Our Land

Lynda Hallinan looks forward to the 'ritual annual catharsis of combustion' every autumn.

No Longer Lost Forever – The Mohua

Reintroduced over the past 14 years through a series of translocations, Canterbury’s inland valleys are again home to small populations of mohua (yellowhead), the sparrow-sized songsters with bright yellow heads and breasts that grace the $100 banknote, after fears they had been lost forever.

Fancy a spring floral display that gardeners in Holland would be proud of? It’s time to plant tulip and daffodil bulbs for gorgeous spring bouquets.

If you’re planning to plant trees this winter, here are six good options that make excellent firewood.

A good woodlot is for generations to come, so think about harvesting while you’re planting.

Dreaming of some fat homegrown cauliflower? Plant this crop (and many others) now and reap the rewards later.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

The Plight of the Pohowera

Kaikōura’s Banded Dotterel Study continues to shine a light on the serious plight of New Zealand’s inconspicuous endemic shorebird, pohowera, which is being pushed towards extinction because of severe ongoing decline.

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

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

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

Be in the know before planting this finicky crop.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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