Never a dull moment

The last month is a bit of a blur. We have taken over the care of a neighbouring property - yes another good cause! This one is an outdoor education camp for children that is used by schools and also hired for private groups in the weekends.Lonsdale Park is a bit rundown due to lack of finance and they need a couple of people who love restoring things and love a challenge - the first two lines in our CVs!

Some would say we are mad...Each property is still at the stage of restoration, and the plan is to have them both to the point where we just need to maintain them over summer when we will be at our busiest with visitors. That's the theory anyway. I'll keep you posted on that one, so to speak.

We have had the pleasure of working with a couple more Wwoofers, Michael from Germany and Mike from England. Amongst other things, they helped us build another chook run, and have also put in another couple of raised beds of veges and herbs. We are still eating well out of the covered garden with bumper broccoli, plenty of silverbeet, beetroot, red onions, leeks and salady things but in these recent winter months that garden doesn't get much sun. The new beds have lots of sun, so in go the strawberry plants, herbs and more salad stuff.

And I have been trying to make use of every resource I possibly can. This has become an exercise in living off the land, (much like we did in the 70's but with older bones!) Some lovely friends have given me lots of fleeces and I have been spinning heaps and knitting a jersey for Chris plus some small things for grandchildren. We don't have TV, so the evenings - that's the bit between dinner and collapsing into bed by 9pm - are perfect for crafty things by the fire.

I've been curing sheepskins too - they may become slippers, or mats, not sure yet.

We did an unofficial kiwi count at the Water Gardens and it looks like we have at least a breeding pair and two single males who are both calling for mates. So exciting. Unfortunately we also have a growing population of pukeko who delight in pulling out all the new plants we have painstakingly put around the ponds. It's very frustrating. We are still getting possums in the traps and now of course we have to start afresh at Lonsdale with a pest programme.

I have recently made contact with the local seed saving group and am looking forward to swapping some of the seeds I brought with me in the bus (I knew there was a good reason!) for some local goodies.

Roll on summer!