March 2012 Blog Posts (12)

AUSTRALIA'S fledgling farmers market movement might not seem much of a player compared to the shopping power of today's supermarket giants, but surging support for community produce markets indicates they have struck a chord with consumers.

Read more...…

Visit http://www.mountedenvillagepeople.co.nz/2012/03/keeping-of-bees-consent/ to find out…

Well, so much for all of the summer veg I was hoping to harvest and preserve! Not the best summer for tomatoes, and my cucumbers and capsicums came to naught (except for the lemon cucumbers which went berserk...) Ah well, on to the next season - planting heaps of autumn veg and herbs. Experimenting with growing my own spices - so far great results with cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Where the heck can I get hold of a black pepper plant, though?

Thought I'd start a little blog on growing and seed saving beans. Perhaps others might like to try these things and save seeds from their favourite beans. To start with, this is how I make a tripod out of bamboo. Its quite easy to do, its portable, you can pack it up when the seasons over and use it following year.…

Here is how I planted my bushbeans and soybeans this year, had excellent crops of both. Bush bean in particular need support to keep them off the ground. Soy beans grow quite tall around hip height, staking them like I did protected them in the numerous storms we had over the warm season. Open to ideas as to how others grow their crops, please make some suggestions if you have some.…

Nourish Mag and Healthy Kitchen are bringing best selling author Of Nourishing Traditions to Hamilton on the 4th of April.  This is a must for anyone interested learning about the health benefits of eating a traditional diet, raw milk, organics.....   http://www.healthykitchen.co.nz/webapps/i/72855/110950/408436

I've had great success propagating comfrey by digging up a root, cutting it into 2 cm pieces, taking a piece of 12mm rebar and jamming it into the group then dropping the root pieces into the resulting hole.

However, now that we have 10 acres, I need something more generous. There are large areas of terrace banking that need stabilising for example and doing the job at 2cm a timne is not going to cut it. 

I've been thinking about taking the root, tossing it through the mulcher…

Image from Jorurualjapan

Target needs four enthusiastic souls to test four different line trimmers (weedeaters/strimmers... there are about 4000 different names for the things) at an amazing location we have found…

Conference to radically rethink New Zealand’s way of life

Permaculturists have created forests in the desert, provided free emergency water and hygiene facilities in international emergencies and are revolutionising farming in small pockets of land all over the world. Now a major international event aims to spread permaculture thinking and practise throughout New…

What a great idea! Any bartenders out there on Ooooby who want to give this a go?

http://www.mercurynews.com/food-wine/ci_20090313

I don't know if this is the right place to post this. I am looking for someone who has some years of the self sufficiency experience preferably with a hectare or two and animals but not essential. Who has a partner who has a major physical disability. My wife has a major disability and she is unsure of how it would work out. I would love to be able to talk to someone who has been there. If any one knows someone like this please let me know. Thank you.

Hi Guys : sorry to bother you but I need help, I'm looking to buy -Urgently- a garlic plait or bried, If any can help me in this matter, I really appreciate. My details are: mbillini@xtra.co.nz

Thank you so much