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.
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.
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.
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.