Home Grown Goodness

We are going on our 5th year since moving to the ponderosa and life just keeps getting better in terms of all our wonderful home grown goodness.  In saying this, our home grown ventures haven't always been an easy road with a few trial and errors occurring. 

Reflecting on some past blogs we didn't get any plants from PROPAGATING FROM THE GARDEN.  Unfortunately I forgot to change the timer on the sprinkler within the greenhouse which proved disastrous!

THE OLIVE GROVE is still there, however a few of them were attacked by the local rabbits.  They weren't eating the trees, but they were burrowing into their root system which made it difficult to get established but they are starting to get going now.  Especially when we decided to get rid of the pine trees.

Trimming the chooks wings is a must or trying to grow a vegetable garden turns into a losing battle.  There was a time there when our chook numbers were going to decline at a fast rate and keeping sheep inside a paddock can prove more challenging than we thought.  They definitely aren't like beef, that's for sure!

With all the trials and errors, we have learnt from them to look to improve and learn from the experiences and the results are only getting better.

Happy living peeps!

Homegrown Food

In our quest to live off the land for a much healthier and sustainable lifestyle, you learn very quickly that having your own supply of fruit and vegetables is a must.

My husband grew up in Mangamuka, a small town just south of Kaitaia on a large farm with a large old villa .  He remembers vividly at least 1/4 acre of the property housed an orchard and would have a massive supply of fruit and preserves all throughout the year.

Although I didn't grow up on a farm, I did grow up in Ngaruawahia where all properties were 1/4 acre sections and nearly all the houses had fruit trees galore and vegetable gardens.  As a child I would go from house to house eating what fruit I could with all my cousins and it was great!

Imagine my surprise when we first moved onto the Ponderosa and there wasn't much of a supply, especially considering a property as old as this one.  In fact, there was a fig tree, pear tree, lemon tree, grapefruit tree, walnut tree, plum tree, hazelnut tree and 3 cherry trees.  The property did come with a green house, and was loaded with tomatoes and the vegetable garden had heaps of onions.  (Secretly my daughters thought the old owners had an obsession with onions, because they were everywhere).

I have blogged about the cherries, plums and nuts ARE YOU NUTS & SUMMER FRUIT SURPRISE but we took action and planted so much more.  An OLIVE GROVE , a citrus grove with lemons, oranges, limes and mandarins as well as plums, peaches, apples, cherries, pears, almonds and a nectarine tree. 

We repositioned the vegetable garden closer to the house as well.  The old vegetable garden was positioned closer to the front boundary which meant we had to walk a marathon to go and grab something for a meal.  Not good in the rain.  It's pretty close to the back doorstep now, and we get to look at the progress of the garden from the kitchen window which is great!

Beetroots, kale, radishes, spring onions, spinach, silver beet, celery, lettuces, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sage, marjoram, thyme and bay have served us well over the winter months and I'm starting to think about what needs to be planted for picking this side of xmas.

Kale, Carrots & Beetroots

Beetroot, radiches & spring onions

Sliverbeet, spinac & spring onions

I am currently on the hunt for some maori potato seeds and hope I'm able to secure some soon as I need to get them in the ground this month just in time for xmas.  My favourite fruit tree supplier is Farrels has their annual sale on at the moment so I'm looking to add a few more nectarine trees and citrus as well.

Grapes, passionfruit, raspberries, avocado, pomegranate and asparagus are all on the radar as permanent features too.  I just need to find the right place for them.

Have a great night peeps!

Propagating From The Garden

There is something fulfilling about propagating from your garden because you are utilising what you already have.  All you need is some empty pots or trays, some descent potting mix, some hormone gel or powder to kick start the process and your favourite plants.

I have to be honest though.  When you live for 6 years in a dream home where the gardens are so low in maintenance that the most work needing your attention is trimming your buxus and corokia's every now and again, it takes a little time to find your rhythm again. In saying this, when you have 9 acres of potential, finding your rhythm for propagating comes flowing back in a flash.   Although it takes more time to get the results, it saves a truck load of cash.

Preparing for Propagating ... the glass of water was for me

This morning I planned to bake, however when our beloved chooks failed to produce any eggs, I set my mind on taking cuttings from the garden instead.  Just quietly, I think "the gals" were still a little traumatised from visiting children trying the chase them all night.



I'm a huge fan of mass planting because I think it gives structure to your garden so this morning I thought what do I need in mass.  Straight away, I thought lavender for a number of reasons - lavender brings bees and bees make honey (I plan to get my own hive in October).  Lavender smells delicious, and can be used in many home remedies including food.  I'd also like a beautiful low hedge of lavender - location yet to be confirmed but most of all, I have three smallish lavender plants situated in the front of our verandah and I know they won't live there for much longer.  So what better way to pay homage, than to propagate these 3 plants and spread their love all over the garden.


I also found a lovely row of corokia's behind the back shed or what I call "the outhouse".  These look fabulous as a hedge plus shelter the outhouse from the prevailing winds so I thought we could do with some more of those.

I'm also a fan of camellia's not only because they have beautiful flowers but because they are evergreen and in winter when all your summer and autumn colours have disappeared, your camellias take front row and centre and lift your garden.  I have a camellia that shelters the carport from the roadside and it's currently 5m x 6m so I'm guessing it's pretty old. I have no idea what type it is or even what colour it's blooms are as the buds are yet to give me any indication, but I have a sneaky suspicion they will be pink.  I have plans for a camellia hedge under the gum tree so they will be on my list as well.


Lastly, I have some beautiful old fashion roses.  I am was quite reluctant to take cuttings of these so early however my husband plans to demolish the garden they are currently in to make way for the kitchen/dining extension.  I plan to transplant them elsewhere to a special rose garden - location yet to be confirmed.



The afternoon proved very productive resulting in over 200 cuttings now resting nicely in the greenhouse.  Fingers crossed the return will be higher than 80% after 8-12 weeks.  

Finished Results