February 2018

I began writing this in the middle of ex-cyclone Gita last night.  States of Emergency had been declared in Christchurch and the West Coast, Kaikoura was flooding, and roads and schools were closed across the top of the south. We had around 150mms of rain in a few short hours.  We've never seen so much flooding on our property, and this time, the river was worryingly overflowing into the paddocks too.  You can see in the photo where the brown river water is combining with the fallen rainwater.  The brown splash in the paddock behind Madame Cholet shows the river being just contained at that point.  The rain finally eased off, but there is more forecast for tonight.  Probably not enough to cause too much harm, but on top of the existing flood water, who knows?  We took the precaution of clearing the furniture from the sleep out as much as possible, as this has flooded in the past (not since we’ve been here).  The bed was raised on blocks of wood and rocks.  Not a great moment to remember we didn't get round to insurance for the sleep out. 

We’ve been considerably luckier than many, and are keeping everything crossed that we'll have the luxury of looking back on a decent watering and a nourishing layer of silt across the paddocks, rather than storm damage. 

Meanwhile, back on the land, productivity has exceeded all expectations.  Plums are finally over, though the freezer is groaning under their weight.  Onions are harvested and plaited and should last us the year.  Some corn has been dried, and the remaining cobs need picking, shucking, blanching and freezing.  Bramley apples and Nashi pears have been processed into pies and chutney.  The piece de la resistance has got to be the tomatoes.  24 jars of tomato sauce in the freezer and a massive batch of tomato relish - already more than we'll eat.  I took 2 overflowing buckets into work and have given lots more away.  But that's probably less than a third of the total crop.  It's a truly lovely problem.  

Madame Cholet has also been hosting some action in the form of chillis.  Some of them are HUGE and they're starting to blush. Some have already made their way into the dehydrator, others into that tomato relish.  The ginger is taking off too, though I haven't bandicooted around to see how big the tubers are yet.  Abundant marrows have also featured on the top crop list this month. That's what happens when you plant about 24 zucchini plants.  Our neighbour's pigs have done well out of the excess, which is great because we'd run out of the rotten plums that they'd been rather partial to.

The crop abundance has also necessitated the brewing and general titivation of alcohol.  Damson plums were totally weighing down the branches of the little tree, and I'd already made more plum jam than you can shake a stick at.  Out came the gin, and to my utter joy, the discovery that Damson Gin, even at the very tender 3-day old stage (you should leave it 3 months before imbibing) is gob-smackingly delish.  Maybe even better than sloe gin - unbelievable.  3 litres of gin transformed and still a million damsons remaining.  What's a girl to do?  Damson Brandy and Damson Vodka, that's what.  6 litres of spirits now, and still the dilemma of what to do with the remaining damsons as I haven't managed to give them away.  Meanwhile, 15 litres of elderberry wine is bubbling (I picked a bucket of elderberries and somehow managed to get enough for 3 whole batches), as is another 15 litres of cider - Foxwood Broxwelp cider no less.  I've just strained it in my usual precarious fashion, and was quite grateful that there wasn't an earthquake at the time.  That cider could have gone a long way, and it's not that long since the ginger-beer-kitchen-redecorating-incident.

More fruit is waiting in the wings.  The peachcots are looking very promising, which is a relief because the peaches themselves are quite a flop this year.  Apples and pears are starting to ripen, and grapes too.  Peter's put bird netting around the grapes. It's very effective.  The birds can get in and eat the grapes, but we can't.  There must be a better way - I'm sure it's not meant to work like that.

It was time for sheep toenail clipping and general coiffure, so we enrolled the help of Karyn.  She flat refused any toenail involvement, so muggins here got the job.  Toenails of all types make me heave and I'm even quelling a wave of nausea thinking about it.  Anyway, the job got done and antiseptic iodine spray applied. 3 ewes needed a partial or full shear, and Karyn got stuck in.  She also took responsibility for quality control when it wasn't her turn to shear.  Yes, you know what I mean Karyn (picky picky picky).  Just be grateful I'm not publishing the cleavage shot.

Karyn's bed is also being very productive.  Though it pains me massively to admit it, her carrots are fantastic.  I'm trying to take some of the credit for that of course - my beautifully nourished soil, my watering, my shared expertise etc etc.  Hmmm.  Working on that.  She also planted these gorgeous foxgloves to brighten the plot up.

Rogue pumpkins have been popping up.  Utterly delightful.  There's one that was hiding among the tomatoes that's recently made a break for it across the path.  And another that disguised itself as a leek.  Or maybe it was trying to be lavender.  It's broken ranks now and is heading towards the raspberries.  Another has popped up in the most obvious place - the compost heap.  No idea what varieties they may be, but I am enjoying the suspense!

The bees are busy but there hasn't been another honey flow yet.  I'm hoping to do a final honey haul in the next couple of weeks.  The clover is flowering, plus a few other splashes of colour.  I still give the aggressive hive a wide berth.  I'm excited to soon be going on a 'buzz' weekend.  It's run by the Wellington bee club for non-beginner beeks who don't mind a 'no-frills' approach.  It's in the middle of what looks like a lovely forest near Palmerston North on a campsite.  I need to bring my sleeping bag for the bunk bed, and my own (named) crockery and cutlery and cash for the sausage sizzle.  Haven't done that since I were a lass (more than 10 years ago maybe).  I'm keeping an open mind about the hospitality and very much looking forward to the lectures and fieldwork.

Peter's made a new Gin Palace sign (maybe he thought he ought, given the copious quantities of gin currently in the kitchen).  The previous sign was totally obliterated by the cocktail kiwi, which has again failed to produce a crop.  Not even any flowers this year.  The new sign is bigger and further away from the rampant kiwi.

We don't tend to see possums, nor do we get much possum damage, though they are a pest around here for others.  They may have stunning fur, but they are quite freaky animals that can look really evil.  They also make a lot of noise when they are around.  They are fantastic climbers so when I heard a commotion on the roof and down the walls outside, I immediately suspected the culprit in the photo.  Maggie - brave hunter dog - took one sniff outside and then came back in to hide under the table. 

Happily the Airbnb sleepout seems to be quite popular.  We've had several guests through this month, and more bookings ongoing.  It's been quite lucrative too, though I've never done so much cleaning in my life.  It's also been lovely and soul-nourishing to hear the 'oohs and aahs' about how beautiful a place we live in.  I hadn't anticipated how rewarding it would be to share our little piece of paradise with visitors from all over the world.  It's not enough for me to give up the old day job, but I've already reduced my contracted hours and am enjoying a bit of a reprieve from full-time work.  It's perfect timing because late summer crop processing is pretty labour intensive.  Not that I'm complaining!

January 2018

This is the main picture advertising our rural retreat - Ti Kouka Cabin - on Air B n B.  Finalising the transformation from crappy sleepout to 'homely' accommodation has taken up much time and energy, but it's good-to-go now and we have already got x3 bookings.  It'll take a fair few more to recoup what we've spent, but at least we're beginning that process now.  It was lovely to have the space available for our Christmas visitors.

The summer has remained quite mixed.  Some heinously hot and sunny days, and also quite a bit of rain.  Perfect growing weather, not only for the weeds that are quite extensive, but not overwhelming.  In the vege garden, they're mostly easy to pull up because the soil is well structured.  Several of the vege crops are ripe or ripening - garlic, onions, corn and tomatoes.  

Many of the herbs are flowering, meaning that it's not a good time to dry them as flowering adversely affects their taste.  Several batches of herbs have already been dried in Solly and are awaiting progress on the business front.  Dealing with the Food Safety legislation is working out more complicated and costly than I imagined, but I'm still working on it.  These gorgeous flowers are Bergamot Bee Balm, absolutely beloved by my buzzy friends.  Bergamot is the flavouring in Earl Grey tea, and not to everyone's taste, including mine.  I'm more endeared to it now that I'm familiar with its source. 

On the bee front, all 3 hives are very busy and the honey season has been my most productive yet, and it's really only hotting up.  I got another 18 litres in the last fortnight, which is currently being potted up.  Looks like I'm building a wall of honey (eat your heart out Trump).  It's absolutely delicious and has already found its way to many people. I've decided to continue not selling it for money  - they can either receive it as a gift, or a trade with me. 

Grapes are fattening up and soft fruit is still abundant.  Strawberries have been especially numerous this year.  I'm not sure why as they haven't been neglected any more than usual.  Not that I'm complaining of course.  Gooseberries have been and gone, and in Autumn they'll be transplanted elsewhere as their bed will be re-planted with herbs.  Raspberries have also been and gone, but either some are making a comeback or there are some later fruiting varieties among them.  These recent raspberries are huge.  Blackcurrants have finally been picked, several kilos of them, thanks to an assortment of happy helpers.  It's an amazing crop this year that will see me through many a morning smoothie over winter.  Blackberries (brambles) are also fruiting really well - they remind me of my grandparents.  My grandma used to say that you shouldn't eat brambles after Michaelmas (29th September) because 'the devil's in them'.  If Lucifer's prickly landing and subsequent cursing of blackberries also extends to the Southern Hemisphere, then luckily we've still got until the end of March.


The orchard is quietly getting on with production.  This hard-working Hawera plum tree is completely laden with fruit that's just on the cusp of ripening.  There are plenty of damsons too, which is delightful because the damson tree copped a lot of damage a couple of years ago and was touch and go.  Cider apples are looking ace (must find a less explosive cider recipe) and the massive Hetlina apples are really weighing down the tree's branches.




In Madame Cholet, the chillies are fruiting big time.  They're enjoying the roasting hot days and amazingly I've managed to keep up with the watering.  There are at least 2 varieties in there.  They should start to change colour soon, and that will help with identifying them.  I'm looking forward to drying them and adding them to salt - making 'Hot Salt'.  




Walter, the black ram, is easily distinguishable from the flock.  He's still smaller than the others and occasionally tussles with the other ram, Leggy.  On the whole, they live together peacefully and don't cause any trouble.  The cattle are also behaving quite well in the absence of a rabble-rouser.  The paddocks are re-growing after hay-making, so there's no shortage of grub for them all.

My paid working hours are now reduced, as is my income.  It's truly liberating, but I'm feeling a bit wobbly in terms of finances.  I'm optimistic that a few extra shifts and some income from the sleepout should balance us out in the longer run.  Maybe I'll even eventually make some cash if Kai-Dri does actually take off.  I've been offered some midwifery work in April in Westport - one of my favourite places.  All up, plenty to look forward to on the horizon: sunny with a chance of rainbows. 

December 2017

It's already been a scorcher of a summer.  Day after day of sun and temperatures in the late 20s - early 30's.  Plant growth has taken off, and fruit is ripening nearly too fast to eat.  Weather records have been broken, and drought threatens across the country.  We were treated to a spectacular super-moon earlier in the month - a truly ethereal event here in the Southern hemisphere.

Walter, our new ram, was collected from his former home (thanks Lucy!) and transported in our re-WOF'd and re-number-plated (at considerable expense) trailer.  The flock didn't exactly welcome him with open hocks, but he has since settled in well.  Finally and literally the black sheep of the family.  He was very curious about the cows, presumably because he'd never seen them before.  He's only 3 months old, but hopefully he'll be just about in action in time to produce some lambs in winter.

The vigorous growth has meant that we've done our hay sooner than ever before.  Our usual haymaker was unable to help this year.  An assortment of neighbours came to our rescue, and we now have 145 bales stacked in the hay barn.  This is probably way more than we'll need, but we can either do less next year or sell some.

The bees have enjoyed the good weather too.  The original colony was full-to-bursting, so I inserted an 'escape board' and over a few days, removed 2 supers of honey.  They were duly extracted (13 litres) and the delicious honey is now potted and even labelled.  In my totally unbiased opinion, it's the best honey in the world, and significantly better than last year.  The other 2 new colonies seem to be getting on well, with both starting to build up honey stores.  I haven't worked it out yet, but at least one of them is housing some pretty aggressive bees that have been quite territorial.  I've had several stings and there have been times when it's not been possible to work in the vege garden.  Buzzing around your face is one thing, but flying kamikaze and bouncing into your head until getting stuck in your hair is another matter.  Perhaps I'll have to look at some re-queening next year.  

The weeds have been seriously getting away again, so I've requisitioned some help in the form of Greg.  He's tackled some of the worst and prickliest areas of the vege and flower gardens,  There's still plenty left to do, but his help has made a big difference.  And Karyn's been quietly making good progress in the main flower garden - not just the roses.  The weeded spaces have already been filled with seedlings, including a dozen tobacco plants.

A voucher from Edible Gardens was my leaving gift from the Polytechnic (thank you lovely colleagues).  What a joy it was to droolingly leaf through their extensive catalogue and make my selections.  First up had to be another cider apple tree.  Not that I need another cider tree, but totally irresistible was one called 'Slack Ma Girdle'.  I've been looking out for a perry pear tree for years.  The one in the catalogue is grafted onto a dwarf rootstock so shouldn't get as massive as they're known to be.  The pears are too tart to eat but can be crafted into unmissable perry (pear cider).  The trees are currently potted into large bags and will be planted out in autumn, assuming a decision is made about where to plant them by then.  Two seedless grapes have filled in a couple of gaps among the vines, and a worcesterberry is in the peachcot bed.


I've finally got round to trying organic weedkiller.  The brand's active ingredient was clove oil.  It was sprayed on the weedy gravel paths around the olive trees and initially made the weeds wilt.  It didn't kill them though and now they've resumed their former vigour.   Bugger.  Back to hand weeding on my knees on hot gravel.  Weeds are busy in the keyhole beds too of course.  They won't all need serious attention as many of the vege seedlings are big enough to hold their own.  Besides. the weeds are doing a good job of protecting the plants and the soil from the worst ravages of the sun.

Rabbits have been more than a nuisance this year.  They're digging up new plants rather than nibbling them.  They also flick copious amounts of soil onto the gravel paths, and they expose deeply buried weed seeds to the soil surface. I'm trying various methods to keep them at bay, none of which involve the commonly recommended shotgun.  Spreading 'blood and bone' works for about 24 hours.  Pegging down plastic mesh over newly planted seedlings seems to be the most successful, though it's early days yet.  I don't mind sharing, but I do object to rampant destruction.  Mostly the seedlings have been replaced by other seedlings kept in reserve - one of the bonuses of being addicted to growing too many plants.

Soft fruit is on tap - strawbs, raspberries, gooseberries and currants.  The joy of collecting fruit for breakfast smoothies and beyond hasn't even begun to wear thin.  Mulberries have been and gone and were very pleasant indeed.  The birds loved them too.  Most of the orchard fruit is on its way, including several cider apples (Foxwood Broxwelps).  One of the original peach trees that fruited its heart out last year isn't looking too flash, but its next-door neighbour seems relatively abundant.  Another of life's mysteries.  There's even a handful of blossom on the persimmon tree - that's the first time it's flowered so fingers crossed.  Pretty little feijoa flowers are out too.  The sheep have done a little bark-gnawing in the orchard, but optimistically no lasting damage.  

Vegetables are also taking shape.  Some of the garlic is ready i.e. browning off, though I haven't yet been brave enough to see if it's worth digging up.  My track record with garlic doesn't exactly forecast a bountiful harvest.  Tomatoes are coming through and some are even turning from green.  The corn is gorgeous and throwing off seed heads, and beans are winding their way up the stems.  Carrots have been weed-challenged, but I'm keen to see how much that affects the outcome.  If it doesn't make a difference, then I'll be saving myself a lot of regrets.

Sam's been busy with band stuff and has even been on the news.  He was the bugler for the dawn Re-Opening Ceremony of SH1 between Kaikoura and Blenheim, following earthquake damage repair.  The photo above appeared in 'Stuff' and shows the beautiful sunrise that day. It's such a relief and joy to many that this key coastal road is back in action.  There are plans to build a cycle route - the Coastal Pacific Highway - that eventually will link Ship Cove in the Marlborough Sounds (where James Cook first landed in 1770) to Cathedral Square in Christchurch.  The path will run alongside the road and also veer off along the coast.  The Kaikoura earthquake that damaged the bluffs along the original road has made the logistics possible.  When completed it'll be a fantastic asset for the South Island.

The sleep out is cleaned and now ready for our Christmas visitors - Marcus, Nikki, Arthur, Jago and Freya who will arrive next week.  I'm starting to get my head around food supplies and entertainment.  I've managed to bake a vegan Christmas cake - here's hoping it tastes as good as it looks and smells.   Lots to do, most of which probably won't be done, but realistically we won't starve and no doubt entertainment will invent itself.  

Season's Greetings from our little slice of paradise.