Our Land

Why scientists need your flood photos

Climate change means more floods, and finding new ways to cope.

How this website is connecting green-fingered Kiwis around the country

Realising that gardening can be isolating for some, Jane Mahoney created an Airbnb-inspired platform to connect curious gardeners around New Zealand.

Get winter ready: Is your firewood dry enough to use?

Firewood should have less than 25 per cent moisture to burn at its most efficient. If you don’t have a moisture meter, here’s how to work out if your firewood is dry enough.

This treasured herb can fetch up to $10,000 per kilo

One of the world’s most valuable herbs is growing in secret plantations in NZ, and you can grow it too.

10+ tips for your herb garden this April

It's time to trim, sow and consider growing something unusual this winter...

How to brew a good cuppa from your garden

Homemade herbal tea is many brews above what you can buy in a packet.

How to naturally grow nutrient-rich food

If your goal is to grow nutrient-rich food in sync with nature, the key to getting it right starts long before you plant anything.

Balancing our food needs with the soil that supplies it

When it comes to climate mitigation, writes Dr Mulgan, Planet Earth’s survival is more complicated than most suppose.

10 gum trees that also make good firewood

Gum as a tree divides a lot of people. One reason is different varieties do better in different parts of the country

How to grow mushrooms at home

Growing mushrooms in your backyard does double-duty – they provide a healthy, sustainable food source while improving the soil.

How to grow fat and lovely cauliflower

Be in the know before planting this finicky crop.

A Raglan mother transforms her yard into a lush, spray-free food haven

A former theatre nurse has turned her Raglan property into an almost self-sufficient “wild garden” and is now raising a gluten-free bread business that looks and tastes as good as the real stuff.

What to harvest, plant and prepare this March

As temps begin to drop, it's time to start thinking about cool-season gardening.

20 tips for aspiring BnB hosts

If you live in paradise and want extra income, it makes sense to invite people to stay. Sheryn shares her lessons hosting visitors from near and far.

6 tips to growing mandarins (almost ) all year round

If you pick and choose your varieties carefully, you can be munching on sweet mandarins from early winter until late summer or even all year round if you plan it well.

5 easy-to-grow flowers for homemade bouquets

When you’re creating a bouquet, think about balance. If you put one type of flower on one side, it looks good to put the same thing on the other side.

Why it pays to plan the perfect block

Here's how good planning can transform your block and protect our environment.

What and when to harvest this month

Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, beans and more are all ripe for the picking. But how and when you pick them can make all the difference between sweet and succulent, bland or bitter.

5 creeping sedums for hot spots in the garden

This sunshine-soaking plant is a favourite for European rooftops.

10 ways to safeguard your block from a fire

With heatwaves sweeping through the country, it's time to brush up on fire safety in rural areas.

How to make damson gin

It’s a funny-looking cousin of the plum, and it can tarten up your gin too.

A checklist for your vegetable garden this February

Here's what to sow, what to save, and what to protect from high humidity.

7 lessons from a slow-flower garden in Matakana

The owner of Slow Blooms, a cut-your-own flower and herb garden, explains how to apply slow-garden principles at home.

15 spray-free strategies to protect crops from pests

Looking for spray-free solutions to outsmarting bugs? Here's the ultimate guide for remaining one step ahead.

What is regenerative agriculture? Here's how one farmer does it

Regenerative agriculture is a term thrown around more and more frequently, but what exactly is it and how can it be practised on a lifestyle block in New Zealand?

Transforming a bare block into a self-sufficiency dream

If it weren’t for chocolate and coffee, Angela Clifford and her family would be mostly self-sufficient food-wise from their bountiful organic block.

7 tips for keeping your block secure

Going on holiday to the beach? If you prepare right, you won't have to worry about block security while you're away.

This is how to get an all-year round fruit harvest

With this guide, you'll be sure to select fruit trees that will yield fruit year-round.

How to harvest sunflower seeds

Once the petals begin to fall, it's time to get to work.

Does orchard size matter?

Ben Gaia visits two small sections that are big on production.

From boggy paddock to native wetland

Their 6.4ha block was once covered in gorse twice their height.

30+ basics every block owner needs to know

With the number of lifestyle block owners rising each year, many of them new to farming, it’s important to know where to find reputable advice and help.

Protect and nourish your garden this January

Summer is the time to take proactive measures to prevent fungal diseases, thirsty plants, and insect infestations.

3 ways to create enriched garden beds

Permaculture gardener Kath Irvine shares her years of experience, and the secrets to creating a great garden bed, in her book The Edible Backyard. 

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