Green Urban Living- living the good life in my backyard

Who Wears The Pants In Our House? Chris, Janet or maybe Hugh?

2012-02-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Our family dynamics are probably not typical in manyhouseholds. My husband Chris does all the food shopping, the cooking and theironing. When he travels he has been known to prepare meals in advance for usas he fears we may be living on toast whilst he is away. I do all the blokework around the home. I mow the lawns, fix leaking taps, change the lightbulbs, build things and generally do all the DIY. The tool shed is certainly mydomain. Chris would not know a square headed screwdriver from a Phillips- blesshim. Anyway it works for us. The boys and I wait for Chris to get home and ask himwhat’s for dinner. As I don’t do the supermarket shopping I have no idea what’sin the pantry or fridge.

I can see with this project I may have to be a littlemore prepared and do a bit more of the food preparation and cooking. Inanticipation I ordered Hugh Fearnley Whittingstalls new cook book Veg Everyday fromthe Book Depository. Incidentally the Book Depository is a great site to checkout if you love books. It is based in the UK and they offer free delivery worldwide onall their books.

Veg Everyday will become my bible for all my vegetable recipes. Ifigure I can slowly work my way through the recipes with the changing seasons.As I flick through the pages it reminds me of all the types of vegetables Ishould be growing and makes me feel like I should be out getting some new cropsplanted this minute.

My book arrives in just over a week. As I flip through mynew purchase and inhale the lovely intoxicating smell of new book I can’t helpbut think this can’t be so hard. Simple ingredients, many of which are alreadygrowing in my garden, and simple instructions which I am sure even I canfollow. Each recipe is accompanied by a glossy photo of what the dish issupposed to look like- a important tool for someone who prefers to wait fordinner rather than cook it!

My Big Idea for New Year!

2012-02-12T00:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever made some hare brained New Year’s resolutionon New Year’s Eve and lived to regret it?

Well I may. On New Year’s Eve I gave myself a challenge totry and live off produce I have grown in my urban garden or bartered for withproduce I have grown for four months. We all need challenges in our lives andthis seems like a good one. Of course I want to haul my husband and three youngboys along for the ride, much to their protest. Could it really be that difficult?Won’t it really just be like how our great grandparents had to live? Sure wemay need to go without a few food luxuries but I am happy to live withoutCalifornian grapes or bananas for a few months.

It can’t be that hard. We have a large garden situated inurban Havelock North, Hawkes Bay, NZ, which I have been cultivating into anedible permaculture garden for the last four years. I have created my ‘cropcircle’ gardens where I grow all manner of vegetables and edible flowers all mis-mashed together in an unruly but intensively planting scheme.

Some of the gardeners

When my vegetablesare harvested my feathered gardeners, also known as chickens, move onto thearea in their chicken tractor and deal to all the insects, left over broccolistalks, forgotten lettuce and rampantweeds. During the time they spend on this particular ‘crop circle’, normally 4four weeks, they devour all the seeds, weeds and insects, turn over and mulchthe soil and poop in it. I throw in our lawn mower clippings, kitchen scraps, ahand full of straw, leaves and they give me fresh daily eggs and beautifulorganic rich soil to grow my vegetables in. It’s a win-win situation. The chooks are allowed to be chooks. They getnew ground to dig and scratch, take dust baths, bask in the sun, perch, fightover a food morsel and have lots of fresh air whilst being protected from therain and chilling winds and predators. I get eggs with yolks the colour of ripeorange, organic compost and waste disposals neatly packaged as a chicken.

I have around nine ‘crop circle’ gardens which the chickentractor neatly fits over so it is a process of rotating and harvesting andre-sowing with the chooks doing my hard grunt work. So sounds like I have thevegetables sorted!

Over the last five years I have also been planting fruittrees like a woman processed! The lady who owned our property before us lovedroses and pretty perennials but of course you can’t eat those. I have beenripping out these with gay abandon and planting all manner of fruit trees.Having an urban garden I have generally gone for dwarfing trees which will notgrow too high and cast shade on the neighbours or plough through overhead powerlines or require tall ladders when picking the fruit. Our region is blessedwith a wonderful climate for growing pip and stone fruit which I have takenfull advantage of. My favourite fruit is an apple. My husband jokes that thatis so unexciting and boring. His of course is a Mango. Juicy, sweet, exotic, importedand not able to be grown in our garden. I think at the last count I have over15 apple trees growing in our garden, and on the street verge. Many have beenespaliered, trained along wires, flat against walls or as living fences.

apples, apples and more apples.

Surely with such a bustling garden full of fruit and veg it won’tbe that hard to life off the land for a few months.

These will be the rules I will live by for the next fourmonths ( February to end of May)

only eat produce grown from my garden

barter for as many items as I can which I can’t grow with produce from my garden.

foraging is allowed

allow our family one night out each fortnight to eat out,or eat at friends.

I will follow these rules to the letter. My husband, Christravels regularly so I can’t expect him to leave with a broccoli tucked underhis arm as his away rations so I suppose he will have an out every few daysmost weeks.

My two oldest boys, Liam, nine, and Edwin six, have a cookedlunch at school so I know they won’t be dying of scurfy. They are very keen totry the experiment but I think to preserve our family dynamics if they don’twant to eat what is served they can have toast, or an egg as another option.Quinn who is only four and lives off peanut butter and nutella sandwiches onwhite bread may present more of a challenge. Not wanting to put him off freshlocal food for life I will just go with the flow with him. He is actuallyhappiest when he is free ranging in the garden munching on broad beans and peasso I suppose he is with the project?

My boys, they are not usually this clean! Edwin, Liam and Quinn.

I am quite excited to see how much food we can grow in anurban garden and if indeed it is possible to live off the land in regards tofood production whilst living in an urban environment. Before I go any furthermust make it clear that I my only challenge is with food. I will not be usinglarge leaves as toilet paper, brushing teeth with salt or disconnecting us fromthe national grid. I may be green but I am not an eco fundamentalist and doenjoy, and need, some modern day creature comforts.

I hope you enjoy reading about our challenge. When I am not preserving fruit, baking bread, planting broccoli or making jam I will be blogging about my success and failures.

A Call to Arms for Topbar Hives

2011-10-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

The Management Agency, charged with eliminating AFB from NZ managed hives, has stated that Top Bar Hives are against the spirit of the Biosecurity Strategy. They state that these sort of hives can not be 'easily inspected for AFB without cutting comb from the walls and without having multiple combs on a single bar." How many TB hives have they looked in and where is the data to even suggest this? With this latest ‘position Statement ‘from the Management Agency in the October beekeeper magazine we need to start to become more vocal against this propaganda that they are creating. If we all, as a concerned body of beekeepers, do some or all of these following suggestions we can all make a difference and allow Kiwi’s to continue to have a choice on how they keep their bees. It is extremely disappointing that it has come to this but we must do something for the sake of our bees and our choice as concerned citizens.

· Email or write to Paul Bolger, Senior Policy Analyst, American Foulbrood Strategy, MAF Biosecurity, NZ P.O.Box 2526, Wellington. paul.bolger@maf.govt.nz

I have not personally met Paul but from what I have heard and seen written by him he is a considered and realistic expert on bees. He is our contact at MAF who will be part of the final decision making re. Top Bars. I have included my letter I wrote to him below. Feel free to use this as your template. MAf received 26 submissions on the NPMS, lets see if we can better that from concerned beekeepers.

· Write to your local MP alerting them to what is happening. How the MA are trying to fast track changes to the law to make Top Bar Hives illegal without any proper public consultation and the propaganda they have already been spreading about how Top Bar Hives are illegal which is simply not the case. Bullying tactics such saying that authorities could come onto your land and burn your hive with your bees in it.

· Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper ( especially the smaller community papers are really keen on local comment) to help inform the general public. Talk about these actions which could be seen as patch protection or simple lack of knowledge by a few of the senior level in the NBA. Explain how it is so important for ‘NZ Inc’ that we have a healthy and robust population of honey bees and a flotilla of top bar hives, which are well managed by passionate beekeepers. Explain that hobby beekeepers make up the majority of beekeepers in NZ but appear to have no support or voice from the MA or NBA. Explain that it is not all commercial beekeepers who are calling for this just a small minority .

· Sign the petition http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/the-right-to-bee/1348 and get all your friends and contacts to as well. Talk about this issue with your coffee group, book club, rugby team, netball team, or just down at the pub! We have the moral high ground as we all know that our hives pose no greater risk than any other type and can they honestly show us how we can’t effectively check for disease? We all know that answer!

This is the Summary of Submissions:

Report on the American Foulbrood National Pest Management Strategy

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Information Paper No: 2010/03 http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/biosec/consult/ros-afnpm-strategy.pdf

My letter to Paul Bolger. I have emailed a copy to him and will also post a copy.

Dear Mr Bolger,

I understand that submissions have closed on the American Foulbrood National Management Strategy but I have read in the latest Beekeeper magazine that the Management Agency are requesting a revised order to make Top Bar Hives, as they stand, illegal. I have kept bees in my Top Bar Hive for nearly four years and do not understand their issues with this sort of hive. I, along with many other Top Bar Hive enthusiasts, have registered my hives, attended a AFB recognition course and hold a DECA

I believe that a TBH is well within the law of the PMS as the top bar constitutes a frame from which the bees build their own comb within and under. Certainly if you look at the intent of the strategy TBH’s are fully compliant as both sides of every comb can be inspected. I have made these two videos to show how this is done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8kbZBl5ETw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVWSPvN5bl8. I believe that a TBH poses no greater risk to spreading AFB than any other sort of hive, and in fact maybe even less, for these reasons.

-Top Bar frames, once honey is cut off, are placed directly back into the same hive.

- As bees build their own comb in a top bar it is generally light in colour thus being easier to check for scale. Comb is continually replaced.

-As Top Bar Hives are so new in NZ and easy to build by oneself there is no trade in second hand hives thus avoiding all risk of infected gear spreading AFB

-A swarm hived in a Top Bar hive have to build all their comb from scratch so it could be argued that the risk of a swarm carrying AFB spores is reduced. By the time the bees have drawn comb and the queen has laid eggs many AFB spores they are carrying should have disappeared. (Goodwin, Mark)

-due to their difficulty in stacking TBH’s are not used for migratory pollination work thus avoiding spread of infected hives.

-A beekeeper who keeps a top bar hive will be a hobbyist beekeeper as this type of hive does not produce enough honey for commercial ventures. Most people keep bees in a TBH to increase pollination of their garden and will most often only have one hive thus avoiding all risk of drifting and some cases of robbing

Save Our Bees Charitable Trust has been set up as a reaction to the recent growth and interest in hobby beekeeping and the vacuum of information and support for alternative methods of beekeeping in New Zealand. The Trust provides free workshops, advice, a monthly newsletter, and a community forum. We have endeavoured on numerous occasions to form a constructive and working relationship with the Management Agency, through meetings and emails (none of which are ever returned) but it appears that they simply want to ban Top Bar hives, perhaps without even understanding how they work. I have personally invited some senior members of the NBA to came and look inside my hive to see how easy it is to inspect but have no one accept my invitation.

Where is the data to back up their claims that TBH’s are against the spirit of the PMS? The primary objective during the first ten year term of the American Foulbrood National Pest Management Strategy was to reduce the prevalence of AFB in managed colonies by an average of 10% each year. This has not been achieved. Perhaps these recent actions are a smoke screen to hide their obvious ineptitude

We believe that for the benefit of the whole of NZ and associated primary industries that the Management Agency should be supporting, and working with new hobby beekeepers to ensure that they feel supported and well advised in their new pursuit, not threatening to make potential criminals out of us. It appears to me that they are more concerned about patch protection and producing honey rather than protecting NZ’s population of honey bees.

Yours Sincerely,

Janet Luke,
Save Our Bees Charitable Trust.

Kiwis Winging It To New York City to Help Save Our Bees

2011-05-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I need my head read or maybe it is a mid life crisis but I have committed to running the New York Marathon this year in November! Needless to say I have never run anywhere in my life, unless you count running after small children. I made the mistake of reading Kerre Woodhams book Short Fat Chicken to Marathon Runner'' over Summer. A great book and very inspiring- obviously. I figured if Kerre can, Janet can. I started running to the first lamp post and then walking ( puffing ) to the next in my first training runs. I very quickly realised that if I was going to run anywhere I need a cause to keep me motivated.

Why New York?

New York City has only just made bee keeping legal. Before this, bees were classed with bears, skunks and other dangerous animals and prohibited within city limits. Now bee keepers can keep bees legally on roof tops, in townhouse gardens or even apartment balconies. New York is seeing a huge increase in people wanting to keep bees as many people are aware of the plight that honey bees are in World wide. Indeed USA has lost over 70% of hives last year through Colony Collapse Disorder.

An urban front yard complete with chicken dome and Top Bar beehive. This hive produced over 16 litres of honey this summer. Plenty to share with family and friends. Enough honey was left in the hive over winter for the bees.

Urban bees do better than their rural sisters due to a varied and often year round pollen and nectar source. If you think of all the schools, private gardens, parks, botanical gardens, window boxes, street plantings and roof gardens in a city, it is easy to see that there is a smorgasbord of food for bees. In the country fields can be planted with huge mono-crops of corn or wheat- useless to bees. Hedgerows are removed to accommodate bigger fields also decreasing food sources. Crops are sprayed with insecticides killing any foraging bees.

Comb honey fresh from the bees.

Why Should We Care About Bees?
5.1 billion dollars of New Zealands economy is attributed to pollination by honey bees, domestic honey sales and exports, beeswax and exported honey bees. One third of all our food we eat is pollinated by honey bees. Without them forget about ever eating apples, pears, berries, oranges, cucumbers, kiwifruit, beans or other yummy tasty food. Even the clover cows eat to produce milk for us requires pollination by honey bees, Forty percent of all ice cream flavours need bees to pollinate them.

Around $81 million worth of honey is exported each year. Including the World famous Manuka honey. About 3 251 New Zealand's keep bees. The most alarming thing is that recently it has been reported that Colony Collapse Disorder may have arrived in NZ. The National Beekeepers Association are presently conducting a study into an alarming rise in loss of bee hives due to unexplained deaths.

Because of Varroa and other bee diseases that man has spread, bees now need our managed care to keep them healthy and alive. Wild colonies do not survive for longer than a year due to the Varroa mite.

Save Our Bees Charitable Trust
This New Zealand Trust has recently been set up to support and educate people about the importance of honey bees and encourage more people to keep one or two hives in their garden, especially in urban areas. The Trust runs free workshops on how to keep bees in a low cost, simple, sustainable and bee friendly Top Bar Hive and provides free support and information on how to plant bee friendly gardens, manage a hive, legal requirements etc.

What We Hope to Achieve by running the New York Marathon
We hope to increase the profile on the plight of the honey bee world wide, and particularly New Zealand. We hope to promote more people keeping hives in their backyard or planting a more bee friendly garden and avoiding the use of toxic sprays or coated seeds. 45 000 people run the NY marathon and they are watched on by 2 million spectators. We also plan to visit Manhattan bee keepers and learn how they successfully keep bees in such a huge metropolis. We will hope to translate this information and knowledge back to New Zealand for local situations and environments.

We Need your Help
Save Our Bees needs help with fundraising and sponsorship to help promote this important cause and raise profile on the importance of honey bees. If you can help or know of any corporate companies that may be interested please contact us here.

If you are running the NY Marathon this year and would like to run for Save Our Bees and help us raise the profile of the Trust and Sponsors please contact us here

Storing the harvest- how to bottle peaches

2011-03-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Autumn is the time to act like a squirrel and start bottling excess summer fruit. Our mothers probably did this as second nature. The first time I attempted to bottle some fruit I thought it would end in tears.Surprisingly I actually find it quite relaxing and therapeutic. I suspect it may be the ex-nurse coming out in me. I enjoy the sterile process! Don't let fear put you off. Follow these simple steps and get squirreling too!

Equipment required

Peaches (or any other summer fruit) Buy the seconds at roadside fruit stands or directly from orchards. Fruit needs to be ripe, firm and blemish free.
Preserving jars. I buy the Agee jars from second hand shops. Check they do not have any chips or cracks. You can buy new jars from many supermarkets.
Screwbands for the amount of jars you intend to use
New seals. Find these at supermarkets in the baking isle.
A large saucepan
A slotted spoon

Method

Wash hands

The cut fruit goes in the water bath and the peelings
are enjoyed by the chooks ( or worm farm).

Wash, peel and stone fruit. I place cut pieces in a bucket of water to stop them discolouring while I'm cutting the others.
Wash jars and screwbands with hot soapy water. Dry and place jars and screwbands in the oven for 30mins at 120 C. This sterilises the jars.
Place 4 cups of water and 2 cups of white sugar in sauce pan and bring to boil.
When the mixture has reached boiling point, turn heat down slightly and place some of fruit into syrup.

Sterilise jars and screwbands in a hot oven

Remove jar from oven and place on tea towel or wooden board. Don't place directly onto a cold surface as the glass could crack.
When syrup reaches boiling point again carefully place fruit (using slotted spoon) into jar. Fill to 1 cm of the top. Pour hot syrup into jar, around fruit until the syrup is overflowing out of jar. With a knife carefully remove any air bubbles.
Wipe the rim of the jar with a clean cloth to remove any debris. This ensures a good seal.
Cover jar with metal seal and screwband. ( top tip- I place a little vasoline on the inside of each screwband before hand. This makes it easier to remove once seal is formed.

From a $7 tray of peaches I preserved 6 large jars. Local fruit, bought from the farmer.
low sugar syrup, recycled glass jars and low food miles. How good it that!
I do know that with three sons they will not last through Winter!

Allow jar to cool. When the seal has depressed you can remove the screwband.

Save Our Bees

2010-08-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Save Our Bees Charitable Trust has been founded to conserve and protect New Zealand Honey Bees, to educate people about the importance of bees for New Zealand horticultural and agricultural industries and promote a more natural, easier and cheaper way of keeping bees so that more New Zealanders can be encouraged and supported in keeping bees in their backyards. Save Our Bees Charity also publishes educational material about bees and natural bee keeping methods and provides resources and contacts for backyard bee keepers.

The Trust aims to run free seminars and workshops on Top Bar Beekeeping around New Zealand and provide ongoing support.

I have some New Zealand history growing in my garden!

2010-07-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

I have been lucky enough to be gifted some 120 year old heirloom raspberry canes from the beautiful garden and homestead of Gwavas. This historic homestead is located in Central Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and gives a wonderful insight into some of New Zealand's history. Read more about the garden, the owners and the house here http://www.gwavasgarden.co.nz/.

I shared a wonderful winter Hawkes Bay day, with my boys driving out to the homestead to see Stu and Phyllida, the owners. After a tour around the garden we went to dig out these treasured canes. I have been given custody of two varieties.

Semper Fidelis was planted in the garden in the 1980's. Its Latin name means 'Always faithful'. It is a late fruiter and prized for jam making (though knowing my lot, not many raspberries will make it in to the house!). This variety grows to 10 feet and has large berries and small seeds.

The other variety is called Lloyd George, so named after the British Prime Minister during the First World War. This variety was planted at Gwavas just after the Great War.

The Gwavas garden boosts a large berry cage to keep out birds and each plant has a tall wooden stake to use for staking up each plant during the fruiting season. Stu is in charge of the garden and you can read his blog here. http://www.gwavasgarden.blogspot.com/

I have planted the dormant canes in soil mixed with rich compost and have fixed steel warratahs ( posts) next to each plant for support. Now all I need to do is devise a way to keep the birds (and kids) off my summer fruit. Any ideas will be gladly received.

It is wonderful to have some New Zealand history growing in my garden.

Doing some Guerrilla Gardening in our Neighbourhood

2010-06-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

The the end of last summer our street community got together and decided to plant some fruit trees along the council verge of our street. We all agreed it would beautify our street and also, in time, allow us and our children to harvest fruit grown on disused space. The idea of our children walking home from school and being able to pick a sun ripened apple off a tree and munch it as they walked home, was our driver

I quietly asked a city councillor what the councils stand on people planting their street verge was and the reply was they don't really mind as long as the trees are maintained, don't interfere with services, including power lines, and remain attractive. We never officially ask for consent from the Council, just thought it would be faster and easier just to do it. What sort of guerrilla gardening would it be if we acutally asked for permission anyway!

Firstly we checked where underground services were located. We hired a post hole borer to dig through the clay pan we have in our area. added compost and planted a variety of grafted apples, and citrus. I used the milk bottle method for watering to help the trees get through the dry Hawkes Bay summers and mulched with lots of home made compost and horse manure.

This winter I plan to do some more grafting. I will graft several varieties of apples on to each tree so we have a good variety of fruit available.

As a neighbourhood we have had a lot of interest from passer-bys wondering what we are doing and many people going back to their street with the hope of similar plantings.

Imagine if every street was growing some edibles on their council strip ?

Poultry Health Tonic and Natural Wormer

2010-05-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

I have been making this Poultry Health Tonic for my chickens for the last year. It is a blend of organically grown herbs from my garden, oyster grit, crushed pumpkin seeds and a few other goodies, but I can't tell you what they are as I would have to shoot you!!

Pumpkin seeds are nature's natural wormers. They contain a chemical which paralyses intestional worms causing them to pass out of the gut in the droppings.

My hens love this mixture. As it is totally natural there is no withholding period for collecting eggs from treated chooks. With conventional wormers you are unable to consume any eggs for 7 days- what a terrible waste! My chooks combs are bright red, their plumage is shiny and they lay really well.

Here is what Lyn of Wellsford says about the tonic.......

I bought the above Poultry Health tonic off you late last month.

It's probably just timing, but my lovely barred rock started laying 3 days later..................so I'm sold on the stuff!!!

Do you make it up in any bigger quantities????

The kids reackon it smells funny, the chickens fall over each other to get to it and mother is just happy cause she's getting eggs again!!

Thanks

Lizz from Wellsford

If you would like your chickens to try it I am selling quantities of it on my website here.....As it is hand harvested from my garden I only have a certain amount that I can produce at a time but will try to have a supply on hand through most of the year.

Mothers Day on 9th May

2010-04-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Mothers Day Special

Book your Mum in for any course in May and June and you can attend any one of these courses for half price.

Upcoming courses:-

Creating a Mini-urban Orchard 8th May 9:30-12 $45pp includes morning tea and course notes.

Keeping Chickens and building a Chicken Dome, 29th May, 9am – 12, $70 pp Morning tea and notes provided.

Backyard Organics, 30th May, 9am-3pm. $130pp , morning tea, wood fired pizza lunch and notes provided.

Container Kitchen Garden, 13th June, 9-11am

$35pp
More info @ greenurbanliving.co.nz

Using a tree nut to do your laundry!?

2010-03-17T00:37:00.000-07:00

Soap Nuts

We have all heard about pollution and risks to the Planet from our lifestyles. One thing all of us can do is incorporate nature into our daily tasks. Laundry in my “world” is a daily task- with four messy boys (yes that’s counting the husband!) I seem to be always picking up dirty clothes, washing dirty clothes or sorting and putting away clean clothes.

By doing several loads of washing most days it became a real concern to me about the amount of chemicals entering our waterways. I also like to recycle my grey water and use to irrigate the garden during dry spells.

About a year ago I discovered soap nuts. Soap nuts are small berry like fruits that grow on trees. They are native to India and Nepal. The main ingredient in soap nuts is saponins, which is a natural surfactant. When the soap nut absorbs water, it releases this natural chemical which in turn, frees oil, dirt, grease and sweat from your clothes. When these saponins are flushed down the drain they are completely organic and biodegradable so pose no threat to the environment. Best of all you can use the same soap nuts to wash up to six loads of washing!

To wash clothes with soap nuts all you do is place a small muslin bag with about 4-6 nuts in your washing machine. Better still if you have to pay for your water usage, don’t worry about any rinse cycles, just wash and spin. The only draw back is it is recommended to use a warm wash, as the warm water helps to release the saponins (this isn’t an issue for us as we have solar hot water). Soap nuts don’t have any fragrance so I often put of few drops of lavender oil in with the wash. After about six loads of washing either throw used nuts in worm farm or compost. If you like to be really canny (ie Scottish), what I do is save these used soap nuts and when I have a pot full I slowly simmer in a litre of water for about an hour. This releases all remaining saponins, creating a liquid detergent which you can use with a cold wash.

As I mentioned we have been using these soap nuts for over a year and am completely happy with the cleanliness of our clothes. Nobody has yet told us we smell!!! There’s no way I’d go back to the Surf and Persil isle at the supermarket. Oh, and I forgot to mention, soap nuts work out way cheaper than any of the usual products!

You can buy soapnuts here

The only disappointment in these soap nuts is they don’t actually sort, fold or put away the clean laundry!

Getting kitted out for Bee keeping

2010-03-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

I love bee keeping, it is the only time in my life I have been a size 6! Being new to bee keeping I have gone for the full zipped hood bee suit. Some may think it is overkill, but I really dont like stings. This suit is like a white cotton boiler suit with an attached zipped hood. It has elastic at the ankles and wrists to keep any wondering bees out. I bought it through Arataki Honey, which is just down the road from me. Bee keeping is obviously experiencing a surge in popularity as I had to wait 4 weeks for the arrival of my suit.

Along with the suit you need gloves of some discription. Washing up gloves will surfice but long sleave leather gloves are the "rolls royce'' choice. Gumboots with thick socks are the last fashion accessory for any discerning bee keeper.

If you have ever wondered why bee suits are white, it is because it is a calming colour for bees. Blue does the opposite, it can make them aggressive, so forego the Levi's when you are with your bees.

My New Top Bar Hive

2010-02-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking of keeping bees for a while now and I have done research into the different options that are available. What initially struck me was the cost and the amount of gear required to run a conventional hive. To buy a new hive and all the required tools can easily set you back $800. The other surprise is the amount of equipment required and the amount of space required to store this.

Searching for a cheaper and easier alternative led me to the Top Bar Beehive. This is one of the oldest and simplest ways of keeping bees and requires little skill. Sounds perfect for me! These hives have been around since the 1600's and are popular in African countries as there are few tools required and the hive is easy to build, practical and productive.

Basically a Top Bar Bee Hive is a wooden rectangular box with sticks across the top which the bees build honey comb from. It is a more natural and sustainable way of keeping bees as the bees are allowed to build honey comb to their natural dimensions with no interference from us. The honey is harvested as honey comb, one bar at a time. Honey production is not as high as in a conventional hive but you do get more wax. This can be used to make candles and furniture and leather polish.

This type of hive is perfectly suited to the home bee keeper as it is a simple design, management of the bees is very 'leave alone' and there is evidence that this type of hive reduces the incidence of Varroa mite infection. It particularly suits people with disabilities, bad backs and women, as there is no heavy lifting of super boxes, which can weight up to 50kg when full of honey.

When talking to professional bee keepers about Top Bar hive's don't be put off if they look at you blankly. Most bee keepers have not heard of this way of keeping bees and indeed Top Bar hives are not an option for a professional bee keeper as the honey production is not as high as with a conventional hive. These hives are becoming more and more popular in the UK and America, where people are looking for a more natural and cheaper way of keeping bees. A great website to start your research is Phillip Chandlers Biobees. Here you can download free instructions to make your own hive, if you are handy. You can also buy his book The Barefoot Beekeeper which describes the management and care of a Top Bar Hive.

I have bought his book, have attended a ½ day introduction to beekeeping course and bought a Top Bar Hive. Armed with this new information I am embarking on a new journey into self sufficiency and becoming a backyard bee keeper. Follow my progress. Please consider joining me. Help a declining bee population, get all your edibles pollinated and have honey to enjoy.

Trying to beat those birds at their own game!!

2009-11-30T17:35:00.000-08:00

I have been having a lot of trouble with hungry birds scratching up and eating seedlings and seeds. I have lost countless pea seeds to them. I don't know whether this is because there is not enough natural food to sustain them or perhaps it is the time of the year when they are feeding many ravenous mouths or have they just cottoned on to where to find an easy meal!

I now am planting seedlings and seeds inside a tin can which has its bottom cut out. This creates a warm environment whilst providing protection from digging birds. Once the plant is established I can slide the can off the plant, or more often than not, just leave it on until the plant is ready to harvest. These cans have the extra bonus of providing a barrier to marauding slugs and snails and recycling a common material.

I have also made some very niffty bird scarer's out of Paua shells and bamboo canes. Not only do they work but they look good in the garden!

we have baby chucks!!

2009-11-18T01:33:00.000-08:00

Our peking duck eggs have hatched. Our cleaver and very patient hen has been sitting on 6 duck eggs for the last 28days and is now the proud mother of some very cute babies. Here are some pics of them only one day old. They are already running about trying to catch flies and paddling in puddles, much to their mothers distrees. She may be a first time mum but she knows chicks don't normally like water!

I'm growing corn like the North American Indians do

2009-11-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

Three sisters planting is one of the oldest companion planting ideas around. The idea is to follow the way of the North American Indians.

Mound up small hills about 30cm high incorporating plenty of compost ( The Indians would throw a dead fish into the mound, but I have a greedy Labradoor who would no doubt dig that up and eat it!). Plant around 5-8 corn seeds or seedlings on top of mound with climbing bean seeds planted next to them. In the hollows of the mounds plant pumpkin seeds or seedlings. The theory behind this is as the corn grows up, the runner beans use their stalks to climb up. The beans are nitrogen fixers so feed the soil as corn is a gross feeder. The pumpkin acts as a living mulch, keeping the soil and root zone cool and is provided shade by the tall corn

Have a go at growing these three plants this way this summer. You will get three crops from one area and not have to bother with tippees or climbing frames.

Make Your own Seed Tapes

2009-10-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is a great project to do with the kids on a raining day when it is too wet and cold to venture out into the garden. Seed tapes are biodegradable paper which have seeds incorporated into them at set distances. The idea is you lay the tape flat on top of the soil, cover with a fine layer of soil and let nature take its course. This method avoids over sowing or having to transplant seedlings into the garden and you end up with neat straight lines of vegetables ( great for the Virgo's amongst us!). The tapes are also easy for little hands to handle.This method particularly suits small seeds such as carrots, lettuce, onions, spring onions, leeks, musclun and basil.

To make your own you need:-

-a thick paste made from flour and water

a small brush

a length of toilet tissue

seeds to sow.

1.lie a section of toilet tissue ( as long as you want your row of veges) on flat surface

2.paint flour paste thickly down middle of length

3.sprinkle seeds very thinly allowing for around 8-10cm spacings between seeds into paste

4.cover with another length of toilet tisuue and pat down gently

5.lie tissue flat and under a weight ( stacked books ) until dry.

6.Lay flat in garden and cover with a fine, thin layer of soil. Spray with fine spray of water and keep moist until germination.

Gardening with my boys!!

2009-10-19T01:54:00.000-07:00

I have just had a lovely afternoon in the vegetable garden with my two big boys. We have been planting carrots and beans. The boys love carrots and to make planting easier we have used seed tapes. These are niffty paper tapes which have seeds imbedded into them. Makes for easy handling for little hands. The idea is to lay seed tape along ground, cover lightly with soil and firm in.

The boys have also planted butter bush beans. They love to munch on these beans thoughout the day. It is great to be in the garden with the kids. It is amazing how much knowledge they soak up just watching me potter around. I hope their interest in growing things stays with them for ever!!

I'm growing an Aztec Super food

2009-10-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

We have just planted Chia! This is a new plant that my boys found in the garden centre yesterday. Apparently Aztec legend has it that one mouthful of the Chia seeds could sustain an Aztec warrior in battle for 24 hours.! My three boys liked the sound of this - they often see themselves as warriors!!!

The Chia is one of the highest valued good crops in existence as the seeds are absorbed over a long time. The seeds have a mild nut flavour and can be added to any food. The seeds are harvested in autumn.

The plant is grown as a hardy annual with a spectacular seed producing flower head. It is drought resistant. Plant it anywhere in your garden with good drainage. It grows to a 1 metre round bush.

Will let you know how i get on with my three little Aztec warriors and their plants.

Wine bottle raised garden

2009-10-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, fess up I bet you can collect a good number of wine bottles? Well instead of throwing them out to the reycling, how about making a no-dig raised garden with them. Fill them up with water, screw the cap on again and then sink the neck into the soil until it is firm. The bottles creatë a 'heat sink'. During the day the sun heats the water and at night this heat is relaeased back into the soil. A warmer soil makes fro earlier crops and fastr growth.

Not only is it recycling and functional but it will also get your neighbours gossiping about the amount of wine you drink!!

Codling Moth Traps

2009-10-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

Coddling grugs eat into your lovely apples ruining them for eating. Now is the time to hand Codling moth traps (if you live in the Southern Hemispher) Pheremone traps work by attracting the male moth. They land on the trap and get stuck and die. The traps are'nt a deterent but a way of monitoring how many moths are around. When you are catching about 10 moths a week it is a good idea to spray. I use a pytethrum spray or make up an organic spray with garlic and chilli.

You can make your own traps. here is an idea from the NZ gardener magazine, sent in by one of their readers, Kathy Fathers "In a small jar (small vegemite jar size is ideal) put 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of treacle. Top the jar up with water, place in an old onion bag, and hang as high as possible in the apple tree. I have done this for years and the only time I had codling moth was last year when I was away for a month in November and the jar dried out. It really works. I put them up when the first sign of flowers appeared."

Thank You to Everyone who visited us at the Hawkes Home and Garden show and the Auckland Home Show

2009-09-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

We had a great, and very busy time at the two recent home shows. It was great to be able to spread the word on low maintenace permaculture gardening and sustainable living in the city. People loved the idea of eco-frugality and recycling when growing food in an urban area.

At our stand we could show people that growing food and keeping micro-livestock, such as worms,bees or hens, is a viable and attractive option.

The three major hits would have to be the chicken dome, bug hilton and gutter garden.

Green Urban Living at the Auckland Home Show 9th September- 13th September.

2009-08-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

You don’t need to move to the country to get closer to nature, just visit the Green Urban Living feature at this year’s Yellow Auckland Home Show. Learn how to produce more and consume less by living a sustainable lifestyle whilst also saving money.

www.aucklandhomeshow.co.nz/urban.htm

Green living experts will be giving workshops and tutorials throughout the day on a wide range of topics from organic gardening, composting, and permaculture, to DIY cleaning products and simple tips on how to save on your power bill. There will be two working garden/outdoor areas as well as an informative workshop space and childrens’ hands on area.

Janet Luke, landscape architect and director of GreenUrbanLiving.co.nz will be creating an edible garden based around permaculture principles, showing clever ways to grow vegetables, fruit and keep micro-livestock in an urban setting. Janet will also be giving daily seminars on topics including; sustainable irrigation in the garden, keeping chickens in the city, ideas for the urban garden, and more.

Sustainable Irrigation for your Vegetable Garden

2009-08-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

Buried Clay Pots

This method of irrigation was invented by farmers in Northern Africa thousands of years ago. Unglazed clay pots are porous which allows water to seep out slowly. This type of irrigation is up to 10 times more efficient than watering plants from above with sprinklers or watering cans, and because it is such an economical way of watering, domestic rainwater barrels can provide all your garden irrigation needs. This method is also cheaper and more reliable than many drip or spray irrigation systems which often clog with foreign particles.

The pot needs to be unglazed and be able to hold between two to five litres of water. The rims of the pot can be painted with non-toxic paint to further reduce evaporation and make the pots visible. This saves them being smashed by the lawn mower! The pots need firmly fitted lids to prevent mosquitoes living in them. A small hole in the lid can allow rainwater to drain into the pot.

To install a pot dig a hole three times as wide and two times as deep as the buried clay pot. Mix compost, or sand if soil is heavy. Set the pot in place with rim around 2cm above the surface. Firm soil around pot and place lid on. Fill the pot with water and observe how far the soil is wetted away from pot. In most soil the plants need to be within 5cm of pot. Check pots often. In hot weather small pots will need refilling every 2-3 days, larger ones every week.

To view video and to read more click here

Warmer weather means seedling planting time!

2009-08-07T22:06:00.000-07:00

The weather is finlly warming up now, the weeds and lawn have taken off and I am planting my vegetable seedlings that I have been germinating in my cold frame. I am planting peas, silver beet, lettuce and spinach. I make seedling pots out of newspaper with this dinky little tool that I got from a local company, The Maz ,who make these wooden tools out of recycled fence posts etc. The beauty of this is you avoid any root disturbance as you plant pot and all, the newspaper quickly rots in the ground. You can grow the seedlings in their pot until they are quite large. It also avoids the stage of pricking out which I never have time for !

Time to Plant New Season Spuds!

2009-07-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

I love new potatoes at Christmas time and now, in the Southern Hemisphere, is a good time to start preparing the soil. I dig in lots of chicken or horse manure, lime and compost and let is sit for two weeks while the seed potato's are sprouting on the kitchen window sill.

I dig trenches about 30cm deep and then wrap each potato in a wilted comfrey leaf and place in trench and then back fill. make sure the comfrey is well wilted so it dies rather than re-sprouts or else you will have a new crop of comfrey with your potato's.

This year i have several sack fulls of sheep dags and wool so I am using that as a layer in the trench. The idea being it will slowly break down releasing nutrients for the growing plants through the season.

Mound up soil around the plants several times during the growing season to encourage a bigger crop. Come Christmas time you can start 'bandicotting' which means harvesting potatoes from the growing crop without pulling up the plant.

This year i am growing Jersey Bennies and Ilam.

Interestingly the WHO recomends that all potato's fed to children should be peeled first due to the risk of contamination from residue toxins in the soil! Even a better reason to grow your own.

a cure all?????

2009-07-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

Here's just another reason why you should'nt believe everything you read on the intenet. Gosh if any of these cures worked we would all be living to 140years old!!!!! Worth reading for a giggle anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might try cinnamon on my toast tomorrow morning!!

Honey & Cinnamon Cinnamon & Honey ~ Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around. maybe this info will be of use to you.

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:

It is found that a mixture of honey andcinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a "Ram Ban" (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used withoutany side effects for any kind of diseases.Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly WorldNews, a magazine in Canada, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES :Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves lossof breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, variousnursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honeyand cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.
ARTHRITIS:Arthritis patients may take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot waterwith two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent researchconducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctorstreated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and halfteaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week,out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totallyrelieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could notwalk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS:Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.
CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. Asmentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chroniccholesterol is cured. According to information in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily reduces cholesterol.
COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.
UPSET STOMACH:Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.
GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that ifhoney is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM:Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system andprotects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have foundthat honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use ofhoney strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viraldiseases.
INDIGESTION:Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA:A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
LONGEVITY:Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powderand three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.Life spans are said to increase.
PIMPLES:Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder - make a paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning withwarm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.
SKIN INFECTIONS:Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.
WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fatto accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
CANCER:Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering fromthese kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with oneteaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.
FATIGUE:Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a halftablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamonpowder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M.when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality ofthe body within a week.
BAD BREATH:People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breathstays fresh throughout the day.
HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal partsrestore hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it! You might want to share this information with a friend, kinfolks and loved ones ~ everyone needs healthy help information ~ what they do with it is up to them

Make a Beneficial Insect Apartment

2009-07-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

I have just finished making a beneficial insect apartment for our garden. It is full of nooks and crannies for all manner of bugs to take up residence. I have recycled some old wooden pallets and spent the school holidays with the kids collecting organic material to provide homes. For more information click here.

I have placed it in an area of the garden which is warm and sunny and out of prevailing wind and rain, and of course close to the vegetable garden.

Just waiting for the first guest. Will keep you posted!

WD-40 - a miracle spray?

2009-07-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is? Don't lie and don't cheat. WD-40. Who knew?

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove top ... Voila! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

Here are some other uses:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps flies off cows.

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

9. Untangles jewelry chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots .

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!

Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21..... Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.

22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.

24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.

28. Lubricates wheel sprocket s on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31. Removes splattered grease on stove.

32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

34. Removes all traces of duct tape.

35. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.

38. The favorite use in the state of New York, WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time..
Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. P.S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL. Castrol doesn't work.

Get a Rain Barrel

2009-07-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

How to Make a Rain Barrel

(from www.greenhome.huddler.com)

Get a barrel and clean it. A good size barrel is a 55-gallon one. Look for one that is food-grade (that way you will ensure that it is not made with harsh chemicals). Clean the barrel with a mixture of 5 gallons of water and 1/8 cup of bleach.

Install a hose spigot. To install a 3/4" hose spigot, drill a 15/16" hole for the spigot threading a few inches from the bottom of the barrel. The hose spigot will allow you to connect a garden hose to your rain barrel and water your garden easily.

Move your barrel to its new home. Position your barrel under the downspout. Measure where you will need to cut/disconnect the downspout (check to see if you can disassemble the downspout at the gutter by removing the screws). If you need to cut into your downspout, try using a fine-tooth hacksaw. A flexible downspout extender can also help you make the transition into your barrel lid.

Cut the barrel opening. If your barrel comes with a lid, or if it has a sealed top, you will need to cut a hole in it. Place the downspout connection into the barrel (either directly in the case of no lid or through the whole if you have a lid).

Wait for rain.

Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer months. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a rain barrel can potentially save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months.
A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for lawn and garden watering.

Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff.

A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for garden watering. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff is the leading type of residential non-point source pollution. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy (decreased demand for treated tap water). Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams. A rain barrel is an easy and free way to have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use.

Planting Pea Seeds

2009-07-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

I have just had a lovely morning planting peas with my son Edwin. It is late winter and I am confident all this wet weather is past so we thought we should get out in the sun and plants some pea seeds. My boys love peas- they call them 'green lollies' ( great marketing on my part i have to confess!). In fact I have to admit that not one home grown pea has ever made it into the kitchen to be eaten. They are always devoured out in the garden when the kids are 'free ranging' in the afternoon!

I choose to grow the trailing varieties as I never have time to get any climbing structures organised in time. After the peas have finished they are dug back into the soil to return important nitrogen to the soil. One of the best and easiest crops to grow and so healthy for the marauding kids!

Gardening-Dont't overdo it with the Trowel!

2009-07-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

As a nation, we love our gardens and spend a considerable amount of time and money on them. As we rush to get those jobs in the garden done, there is a risk that gardeners may injure themselves. What everyone wants is to be fit and healthy enough to actually enjoy sitting in their garden and enjoy the fruits of their labours so here are some helpful tips from
Mark and Griselda Mason at The Hastings Chiropractic Clinic!

Clothes
𐂾 Don’t wear clothes that are tight or could constrict your movement.

Warm Up
𐂾 Gardening is like any other exercise; you need to warm up first. Don’t go straight into heavy garden work; start off with lighter jobs as this will lessen the chance of muscle strain.

Using a ladder
𐂾 When using a ladder or steps, make sure you are always facing it, keeping your shoulders, hips and knees pointing in the same direction.
𐂾 Rather than leaning or reaching, move the ladder or step regularly to keep up with where you are.
𐂾 Any kind of ladder must be firmly and safely planted in position and, if possible, have someone else there to keep an eye on things.

Clever pruning
𐂾 Get as close as possible to the things you are pruning and avoid overstretching to reach the area you are dealing with.
𐂾 Invest in some long handled secateurs to reach plants and bushes that are beyond normal reach.

Take a break
𐂾 Vary your activity by spending no more than 20-30 minutes on any one thing and make sure you take regular breaks.

Be clever with the paving
𐂾 If laying a patio, keep the slab close to your body and bend your knees; it is sometimes better to bend one knee rather two, as your supporting leg gives you a position of strength.
𐂾 If using railway sleepers, two people will probably be needed.

Plan ahead
𐂾 If you are planning a trip to the local DIY store to buy heavy items such as cement or gravel, buy smaller bags rather than one big bag as they are easier and safer to carry.
𐂾 If you do buy heavy items, use a trolley and if on your own, ask an assistant at the store to help you.
𐂾 If buying things like compost, sand or gravel in bulkier amounts, shovel the contents of the large bags straight into smaller containers or wheelbarrow from the back of the car.
𐂾 Don’t lift with your arms straight out, keep the elbows bent and to your side to minimise the stress on your back.
𐂾 If having items delivered, have them unloaded as close to where you need them as possible; this will save the effort of moving them again.
𐂾 A specialist garden trolley might be worth investing in to move these sorts of materials around, especially if you have lots of patio pots to move around as well.

Further information about the above information can be obtained by contacting:

The Hastings Chiropractic Clinic, 206 Charles Street,
Stortford Lodge, Hastings, Hawkes Bay.
Tel (06) 8763666

Planting Asparagus

2009-07-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

It is the middle of winter here in my piece of paradise- the perfect time for planting asparagus.I have just planted 20, one year old crowns . Asparagus need deep, rich soil which is well drained. Good preparation of the bed is the key as the plants will produce for the next twenty years. Plenty of manure is the key. Mulch with seaweed as the plants originate from a maritime environment. When you plant the new crowns spread the roots out and bury to around 10-15cm. Leave the new crowns alone until they are at least three years old. Asparagus is a long term investment so make sure you plant them somewhere they won't need disturbing.

I have planted Jersey Giants and Sweet Purple. For the next two years I will have to dream of eating it dripping with butter fresh out of the garden!

2009-07-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Pizza ovens are a great way to waste a Saturday with friends and neighbours. I make the pizza dough and prepare toppings complete with fresh herbs from the garden and everybody makes their own gourmet pizza to be cooked in the oven. The oven is gently fired up for two hours then the coals are scrapped out and base washed with a damp towel. Then the pizza's are ready to be cooked on the base of the oven

I made our pizza oven out of easily found materials, the only purchased item was pizza bricks. So it makes for a very cost effective way of cooking, not to mention fun!

The image is of our patio with the pizza oven I built (When I was 7 months pregnant, OK I was nesting!!) I run workshops on how to build these around Hawkes Bay.

Snail farming

2009-07-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

Now here's a great idea if you live in an urban environment but dream of being a farmer-become a snail farmer! Check out this link and video to see how easy it is to do. Click Here

2009-07-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

It makes it all worth while when your kids are happy to forage in the garden to find a healthy snack, hanging on a tree. This is a photo of my two year old Quinn helping himself to a ripe Tamarillo. I don't know too many other kids who can pick a ripe tamarillo off a tree and actually eat it!!

I have designed a 'snack track' which snakes around a small part of my urban orchard. The theory is the kids can wonder around it and feast on healthy food such as blueberries, cherry tomatoes, cocktail kiwifruit, thorn- less blackberries and espaliered apple and pear trees.

Don't get me wrong this is not 'utopia', my kids still gorge themselves on chips, lollies and biscuits if they get the chance, but they can recognise ripe fruit and berries growing on a vine. Click here for more ideas on gardening wih kids

The $64 Tomato

2009-07-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

i have just finished reading a book called The $64 Tomato by William Alexander ( It's on my bookshelf). It is about a man setting up a new vegetable garden and his year long adventure to grow his own organic food. When he calculates that it cost $64 to grow one tomato he questions the rewards of growing homegrown produce.

Of course his cost is so high because he employed a designer, a landscape contractor, bought all compost and soil in, bought his seedlings from a nursery and had to build deer proof fencing.

The Permaculture way, which is how I garden, recycles, reuses and creates a self supporting system which does not need outside inputs. This all makes for very cost effective garden. I bet my tomatoes only cost around 10 cents each, and that is 10 New Zealand cents!!!

My Chicken Tractor

2009-07-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

This is a image of my chickens inside their dome (Chicken Tractor). I move the dome around my round vegetable gardens and let them do all my weeding, digging, mulching and fertilising. They normally stay on each garden for 3 weeks and in that time I throw all our kitchen scraps , lawn clippings and garden weeds to them. I use an old picnic basket for their laying box and a tarp provides protection from rain. wind and sun. They use the perches at the top to roost at night. Beats a battery hens life for sure!!

I run courses on how to make these permaculture chicken domes Click Here

2009-07-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

It is the middle of winter here so a great time to prune my pip fruit trees, such as pears and apples. I have espaliered apple and pear trees along our boundary fences and walls. It a great use of space and the hard pruning encourages heavy fruiting. The basics of pruning is to remove any broken or diseased wood, any branches that cross over each other and any very old wood. The objective is to get light into all spaces of the tree so that fruit ripens.

I will be posting a 'how to prune fruit trees' on my web site soon.

Happy pruning.

A Chilly Morning

2009-07-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

The rain has stopped and this morning is cold and crisp. Who needs a fridge to store your veges when you have 'jack frost', Winter is a great time to get back at all your garden pests. Aphids, white fly and most caterpillars perish in the first frost of the season. Frost also cleanses the soil of nasties too. Come Spring the garden will be rid of all those choppers and chewers and ready to yield beautiful fat veges again. Next time a Frost hits your garden think of all the positive!!

Rain, rain, go away!

2009-06-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

It's been raining non-stop now for three days, and frankly I'm over it. Last week, i have to admit, I was hopeing for rain as I was sick of having to irrigate my garden in the middle of winter. Now the garden is a sludgy rice paddy! I'm sitting inside wishing I had got around to hooking up a rainwater barrel from my downpipes as all this rain water is going to waste.!Just another thing to add to my to-do list.

2009-06-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Nasturtiums are one of my favorite edible flowers. If you haven't grown them before you can still sow them and have blooms before fall. They are gorgeous!

Nasturtium seeds can be pickled and used much like you would capers. In 'The Joy of Cooking' by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker (Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc., New York, 1975) they give a nice recipe for preparing the seeds.After the blossoms fall, pick off the half-ripened Nasturtium seed pods.

Continue as your crop develops to drop them into a boiled and strained mixture of:
3 cups white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Pickling Salt
1 thinly sliced onion
1/2 teaspoon each allspice, mace and celery seed
3 peppercorns
Keep refrigerated and use as a variation for capers.

A New Member to the Family

2009-06-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

We have just added yet another member to the family! My husband should know better than to go away and leave me visiting Poultry shows, unsupervised, with the boys! Yet again he will come home and find another mouth to feed!!!

We have a 12 week old silkie bantam pullet (young female hen), bought for the huge sum of $5, I couldn't resist a bargain and my six year old Liam fell in love-what could I do!! We can't introduce her to the main flock yet as the other hens could hurt or even kill her. She is about the size of a pigeon!

Bantams make great pets for kids and are great in an urban environment. Click here to learn how to care for them

How to Keep Your Hens Laying through Winter

2009-06-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

As winter approached my hens went off the lay. I devised a simple system with a solar light in the hen house and my hens are back churning out the eggs. Here's what I did.

Eat your weeds!, I mean greens

2009-06-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

Ive been picking dandelion leaves to make a mid-winter salad. They are also a good substitute for lettuce in a sandwich. Older leaves need to be blanched in hot water for about 20 seconds to remove bitterness. I use only young leaves. It you tie growing leaves together and cover with a garden pot for a week the leaves will be lovely and tender. For a lovely greens dish, steam some leaves and eat with butter and lemon juice. Click here for more edible weeds information. Who knows, in this current economic climate we may all be out harvesting in the local rugby field! The good thing is, if you are vege growing 'challenged' you may be a natural at growing weeds.

Health Warning!- don't harvest dandelion from around your local telegraph pole if there are a lot of dogs in your neighbourhood!!!!! I'm sure you can work out for yourself why!!

Crab Apple Chutney

2009-06-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

Have just made three jars of Crab Apple Chutney. Here's my recipe.

2 lbs crab apples
2/3 cup white vinegar
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp cinnamon ( i had run out , so substituted with Allspice)
juice of an orange
1 cup sultanas.

Quarter and core apples, combine all ingredients, just cover with water and simmer for an hour. Pour into hot sterilised jars.

"Little Boys" Apples

2009-06-22T22:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I harvested some Crab Apples from the neighbours (with their permission of course!). My three sons seem to think that they are special little boy apples just right to fit into their open mouths and hold in their little hands (and use as missiles at each other) I haven't the heart to tell them that crab apples aren't meant to be eaten. i just hope i have enough to make some chutney- better be quick!

If you are thinking about planting a fruit tree I have information on how to do this. By doing it the correct way, the tree will flourish next spring and you will be harvesting your bounty before long!

2009-06-22T02:12:00.000-07:00

I have had my worm farm for about 10 years and wouldn't be without my 50 000 wiggly workers! A composting worm eats its weight in food every day, I'm sure I have been guilty of that too over Christmas time? The worm wees is great for my citrus and vegetables. It is like black gold!! My worms happily chomp through my vacuum cleaner bags and all kitchen scraps, paper and egg shells.

I now have two worm farms so that I can produce enough liquid fertiliser for all my fruit trees. Think about getting one- worms are the best low maintenance pet!!

2009-06-22T02:01:00.000-07:00

Dryer balls are like spiky tennis balls. When added to your dryer they help to separate clothing and prevent static and piling. Because they separate the clothes as they spin around they hasten the drying time, thus saving you money. They cost only around $10 ( about US $5), for that sort of money they make a good choice. My only problem is trying to find them, as my kids seem to think they are for them to play with!!!

Crab apples

2009-06-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Have just been out harvesting some of the neighbours crab apples. The plan is to make some crab apple jelly . The tree looks like it is laden with red round jewels, why would anyone want to plant some ornamental tree when you can have such a great tree that provides a harvest too. Crab apple trees are great for small gardens as they are compact and unright in their growth so they fit into tight spaces easily. Will keep you posted on how the Crab apple jelly turns out

2009-06-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

My Broad Beans (Fava) are coming on a treat. I love them as they are like giant peas when picked young and tender. I stake them with small branches set into the soil, these support the plant as it grows. You can eat the tender young shoots, add them to stirfries or salads. Once you have harvested all the beans, dig the plant back into the soil to replenish the soil with nitrogen.

2009-06-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

I'm running a workshop tomorrow morning all about how to keep chickens in the city and how to build yourself a Permaculture Chicken dome. These domes are light, easy to move, provide a high roosting space and let your chickens do all your gardening, tilling, mulching, fertilising and pest control! What more could you want. Chickens are the new 'Black', you heard it here first!!!

2009-06-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

I've been cheating the cold in the vegetable garden by using an array of home-made cloches or mini glasshouses. This is plastic corrugated roofing material folded over to make a mini glasshouse for my seedlings. It creates a warmsafe home until they are older. I just have to remember to water them as it can get pretty dry inside!

2009-06-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

A nice frost this morning, unfortunately my Tamarillo tree has not fared very well. It is dripping with fruit but all leaves are now brown and falling to the ground! Hopefully it will come back in the spring. Must explore some recipes to deal with a glut of Tamarillos!

2009-06-16T22:33:00.001-07:00

Have just made Leek and Potato soup as it is blowing a polar blast outside. This is the kind of cooking I can do! Go out to garden and pull up two fresh leeks, chop and add to pot with butter and three large chopped potato's (yes , also from the garden) add chicken stock (yes also from the 'garden') and simmer for 30minutes. Pulverise, add cream to thicken (no , its not a Weight Watchers recipe) , add salt and pepper. Enjoy with fresh crispy bread. Yum!

2009-06-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

My Peking Ducks have just started laying, which is great as my hens have just stopped!!! They seem to just drop the eggs anywhere. They are big, round and blue/green in colour. Apparently duck eggs are very good for making sponge cakes- will have to get out some recipe books!!

2009-06-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

My 'Crop Circles' in late autumn. I have just planted garlic in the nearest one. You can never have too much homegrown garlic. I buy organic local garlic at the Farmers Market and use it to grow my own. I interplant with carrots seeds as the garlic helps to repel carrot fly

2009-06-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

The kids have been having a great time over the last couple of days hunting for worms in my compost. They catch the worms and hand feed them to the hens who fight over them! The compost is made by creating layers of green and brown organic matter and left to site for several months. I never have time to turn it, it's just left to its self. I spread it around the vegetables and fruit trees.

2009-06-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

My seedlings ready to be planted. I cover with wire netting to keep birds from digging up. The seeds are grown in paper pots made from strips of newspaper. I plant these directly into the ground to prevent root disturbance. The newspaper quickly rots away.