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Blog feed

The simple chronological feed of all the blog posts published on this site.

From the most recent to the oldest post, follow the entire journey.

A wheelbarrow of spaghetti squash with the text "March in the garden".

March in the garden

Planting begins for cooler months and harvest continues for summer crops. Time to prune the stone fruit too.

A bowl of cucumber and red onion quick pickle

Gran Shirley's quick pickle

An easy-to-prepare vegetable accompaniment for summer meals from the summer garden.

A potted Meyer lemon tree with ripe lemons hanging from it.

Citrus care guide

A guide to citrus care and common citrus problems in Aotearoa-New Zealand.

A brown cow with a white heart on her head looks directly at the camera.

The hypothetical house cow

Dairy prices are rising again, so I’m beginning to wonder if I should bring production in-house…

Blue cornflowers with the text "February in the garden".

February in the garden

Summer crops come in thick and need storing. Seed saving for next year begins while your earlier plantings continue.

Looking out over The Outpost, January 2025

I just want to write

A rant on the Internet ecosystem and AI in writing.

A box full of plastic bottle lids.

Hoarding and homesteading

Choosing the things that spark joy.

A very productive cucumber plant with the text "January in the garden".

January in the garden

In January, the biggest task is usually dealing with pests. Also, planting leeks.

Banana patch after tidying it up this week.

5 tips for tidying up your bananas

Practical tips for maintaining a banana clump. Hard-learned lessons from someone who’s ruined a t-shirt.

A flowering pōhutukawa with the text "December in the garden".

December in the garden

Last chance to plant most summer crops. Time to harvest garlic, berries, and potatoes.

Looking through the garden arch at Richard harvesting potatoes

How my garden grows

A peek at how the garden is doing going into the main growing season.

A tui sits in the tips of a tree on a sunny day with cows in the background

Making joy

The world is a lot right now, so I took some time to create some joy in it.

A flowering Xeronema callistemon with the text "November in the garden".

November in the garden

It’s full-steam ahead on all your fresh summer faves.

Fresh compost spread on a garden bed.

Four reasons to dig up your compost bin

When was the last time you lifted up your compost bin to see what it’s been up to? What will you find if you do?

A paper wasp nest on a crassula plant

Paper wasps in New Zealand

Polistes paper wasps are introduced pests in New Zealand gardens. Or are they?

Immature strawberries developing on a plant with the text "October in the garden".

October in the garden

It’s heating up this month and there’s plenty to get growing in the garden!

Five cows from behind walking up a hill on a gravel road

The fourth herd

After a winter without any cows, our fourth herd has arrived to fresh spring growth.

Looking at my garden, September 2024

The best-laid plans

Find out what I’ve got planned for the 2024-25 growing season in my garden.

A collander filled with eggs, cilantro, and broccoli with the text "September in the garden".

September in the garden

Heading into spring the garden jobs begin to build up. Find out what needs doing in September.

Caterpillar of the White Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae)

White Cabbage Butterfly

A deep dive into white butterfly—one of the most common and destructive pests in Kiwi gardens.

A pile of peanut plants after harvest.

The second peanut harvest

Results from my second season growing peanuts.

Inside the berryhouse after the 2024 clean up

Another year in the berry house

The annual task of tidying up the berry house is upon me!