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Natural gardening
Working with nature to produce an edible forest garden. Mixed polyculture plantings including insect attractants, pest confusers, nutrient accumulators, green manure crops and companion plants for a healthy, disease resistant and abundant garden. We also collect and grow our own seed to produce locally adapted vegetables that look and taste great.
Constructing and working with a chookhouse gardening system
Combining chookhouse and glasshouse is one of the classic permaculture examples of stacking functions, closing loops and all that but not something I had ever come across. It makes sense on a lot of levels:
- Why have 2 buildings when you can have one
- Waste products from chickens are great inputs for plants (manure, heat, CO2...)
- Chickens eat insects and plant material and are great for preparing soil for planting
- Plants grow well in sheltered, warm environment
May 05, 2016
Land improvements for water retention and forest gardening presentation @ Lincoln BHU
Once again I will be presenting to students at the BHU organic training College in Lincoln. The 2 hour talk will cover rainwater collection via land shaping (swales, terraces and hugelkultur), soil conditioning for improved water holding capacity (PDF download) as well as forest gardening (PDF download).
March 07, 2016
Food Forest Gardening - Visual slides and audio MP3
Audio from a talk given to public gathering organised by Food For Thought at Amberley Library. Audio quality is fair, considering it was recorded on a mobile phone. If you want better quality, contact me to come and speak directly to you or your group!
PDF version of slideshow presentation covering food forest gardening
PDF version of slideshow presentation covering food forest gardening
March 02, 2015
food forest - gardening the permaculture way
A food forest includes a diverse range of trees, shrubs, vegetables and vines to grow healthy, organic food in a multi dimensional, functional and interdependent biological system.
Arranging plants in natural, beneficial relationships creates a resilient, highly productive and attractive landscape.
Arranging plants in natural, beneficial relationships creates a resilient, highly productive and attractive landscape.
Food forest gardening site visit, tour and workshop
We enjoyed showing our garden and emerging food forest to a group of curious individual from the greater Hurunui district. About 20 people made the journey out to Blockhill to learn more about our version of food forest gardening. The event was organised as part of the Hurunui Time Bank Learning Exchange Program
March 08, 2015
Learn about foodscaping / food forest gardening
Develop an understanding of how to design and implement your own food forest garden with a one on one guided tour and discussion session.
- Explore the extensive, established forest garden at blockhill
- Learn identify, develop and exploit niches to grow a wider range of useful plants
- Discuss mixed and companion planted polycultures and guilds
- Understand plant succession for ecosystem transition and transformation
- Witness beneficial insects and extreme biodiversity
- Meet the chooks, ducks and pigs and see how they fit into the system
- Overview of useful hand tools
2 hours
$80.00
Grow your knowledge and self reliance skills with activities & workshops
Learn more about sustainable living and organic gardening, energy efficiency and permaculture design. Explore, discuss and take part in practical, land based activities.
We offer a selection of informative and educational activities and workshops for individuals and small groups.
We offer a selection of informative and educational activities and workshops for individuals and small groups.
Creating a forest garden by Martin Crawford
This is a great book for anyone interested in forest gardening. Martin details the various aspects of establishing a productive system in a UK climate. Lots of lush photos, plant details and data tables make it a valuable resource.
Organic Field Day
I attended an informative talk (download mp3) by Charles Merfield followed by a field-day at my parents organic farm.
The general topic was low energy input farming and gardening in an unstable climate.
Was good to meet people at my end of the 'crazy' spectrum and witness the interest in my scything demonstration.
The general topic was low energy input farming and gardening in an unstable climate.
Was good to meet people at my end of the 'crazy' spectrum and witness the interest in my scything demonstration.
November 21, 2010
Setting of expectations
The expectations we have about what we should be eating and when determines what options are open to us in terms of where and how we obtain our sustenance. By adjusting our requirements and evaluations of what makes something desirable food we open up new sources and types of fruit and vegetables. This is a prerequisite of low input forest gardening.
November 22, 2015
Melisa
I am most content when I am surrounded by animals and nature. I've learned a lot about self reliance and resilience since my Blockhill journey began in 2009. I've acquired skills in food preservation, gardening, knitting, sewing and animal care. I love spending time with my Kune Kune pigs, muscovy ducks, silkie chickens, and my cat Chappie. Olmec and I continue to learn something new every day as we navigate our way through this unique and enriching life.
I've written and illustrated 4 children's picture books and they are all available for purchase here on our website.
I also have an interest in health and well being from a natural and alternative approach, and have a good understanding of plants and their various health benefits. Having had some health issues in recent years, I've explored many alternative options to mainstream medicine. I can advise on my own personal approach to healing from endometriosis and ovarian cysts (endometrioma) through a combination of gluten-free diet, plant based vegan diet, herbal supplementation, visualisation and meditation. It took time and some hard work but I believe my lifestyle changes made a significant difference and helped me avoid another surgery.
Please feel free to contact me if you have similar health concerns and you would like further information about my approach.
I've written and illustrated 4 children's picture books and they are all available for purchase here on our website.
I also have an interest in health and well being from a natural and alternative approach, and have a good understanding of plants and their various health benefits. Having had some health issues in recent years, I've explored many alternative options to mainstream medicine. I can advise on my own personal approach to healing from endometriosis and ovarian cysts (endometrioma) through a combination of gluten-free diet, plant based vegan diet, herbal supplementation, visualisation and meditation. It took time and some hard work but I believe my lifestyle changes made a significant difference and helped me avoid another surgery.
Please feel free to contact me if you have similar health concerns and you would like further information about my approach.
Chris
We had a fantastic and informative visit to the beautiful forest garden at Blockhill. We did the foodscaping/forest gardening workshop, and it was well worth it. We learned heaps! Melisa and Olmec were very friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. We would highly recommend it to anyone interested in permaculture or forest gardening.
November 01, 2023
Weekend Experience
An overview of forest gardening, water and land management,
A personalised experience that will inspire and feed your creativity.
$490 (includes 2 nights accommodation)
A personalised experience that will inspire and feed your creativity.
$490 (includes 2 nights accommodation)
Comfrey root pieces for growing
Botanical name
Symphytum officinale
Details
Easily grown from root pieces, comfrey is a valuable and popular addition to any food forest garden. Widely used in organic and permaculture gardening, this plant is a fantastic soil improver and mulch producer. Suitable for a wide range of conditions and situations.
Perennial
Price
$4.90
5 root pieces
Natural Insect Repellent
A list of insects and other pests along with suitable plant based repellent.
Chooks for weeding and soil enhancement
I have been developing a process that directs the energy (and manure) of the chicken into a specific piece of soil.
Rather than unleash the chickens in the garden I decided to take the garden (at least bits of it) to them.
Rather than unleash the chickens in the garden I decided to take the garden (at least bits of it) to them.
January 31, 2010
The Ideal Hoe?
I first heard about the Stirrup hoe from Nelson Lebo during his interview on Two Beers with Steve. As it sounded like a must have tool I set about finding one.
It turns out this hoe is known by many different names, including:
- Stirrup Hoe
- Hula Hoe
- Scuffle Hoe
- Oscillating Hoe
It turns out this hoe is known by many different names, including:
- Stirrup Hoe
- Hula Hoe
- Scuffle Hoe
- Oscillating Hoe
September 02, 2010
Home Made Biochar
A low-tech method for small scale production of biochar, a valuable soil additive.
I used douglas fir cones that I raked up from around the trees, packed in the central canister and 'baked' with a fire of coal and wood scraps from the workshop.
I used douglas fir cones that I raked up from around the trees, packed in the central canister and 'baked' with a fire of coal and wood scraps from the workshop.
September 25, 2010
Comfrey Confusion - Plant Identification
It's one of the cornerstone plants in permaculture and forest gardening. Comfrey is a deep rooted leafy perennial that provides a range of benefits and uses.
There are a number of other plants that have a similar appearance and look a bit like comfrey.
Chickens & ducks
As part of our quest to be as self sufficient as possible and to make use of the land and sheds we have it seemed like the logical thing to do was get some chickens.
Poultry have many positive contributions to the type of forest gardening we practice. A large amount of their diet comes from the insects, plants, seeds and fruits that grow and drop on site and this feeds through the birds and back into the system in the form of eggs and meat to feed and power our muscles. Their manure, feathers and carcass are composted to feed the soil and the constant scratching help break up woody material and weeds.
Foul are not without their share of challenges...
Poultry have many positive contributions to the type of forest gardening we practice. A large amount of their diet comes from the insects, plants, seeds and fruits that grow and drop on site and this feeds through the birds and back into the system in the form of eggs and meat to feed and power our muscles. Their manure, feathers and carcass are composted to feed the soil and the constant scratching help break up woody material and weeds.
Foul are not without their share of challenges...
The edible landscape
We grow a huge range of edible plants in our forest garden. This is a natural way of gardening that mixes many types of beneficial and practical plants to produce healthy food and create a rich biodiversity of organisms. There are no chemicals used in our landscape.
Fruit and vegetables for sale (dependant on season)
Please ask us if you would like to buy some of our fruit or vegetables.
Help yourself to...
You are welcome to pick fresh herbs from in front of the cabin. You will find sage, rosemary, mint, chives, thyme, oregano and other herbs to include in your meals.
Fruit and vegetables for sale (dependant on season)
Please ask us if you would like to buy some of our fruit or vegetables.
Help yourself to...
You are welcome to pick fresh herbs from in front of the cabin. You will find sage, rosemary, mint, chives, thyme, oregano and other herbs to include in your meals.
Seeds
Collecting and storing seeds for planting in the seasons ahead is an essential component of gardening.
I have a reasonable assortment of purchased, traded and gathered seeds that was in dire need of a tidy up.
I have a reasonable assortment of purchased, traded and gathered seeds that was in dire need of a tidy up.
September 19, 2010
Knowledge tours
Details
Students from the Kaikoura Creation Care Study Program spent an afternoon at Blockhill touring and learning about forest gardening, water catchment and other aspects of sustainable land use.
Date
May 09, 2017
Hugelkultur gardens in summer
Details
Every year, since their construction, our hugelkultur raised woody garden beds have been improving in performance. While waiting for the perennial plantings to establish we have been gardening with seasonal crops including maize, pumpkins, tomatoes, salad, cucumbers and of course lots of beans. Modest additions of straw mulch, trenched in pig manure, compost tea and all plant residues are contributing to the overall fertility of the beds and on occasion where I have exposed the wooden core while digging it is clearly breaking down into a crumbly organic 'compost'.
Date
February 18, 2018
Olmec
Having grown up on a small organic farm in North Canterbury, I have a lifelong connection to land, gardening and ecological awareness.
In 2005, seeking adventure, I left my Wellington life and software engineering job behind and went backpacking through Australia and into South-East Asia. For 8 months I worked and travelled, gaining a new perspective, first hand, on other ways to live, different value systems and the nature of our expectations. Poor, remote villagers always seemed so happy in their simple lives and displayed an evident commitment to family, community and place.
Over the next 4 years I began looking into the consequences of human settlement and our impact on our surroundings as a result of our attempts to globalise a techno-industrial capitalist system. What I discovered alarmed me and galvanised my direction to begin preparing my life for the future I saw coming.
In 2009, My wife and I transitioned from city dwelling office workers to rural, self employed lifestyle entrepreneurs.
Since then I have been researching and implementing more sustainable ways of inhabiting the land and extracting a yield.
I still work with computers to solve problems and have taken that way of thinking about multiple, interacting, complex systems and applied it to everyday life. When I'm not running about in bare feet, I'm in front of the computer building websites. (Someone's got to pay the bills)
Gradually I am developing my understanding of natural systems and how they can support human needs while organising the assorted solutions to share with the rest of my species. I see this as the great work of our time, to reinvent ourselves and our culture for the better.
In 2005, seeking adventure, I left my Wellington life and software engineering job behind and went backpacking through Australia and into South-East Asia. For 8 months I worked and travelled, gaining a new perspective, first hand, on other ways to live, different value systems and the nature of our expectations. Poor, remote villagers always seemed so happy in their simple lives and displayed an evident commitment to family, community and place.
Over the next 4 years I began looking into the consequences of human settlement and our impact on our surroundings as a result of our attempts to globalise a techno-industrial capitalist system. What I discovered alarmed me and galvanised my direction to begin preparing my life for the future I saw coming.
In 2009, My wife and I transitioned from city dwelling office workers to rural, self employed lifestyle entrepreneurs.
Since then I have been researching and implementing more sustainable ways of inhabiting the land and extracting a yield.
I still work with computers to solve problems and have taken that way of thinking about multiple, interacting, complex systems and applied it to everyday life. When I'm not running about in bare feet, I'm in front of the computer building websites. (Someone's got to pay the bills)
Gradually I am developing my understanding of natural systems and how they can support human needs while organising the assorted solutions to share with the rest of my species. I see this as the great work of our time, to reinvent ourselves and our culture for the better.
Living on contour - working with water flow
Water is the essence of life and as such we need to be thinking about how to make best use of what we have. The most important work we do is to implement solutions for capturing, storing, diverting and infiltrating rainwater and runoff. This helps build soil, nourish crops, prevent erosion, minimise drought and reduce or eliminate irrigation needs.
Learn about the art of land shaping for natural rainfall catchment, a practical guide to water harvesting and management.
Make the most of the water available, direct surplus water away from wet areas towards dry areas.
Use swales and terraces to halt the flow of water and nutrient off the land and allow it infiltrate and hydrate the soil.
Learn about the art of land shaping for natural rainfall catchment, a practical guide to water harvesting and management.
Make the most of the water available, direct surplus water away from wet areas towards dry areas.
Use swales and terraces to halt the flow of water and nutrient off the land and allow it infiltrate and hydrate the soil.
August 21, 2014
Small scale sustainable horticulture
Practising and developing low technology, organic gardening for small scale food production.
Applying systems thinking to horticulture while improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Permaculture inspired land management practices for optimal growth, production and enjoyment.
olmecScythe.png
Converting an existing orchard to food forest
When we took over the property it came with an orchard consisting of plums, almonds, cherry, apricot, apples, peaches, nashi and pears. The trees are of varying ages and were planted more or less randomly across what was once an open paddock. Slowly I have been contouring, inter-planting, removing grass, mulching and generally intensifying the productivity of the area.
September 01, 2013
Water management Low cost, low impact, low tech. and sustain...
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Develop your self reliance skills Explore our range of fun, ...
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Food forestry and forest gardening Designing and establishin...
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Gibson the cat Originally from a suburb in Christchurch, Gi...
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Reinventing the parking structure
A look at possible urban farming in the post petroleum future, making the most of the situation and thinking about survival.
The voices in the peak oil conversation have made it clear to me that problems with the production and transportation of vegetables will demand more food to be grown closer to the point of consumption - back yards, roof tops, window sills and so on.
Kunstler believes that cities will contract, and those on the coast (exposed to sea level rise) are certainly likely to, as are those that require air conditioning or heating to make the climate bearable.
The voices in the peak oil conversation have made it clear to me that problems with the production and transportation of vegetables will demand more food to be grown closer to the point of consumption - back yards, roof tops, window sills and so on.
Kunstler believes that cities will contract, and those on the coast (exposed to sea level rise) are certainly likely to, as are those that require air conditioning or heating to make the climate bearable.
June 21, 2010
Kick the carbon habit - UN
The United Nations urged the world today to kick an all-consuming addiction to carbon dioxide.
June 06, 2008
Swale construction process
This article aims to give you an introductory overview to laying out and creating infiltration swales. The information is based on experience gained during the design and construction of over 40 swales.
Adventure, learning volunteer exchange We invite applicati...
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Garden update
Our garden is bigger and better this year with more planning, improved soil and larger variety of plants in the ground. We are just starting to reap the rewards.
December 09, 2010
Hardenbergia vine seeds
Common name
Coral vine
Botanical name
Hardenbergia
Details
Vigorous evergreen climber native to Australia.
Requires a warm, sheltered location. Can grow in dry conditions.
Purple or pink and white flowers loved by bees in early spring.
Drought tolerance
Evergreen
Frost sensitive
Nitrogen fixer
Perennial
Price
$3.90
20 seeds
Flowers
Pink / purple
Yellow bush / tree lupine
Botanical name
Lupinus arboreus
Details
A fast growing woody lupine with yellow flowers and a sweet scent. Grows well in poor quality soil and makes a good source of biomass and quick low growing shelter and habitat.
Short lived perennial bush or shrub that grows in poor conditions. Nitrogen fixing
Evergreen
Nitrogen fixer
Perennial
Price
$3.90
20 seeds
Osteospermum
Common name
African daisies, daisybushes
Botanical name
Osteospermum
Details
Easy care plant for dry areas. Does not tolerate hard frost
Covered with bright flowers for much of the year, enjoyed by bees.
Drought tolerance
Frost sensitive
Perennial
Price
$3.90
20 seeds
Hopi Black Dye Sunflower
Botanical name
Lunaria annua
Details
Similar to the regular, common sunflower but often having multiple smaller flowers and dark purple / black seed casing that the Hopi people of North America have traditionally used to make a dye for cotton, wool and basketry
Edible
Seeds / nuts / tubers
Price
$4.90
20 seeds
Propagation method
Sow direct