Our Land

The Golden Bay orchard dedicated to finding the perfect feijoa

Nigel Ritson has spent the last 35 years breeding feijoas, searching for the perfect fruit.

Prepare the garden for the incoming cold this April

There's plenty to do in the height of autumn.

Ever heard of a chook tractor?

Chickens and gardens don’t normally mix, so it often comes down to a choice: do you fence the garden, fence the chooks, or allow them to thrive together?

Hoop-jumping and council consents: Michael Andrew’s journey of building a home from scratch

NZ Lifestyle Block editor Michael Andrew writes about the essential yet tedious hoop-jumping business of council consents.

The Pumpkin episode four: The rise and appeal of homegrown milk

The Pumpkin, is our podcast devoted to homesteading and permaculture in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

How to keep a fly invasion under control

Nelson Lebo shares his tips to stiffen defences with an effective yet affordable homemade fly trap.

The pest species with surprising benefits

The elder tree has been revered by human beings for millennia for its spiritual and medicinal applications.

The Downward Journey: For the love of soil

Angela Clifford reflects on her almost two-decade journey into soil health.

A garden checklist for the first signs of autumn

Enjoy the final summer goodies and start to prepare for autumn.

8 plants to get through droughts

With water shortages becoming more common, here’s how you can keep your garden alive and thriving during the dry months.

A guide to garden arches

These versatile structures not only add a touch of elegance, but also provide a framework for climbing plants.

Fire prevention, done by a New Zealand block expert

Some of the best and most cost-effective fire prevention experts can be found on many New Zealand rural properties.

A mudbrick home in Golden Bay inspired by Native American and Mediterranean styles

This Kiwi chef is living his dream to build an adobe earth house and develop a permaculture block.

Tips for mowing on a slope

In a country like New Zealand, seldom is a block owner blessed with a tabletop-flat piece of land.

Rebecca Stewart: Following in the footsteps

Rebecca reflects on the struggles of those who lived on their block of land before her family.

The Food Farm reap the rewards of the coast

After a busy spring, it sometimes pays to take a break from the farm and head to the coast for its own unique bounty of kai.

A fresh start for a January garden

Start the new year with a thriving garden.

All of the gardening jobs to get done this December

Summer is finally here meaning there's a lot to get done in the garden.

7 ways to create abundant food

Rebecca Stewart explores the best ways to maximise food production on the block.

How to control kikuyu

It’s the undisputed bane of many blocks, smothering pastures and strangling gardens.

Permaculture paradise in coastal Waikato

In coastal Waikato, two enthusiasts are channelling resilience and innovation to create a hub of permaculture, arts and spirituality.

How to render fat

You can use fresh or frozen fat when rendering.

Late-spring gardening tips and tasks this for month

Summer is on the horizon, so best to get your warm-weather produce blooming.

Farming jobs for November

With summer approaching, it's important to take action on the farm now.

Rebecca Stewart: Living with the seasons

Rebecca reflects on the changes that come each day on the farm during a new season's approach

6 ways to create a survival garden

A “survival garden” can thrive perpetually with minimal inputs, conserving your time and energy.

The number one tree in the permaculture handbook

Tagasaste grows fast, fixes nitrogen, feeds bees and stock, withstands extreme storms and droughts, and helps other seedlings grow.

Maintaining the land on Blue Duck Station

A peek inside daily life on one of the country's most environmentally significant stations.

Have your say: The editorial future of 'NZ Lifestyle Block'

Take a quick 10 minutes to weigh in on the future of 'NZ Lifestyle Block'

Why kānuka is finally getting the spotlight

A new study on eczema treatment has started a conversation about the potential value of kānuka on private land.

A checklist for a successful October garden

Time to make the most of the slowly-warming weather.

The Bay of Plenty ginkgo growers

While foraging ginkgo might be relatively easy, growing the trees for their nuts is notoriously difficult and expensive

Why truffles could be a lifestyle block goldmine

With truffles worth up to $3,500 per kilogram, they could be the perfect money-maker for block owners with unproductive land.

How this Central Otago farm is mastering the art of prepping

They’re often viewed as extreme fanatics training for social collapse. But in light of recent events, are preppers just practising common sense?

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