Kat's Fluffy Balls

100% compostable cat toys made from New Zealand wool, and filled with Kat's Nip.

65 Hours Without Power

Cyclone Tam roared through the country last week, and the fallout took a while to settle.

Boiled peanuts

Apr 20, 2025

Our third peanut harvest is our biggest so far; so I had the chance to try boiled peanuts for the first time. I am a fan.

April in the garden

Apr 6, 2025

Now autumn is in full swing, it’s time to start preparing your winter gardens and putting some care into your fruit trees.

The Vespex sting

Mar 30, 2025

Vespula wasp numbers have exploded at our place this year, so it was time to run a poison operation with Vespex.

Growing paprika

Mar 23, 2025

Paprika is made from specific varieties of capsicum, and this summer, I grew and processed my own.

Hi, I’m Kat,

I live in Te Hiku (Far North), New Zealand near the Bay of Islands with my partner Richard, our two dogs, three cats, six cows, 11 hens, and our rooster, Tommy.

A few years ago we managed to purchase a 15 hectare lifestyle block complete with regenerating native forest and paddocks. This website is where I record our adventures, experiments, ideas, projects, and plans.

I also sell some of the things I grow. Check out the store to see what’s available!Mastodon

Animal tales, part 4

Mar 9, 2025

Our lives are made richer by the creatures we share this place with. Sometimes I write short stories about them. This is the fourth post in that series.