Our Life

Even city dwellers can forage for edible finds with a few rudimentary guidelines to keep the tummy happy and the neighbours sweet, says Lucy Corry

In part one of a two part series, learn how to build a mobile roadside stand for selling your farm goods.

Dinky, red and full of green cred, a wheezing Citroën 2CV van gets a zippy new electric life.

Make summer fruit and veggies last through winter with these simple preserving techniques, including low-sugar options for fruit bottling and jams.

If you could give one piece of advice to block owners, what would it be? Some long-time growers share their words of wisdom.

NZ Life & Leisure columnist Polly Greeks is building an off-grid mudbrick home in the Far North. The family of four’s pizza oven is not just a luxury, it’s an essential part of life.

Looking for what is not there is often the hardest part.

It’s more than a storehouse of treasured family memories, more than a good example of 1960s bach architecture. It’s a museum of its era and now it has inspired a book.

It’s time to have a rest and spend time enjoying the summer sun, but burglars love your beach holiday as much as you do.

Looking for a natural solution for too much sun? Jane Wrigglesworth digs up four herbs good for treating mild sunburn.

Sick of losing plants because you forgot to water them? Make life easier by installing irrigation.

Show your love to friends and family, with  a home made gift idea for Christmas.  Find here eight DIY projects plus 16 baking ideas that will make them smile.

Dreaming of a green Christmas? Deck the halls naturally with this fresh festive decoration.

Harvesting rainwater and greywater can be a great way to curb your environmental footprint. But regulations, safety and maintenance shouldn't be overlooked.

Lettuce, herbs or flowers will stay hydrated all summer long in this self-watering container garden.

Injuries from quad bikes are increasing despite greater awareness of safety issues.

Transform bits and bobs around the home into festive, sustainable decorations this Christmas.

In 1988, a solo mum living in the back of beyond launched a business selling health products. It now turns over $35 million a year.

From brewing beer to cultivating cow-less milk, companies are experimenting with yeast to make food and drinks for an increasingly eco-minded world.

Twenty-one designers have aligned with Great Full for its first charity initiative. The founder of the social enterprise, Melissa Gardi, explains why community matters.

Use new or recycled bits of fabric to make a funky twist on a classic decoration.

Two and a half years spent researching and writing a book about the southern skies convinced science writer Naomi Arnold of the importance of protecting the darkness of our nights.

Since 2003, writers have been invited to a tiny brick cottage just off Dunedin’s main street to tap away at whatever they need to get down on paper.

It’s your last chance to plant amaranth for seeds, and grow a low-maintenance, protein-rich food.

Meet the city escapees whose off-the-trail bistro feeds their need for community, family and a fine vegetable garden.

Eastern rockhopper penguins might be declining in number, but they’re no less loved by  thisNZlife. The cute characters are our top pick for Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year competition and your kids can play along with this easy-to-make dress-up mask.

This new pastime is rocking the worlds of Kiwis of all ages – and sparking joy stone by stone.

The Rockhopper penguin is a New Zealand native whose numbers have sharply declined in the last 30 years. Inspire the kids to support the Rockhopper in Forest & Bird's Bird of the Year competition with this adorable crochet hat.

Between the mountains and the sea, sculptor Ben Foster and environmentalist Sabrina Luecht have found the best of nests.

This easy-to-make A-frame gives veggies in the gourd family a place to grow up.

New research shows why ferments are good for your gut, and that including fermented foods in your diet may help with anxiety.

A cosy bed for your pet is at the tip of your needles.

Science is at the forefront of detecting and prosecuting food fraud.

Learning to eat without wheat is common. But why? And is going gluten-free really necessary?