Gardening

Gardening Articles

Spring gardening: kai waste, seedlings, and other tips

17 Aug 22

Nothing announces the start of spring more than the bright yellow blossom of te kōwhai! Kōwhai blooms also signal the beginning of some seriously hard mahi in the māra as we strive to give our seeds and seedlings the best, and earliest possible, start in life.

Kids’ activities for Matariki

20 Jun 22

Get the kids outside and into the garden with these fun activities.

Winter gardening: fruit trees, new beds, and other tips

15 Jun 22

Your winter māra may be resting, but that doesn’t mean you can do the same! July and August are preparation months, and the mahi you put in now is essential if you are to reap rewards down the track. Act without delay because spring is just around the corner.

Talking food and wahine with Sophie Merkens

04 May 22

What do you do when your passions are photography, food and the environment? If you’re Sophie Merkens you quit your job, buy a van and set off on a road trip around Aotearoa to interview and photograph 35 inspiring wāhine growers and gatherers. Then you turn it into a beautiful book.

Autumn gardening

26 Apr 22

As autumn rolls on into winter, it’s so easy rest on our laurels and leave the edible beds and orchard to their own devices. But I find that activity now, brings the reward of fresh produce right through the coldest months, and healthy food-bearing trees in spring.

Keep your garden growing

16 Feb 22

In the cooler months it’s tempting to wind down the edible beds, but try sowing and growing all over again for months of bountiful harvest at a time when store-bought veges command a premium price.

Sanctity of the soil with Maanu Paul

15 Feb 22

Maanu Paul feels two responsibilities keenly and they are intertwined: to provide food for his whānau, and to do it with the utmost respect for Papatūānuku, Mother Earth.

A potted garden of Asian veges

14 Dec 21

Nathan Shiu has created an oasis of plenty in his steeply sloping garden on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, including many Asian vegetables not seen in most back yards. This grandad has hit upon a great model to make gardening easier for older people while also supporting the health of the younger generation. Dee Pignéguy pays a visit to find out more.