Spring in the Food Forest
Details
Flowering apricot and almonds, spring bulbs and nitrogen fixing shrubs.
Date
September 03, 2019
Our weather and seasons
We are located at about 42 degrees south of the equator and about 15km from the coast. Being an island, our climate is moderated by the ocean, is generally temperate and can change at short notice.
Almond blossom with snow
Date
September 08, 2016
A little bit of wind
We had a very windy night with some impressive lightning and thunder. At one point it sounded like the thunder exploded directly above us.... an unfriendly way to be woken up.
Power went out for 36 hours and cellphone / internet for 48.
The tunnel house was somewhat damaged, mostly due to the door coming open or disintegrating.
Power went out for 36 hours and cellphone / internet for 48.
The tunnel house was somewhat damaged, mostly due to the door coming open or disintegrating.
September 13, 2013
Nor'west summer
Last light on the first day of the new decade. Nor'west clouds formations are typical of this time of year.
November 20, 2012
Spring!
Spring is here! And it's springing from every fruit tree with an abundance of white and pink blossoms. The sun is shining and the bulbs are coming up through the grass. And all through the day the native birds sing their melodic springtime soundtrack to welcome the nice weather.
September 01, 2011
Sunset (time lapse)
Watch the orange glow of evening fade to the purple of night.
A short time lapse capture of the sunset from our deck.
A short time lapse capture of the sunset from our deck.
November 23, 2009
Nor-west clouds at evening
A changeable day as the southerly front moves in.
October 28, 2009
Snow in October
After a week of damp and cloudy, the weather reached a wintry climax with flurries of snow and a good dumping up on the hills. The ground was wet and boggy for a few days and the streams gushed noisily.
October 09, 2009
September
Another month of change. September offers cherry blossom, warm windy sun-filled days and evenings by the fire.
September 25, 2009
Cloudy with chance of....dust?
Yesterday it looked cloudy and misty like it might rain. It was a bit mysterious though, because when I went outside the air felt dry, and I realised that the murky haze wasn't misty but more like smoke or dust.
Well, turns out that it was dust, covering all of North Canterbury. It 'baffled experts' yesterday and they couldn't figure out what it was. But Olmec said it smelled like dust, and he was right. It was dust that had blown over from a dry lake bed in Australia. It rained red drops of the stuff in Tasmania before the remaining dust made it to New Zealand. Strange...
Well, turns out that it was dust, covering all of North Canterbury. It 'baffled experts' yesterday and they couldn't figure out what it was. But Olmec said it smelled like dust, and he was right. It was dust that had blown over from a dry lake bed in Australia. It rained red drops of the stuff in Tasmania before the remaining dust made it to New Zealand. Strange...
September 15, 2009
A hot day at the river
When it gets hot it's time for a dip down at the swimming hole. A 5 minute drive down the road to the Leader river for refreshing, clean clear water. Perfect way to cool off.
January 31, 2013
Sprinkling (at high pressure)
Details
It has been really drying out and we have been busy moving hoses to water as many trees and veges as possible.
We have a well with a pump that delivers 25mm of water at high pressure. While I was trying to come up with a way to apply this water gently to the garden I came up with this simple circular terminus mister (click for photo).
It effectively produces a 4 meter high column of mist. Wonderful on a scorching afternoon.
We have a well with a pump that delivers 25mm of water at high pressure. While I was trying to come up with a way to apply this water gently to the garden I came up with this simple circular terminus mister (click for photo).
It effectively produces a 4 meter high column of mist. Wonderful on a scorching afternoon.
Date
December 05, 2010
Blackberries
Wild blackberries are a bit of a curse round here, growing rampantly wherever they can. However at this time of year they redeem themselves somewhat by offering up sweet berries.
In addition to the thorny wild plants, we have a thornless variety in the garden that produces larger, more accessible berries.
In addition to the thorny wild plants, we have a thornless variety in the garden that produces larger, more accessible berries.
February 16, 2010
Plums
A bumper crop of plums this year. We have been eating them, freezing them, giving them away and trading into the community.
With several trees yet to ripen there is no end in sight.
With several trees yet to ripen there is no end in sight.
January 08, 2010
Summer Flavours
Details
Now is the time of year when the hard work in the garden is recovered. All the planting, weeding and watering has been converted into tasty veges.
Date
December 30, 2009
Autumn bounty
It's harvest time and wine is brewing. This year we got our first real crop of pumpkins, a few of which are pictured here. Also, impressive grape production resulted in 4 litres (7kg) of fermented fruit and an equal amount of cider. Winter is shaping up to be tasty.
May 18, 2013
Last of the apples
Details
The last 2 apple trees are now ready for picking. For some reason, these are some of the cleanest apples we have had this year.
Both of these trees have been improved with supporting / companion plants such as bulbs, foxgloves, lupins and strawberries.
Both of these trees have been improved with supporting / companion plants such as bulbs, foxgloves, lupins and strawberries.
Date
May 18, 2011
Autumn
Autumn is here and I couldn't resist making this autumn bouquet, combining flowers and leaves in an array of autumnal hues. It brings some nature into the house and gives a nice feeling of the seasons passing.
April 18, 2011
Rain (176mm in 6 days)
The weather men predicted this one and issued dire warnings. We are well placed (elevated) to deal with torrential rainfall... just a bugger about the leak in the roof, I thought I'd fixed it.
Other wet weather news
Other wet weather news
May 26, 2010
A wild storm
Today it was calm and mild and not very cold at all. But then around midday, I heard a strange rumbling sound that didn't quite sound like traffic on the road. It was a bit deeper and had more of a rumble to it....almost like thunder.
March 12, 2010
Flavour of the day - Raspberry
Details
Over the past few weeks we've been getting the odd handful of berries off our small patch of raspberry canes.
Today I noticed they were dripping with fruit. Some so ripe they fell off as I brushed past the plant.
It's going to be raspberries and ice-cream for desert.
Today I noticed they were dripping with fruit. Some so ripe they fell off as I brushed past the plant.
It's going to be raspberries and ice-cream for desert.
Date
March 08, 2010
First decent snow in a while
Details
A nice clear day after several wet, dismal snowy ones. We're going to have some cold nights now but it's a nice way to recieve moisture.
Date
August 07, 2016
Brimming with rain
The first serious winter storm hit with a snowy wet blast and dumped over 75mm in 24 hours. This is exactly the kind of situation the extensive network of swales was built to handle. During the day I made numerous excursions out into the cold to assess and marvel at how the water was collected, channelled and redirected, distributed and absorbed.
June 20, 2013
Rainbow
We caught the edge of a cold wet front that was moving up the coast. Late afternoon sun produced a stunning rainbow.
June 27, 2012
Bellbird in the snow
It's a fine day after the first snow f the year and birds are out in the orchard getting into the last of the fruit.
June 08, 2012
Snow - cold, white and good for the soil?
Along with most of the country, we got a heavy dumping of snow.
Exciting and novel for the first 24 hours it quickly becomes cold, mushy and tiresome.
On the upside, it turns out snow has measurable benefits to the soil. Some even call it poor man's fertiliser.
Exciting and novel for the first 24 hours it quickly becomes cold, mushy and tiresome.
On the upside, it turns out snow has measurable benefits to the soil. Some even call it poor man's fertiliser.
August 15, 2011
Snow
Nothing says winter quite like snow. Despite being cold and inconvenient it's also magical and exciting.
We are warm by the fire and watching the snow drifting down outside.
The cat is not too sure. This is his first snow experience and he seems a bit nervous about the white stuff falling out of the sky.
We are warm by the fire and watching the snow drifting down outside.
The cat is not too sure. This is his first snow experience and he seems a bit nervous about the white stuff falling out of the sky.
July 25, 2011
Blossoms before the storm
Spring blossoms on the plum tree before an approaching storm.
August 20, 2010
Frosty
Clear calm winter days usually result in severe frosts. After all the rain and with things still being so damp there has been some impressive ice.
July 11, 2010
Solstice Gathering
In an attempt to break up the gloomy monotony of the long dark winter months we organised a family get together.
Lots of food, good company and the obligatory bonfire.
The burned circular area has subsequently been dug and mulched in preparation for planting in spring.
Lots of food, good company and the obligatory bonfire.
The burned circular area has subsequently been dug and mulched in preparation for planting in spring.
July 03, 2010
Shortest day
The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year.
The good news is that it's going to get progressively lighter day by day (until the end of the year).
The good news is that it's going to get progressively lighter day by day (until the end of the year).
June 21, 2010
August, Plums and more
Blossoms are exploding everywhere in the orchard (and out along the roadsides). First come plums followed closely by almonds.
Bumblebees swarm all over the trees, pollinating the flowers to ensure a bumper crop.
Finally the wind takes the petals before tiny fruit emerge and develop.
Bumblebees swarm all over the trees, pollinating the flowers to ensure a bumper crop.
Finally the wind takes the petals before tiny fruit emerge and develop.
August 19, 2009
July
Is this the end of winter? Lengthening days, cool mornings and working in the garden.
July 18, 2009
Fireside Evenings
When it's cold outside there's nothing better than sitting round the fire drinking tea and eating toast.
After that, when the water has been heated, relax in a hot bath.
After that, when the water has been heated, relax in a hot bath.
July 08, 2009