I HAVE A NEW BOOK – GROWING VEGETABLES I’ve been keeping a secret for the quite some time, that I’ve been dying to tell you all about but couldn’t – until now. I have been working hard behind the scenes on my latest book Growing Vegetables, which is set to be released in all good bookstores across New Zealand on the 13th August 2026. I … Continue reading I HAVE A NEW BOOK – GROWING VEGETABLES
Things I want to achieve in July 2026 Once again I have a huge over ambitious list of things I’d like to get done. So far the winter has been treating me well with loads of endless blue sky days that are a little chilly to start. But, based on last years success of trusting our frost free climate and going early, it would seem … Continue reading Garden list for July.
DIY Peanut Butter – is it worth it? It’s raining. There are no surprises there – we’re deep into winter. So far today we’ve had 36.1mm of liquid sunshine. Obviously, there hasn’t been any gardening, which would be silly – I’m not a duck. So, to keep the gardening spirit alive, I need to look for garden related things to do indoors, and this is … Continue reading Latest post: DIY Peanut Butter – is it worth it?
Things I want to achieve in June 2026 Better late than never. I have been working on the garden, around the winter weather, playing catch up from our repeated travel absences. But it comes to a point where it is no longer catch up and is more about strategic planning and prep for the impending growing season. There is still plenty of catch up to … Continue reading Garden list for June.
Change is afoot. Finally, after months of thinking about it, I have finally implemented change. I’ve spent long enough second-guessing my logic, but there comes a time when you just have to take the plunge. And sometimes you’re pushed. This time it was my garlic that pushed me. I normally start it in April, so it has an opportunity to get big enough to beat … Continue reading Change is afoot.
Finally, some plants. We have been blessed with some incredible late autumnal weather. The sun has done nothing but continue to shine and the wind has been little more than a puff. Although it has been a little chilly, which is only to be expected as we make our descent into the cool of winter, but I’m not complaining because it doesn’t get cold enough … Continue reading Finally, some plants.
Getting my hands dirty After an extended absence from the garden, it is very easy to procrastinate. The biggest obstacle is the sheer enormity of what needs to be done. Weeds don’t just pop up in isolated places. Wherever there is bare earth there is an opportunity for something undesirable to make itself at home. Standing at the garden gate, observing a garden with a … Continue reading Getting my hands dirty
Where have I been? I’ve been all over the place and barely in my own garden, although I have spent a lot of time in pretty amazing gardens in some incredible journeys. I’ve travelled across New Zealand a few times, and internationally I spent some time in Australia, Norfolk Island and Tahiti but now I’m pleased to be home with an empty calendar for the … Continue reading Where have I been?
Something has to change. If you always do what you’ve always done…You’ll always get what you’ve always got. I’ve been drawn away from the garden again, although this time, not to some exotic location, but tied to the computer, typing up a storm for days and weeks on end for a range of exciting time based projects that are a combination of routine and short … Continue reading Something has to change
Where was I? As much as I’d love to be a full-time gardener, spending every moment toiling in the soil, life has a habit of drawing your attention away from what you love. Sometimes it is to do things you would rather not, and other times life hands you opportunities too good to refuse! Last week was one of the good ‘not to be missed’ … Continue reading Where was I?
