Christchurch NZ self sufficent(ish)
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:43 pm
We moved to NZ 3 years ago with a dream of being more self sufficient. So far we live in suburbia. All around us are manicured lawns that are over watered and over pampered. Most people in our neighborhood don't have pets or if they do its a dog 3 inches high or a fluffy cat.
Then there is us, 2 adults, 3 kids, 3 chickens (we had 5, one went to the table and sadly the puppy took one), 2 dogs and a cat. We have enough lawn for the kids to have a swing etc on and then the rest we have given over to a vegetable plot and a berry plot. We also have 2 appple trees, a plum and apricot.
Its been a learning curve trying to grow (on completely infertile soil that has needed continual care to restore it), think backwards with the seasons but amazing to see the kids sitting in the garden eating stuff they wouldn't touch if I got it from the shop and offered it to them.
They are turning into food snobs, when my 6 year old is offered an apple she will ask if its organic, if the person replies no she sighs disapprovingly at them and asks for it to be washed and peeled and washed!
We also have a great butcher, ALL his meat is local free range, a lot is certified organic, all is hormone free.
We gathered elderflower from country lanes this year and we have a shelf full of fizzy pop. Would like to know more about foraging in NZ.
This year we are taking the plunge and looking for a place with more land (and neighbors who don't ask what type of birds my chickens are).
Any other people from Canterbury out there!?!?!?!
Then there is us, 2 adults, 3 kids, 3 chickens (we had 5, one went to the table and sadly the puppy took one), 2 dogs and a cat. We have enough lawn for the kids to have a swing etc on and then the rest we have given over to a vegetable plot and a berry plot. We also have 2 appple trees, a plum and apricot.
Its been a learning curve trying to grow (on completely infertile soil that has needed continual care to restore it), think backwards with the seasons but amazing to see the kids sitting in the garden eating stuff they wouldn't touch if I got it from the shop and offered it to them.
They are turning into food snobs, when my 6 year old is offered an apple she will ask if its organic, if the person replies no she sighs disapprovingly at them and asks for it to be washed and peeled and washed!
We also have a great butcher, ALL his meat is local free range, a lot is certified organic, all is hormone free.
We gathered elderflower from country lanes this year and we have a shelf full of fizzy pop. Would like to know more about foraging in NZ.
This year we are taking the plunge and looking for a place with more land (and neighbors who don't ask what type of birds my chickens are).
Any other people from Canterbury out there!?!?!?!
nonetheless - she is still my friend! I hope that you are very happy on this site and make lots of new interweb friends!
