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Passionfruit: Small fruit, big benefits

27 Feb 26

Wrinkled on the outside, vibrant and jewel-like inside, passionfruit is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive summer fruits. Beyond its distinctive aroma and tangy sweetness, passionfruit offers impressive nutritional benefits, as Paula Sharp elaborates.

Summer’s juiciest hydrator

30 Jan 26

Few foods say ‘New Zealand summer’ quite like watermelon. Crisp, refreshing and naturally sweet, the watermelon is more than a picnic staple: it’s a nutritional ally for hydration, heart health and skin vitality. Eat it by the slice or in these recipes Paula Sharp shares: in a salad with and feta, or in a slushie.

Loving soil, but also learning soil

19 Dec 25

Jenny Lux, market gardener and former Soil & Health chair, tells her story of growing vegetables and continuing a path of lifelong learning.

Peace lilies

18 Dec 25

The peace lily is a favourite among indoor plant enthusiasts. In this excerpt from The Plant Book, author Tammy Huynh offers tips for care of your peace lilies: watering, light, fertilising, dividing them and more.

Monique Macfarlane - planting by the moon in NZ.

Moon Calendar March-April 2026

25 Feb 26

Successful food and flower growing starts well before seedlings or seeds are planted in the ground. Planning, preparation, soil care, and nutrition are all endeavours undertaken in the seasons before.

Soil & Health Auckland – Meeting Announcement

07 Feb 26

Come and hear Savannah Carter-Green talk to the Auckland branch of Soil & Health

Small, sweet, and mighty

18 Dec 25

Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp enthuses about the nutrition and flavour of the humble potato when in its seasonal ‘new’ incarnation, and shares a delicious potato salad recipe.

Moon Calendar January-February 2026

17 Dec 25

Seed saving is one of the most beautiful acts of resilience and nourishment we can do for ourselves, our communities, our future, and the ecosystems we find ourselves in.

Sopa de Tortilla – Tortilla Soup

28 Nov 25

This tortilla soup is from the book Provecho: Real Mexican Food and Home. The recipe is simple but delicious, combining the different textures of crispy tortilla strips, soft avocado, chewy cheese and a dollop of cream, with a rich and flavourful tomato base.

Homegrown Fruit: Pests and disease-reducing strategies

28 Nov 25

Here are some organic strategies to reduce pests and disease in the home orchard, from the book "Homegrown Fruit: A practical guide", by Kath Irvine and Jason Ross.

Cherries on top

28 Nov 25

Cherries – a small but mighty gift from the orchard, and one of the most nutrient-dense fruits of the season! Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp shares her nutritional knowledge and two delicious recipes: fresh cherry, rocket and almond salad; and warm spiced cherry compote.

2026 Calendars For Sale!

31 Oct 25

Our Calendars are back by popular demand. We have the sought-after ‘N*de Gardening’ calendar, and the ‘Beautiful Gardens’ calendar (for those who prefer to hang a calendar that doesn’t get so much attention!). Both calendars include the moon phases.

Strawberries: Sweet, sustainable, and full of summer joy

30 Oct 25

Few fruits capture the feeling of summer like strawberries. Their vibrant red colour, delicate fragrance, and juicy sweetness make them one of our favourite seasonal fruits. Beyond their taste and beauty, strawberries have a rich history, impressive nutrition profile, and are easy to grow, as nutritional therapist Paula Sharp writes.

Strawberries - planting by the moon in NZ.

Moon Calendar November-December 2025

29 Oct 25

Records are one of the most fundamental parts of being in active conversation with the land. I encourage you to take photographs on the summer solstice, autumn equinox, winter solstice, and the spring equinox. These are beautiful reminders of the ebb and flow of nature, and of the nature of us.

The Floral Dream

29 Oct 25

Want to grow cut flowers? This extract from "The Floral Dream" by Olivia McCord looks at how to source plants - from seed, seedlings, cuttings, bulbs and more.

Asparagus in season: From garden to table

24 Sep 25

Few vegetables announce spring quite like asparagus. With its tender green spears and delicate flavour, asparagus is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated seasonal treasures. Paula Sharp introduces this spring star, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.

Organic Gardening

29 Aug 25

Organic Gardening is a guide published by the Soil & Health…

Worm Farming Tips

27 Aug 25

Home gardener Michelle Coenradi has four worm farms on the go. Here she outlines the benefits, and offers some tips from her experience.

Broccoli: A Winter Hero

27 Aug 25

Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp introduces broccoli, a winter hero, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.

When Green Cleaning Turns Toxic

27 Aug 25

‘Chemical poisoning’ is how a long-time cleaner describes her severe reactions to using workplace cleaning products she thought would be safe. J Simons talks with Emma (name changed for privacy) to find out more.

Monique Macfarlane with tomato seedlings - planting by the moon in NZ.

Moon Calendar September-October 2025

20 Aug 25

All the prep work in the garden now really pays off for feasting on and preserving the abundance in the coming months. It can feel overwhelming with everything there is to get done, so I pick particular things to focus on, and let the rest fall behind in the flow.

Love leeks!

29 Jul 25

Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp loves leeks. Here she introduces this often unsung hero, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.

The Gut Microbiome

10 Jul 25

One of the most complex systems supporting your health isn’t your brain, heart, or even your immune system – it’s your gut microbiome. Paula Sharp, nutritional therapist, finds out why this internal ecosystem is hailed by scientists as key to health research.

Moon Calendar July-August 2025

18 Jun 25

July and August is a great time in the garden, as we have just passed the new year, the shortest day, and the preparation and groundwork for the summer abundance is underway. Now is the perfect time to change arrangements, be it infrastructure such as trellising, pathways, irrigation, or even move around existing garden beds and create new ones.

Free Articles

Passionfruit: Small fruit, big benefits

Summer’s juiciest hydrator

Loving soil, but also learning soil

Peace lilies

Members-only Articles

Moon Calendar March-April 2026

Soil & Health Auckland – Meeting Announcement

Small, sweet, and mighty

Moon Calendar January-February 2026

Sopa de Tortilla – Tortilla Soup

Homegrown Fruit: Pests and disease-reducing strategies

Cherries on top

2026 Calendars For Sale!

Strawberries: Sweet, sustainable, and full of summer joy

Moon Calendar November-December 2025

The Floral Dream

Asparagus in season: From garden to table

Organic Gardening

Worm Farming Tips

Broccoli: A Winter Hero

When Green Cleaning Turns Toxic

Moon Calendar September-October 2025

Love leeks!

The Gut Microbiome

Moon Calendar July-August 2025

Proudly published by the Soil & Health Association NZ

Proudly published by the Soil and Health Association NZ