolutionary way of farming that has no plowing, no fertiliser, no weeding and no pesticides.
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Self-sufficiency on Norfolk Island
When you live on a little island in the middle of a big ocean, you have to make your block of land pay its own way in the most self-sufficient manner possible.
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Grow a giant pumpkin
If you've ever wondered how people win pumpkin-growing competitions, get ready for some seriously strange gardening.
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Bare, naked tree planting tips
Winter is a great time to plant your future fruiting trees, but do you know how to do it so you give a tree the optimal start?