Hello.
I'm Tom. I'm a motivated self starter with a passion for learning - introspective, efficient and articulate. For me, design is about combining analytical thinking with unrestrained creativity.
Thinker. Maker.
I'm Tom. I'm a motivated self starter with a passion for learning - introspective, efficient and articulate. For me, design is about combining analytical thinking with unrestrained creativity.
There is something about the smell under a native forest canopy. Some of my earliest memories of exploring this country are of being led (sometimes dragged) by my Mum through some of NZ's great walks. I'd never seen tree trunks so big, or roots that burst up and out of the ground, acting as steps for some steep bits of track. For moments we would burst into a blazing sun, before slipping back into the shade and the freshness of the forest. But it was the smell that I remember most. That rich air that tastes so full of oxygen, like stepping inside the lungs of New Zealand.
Our local flora is distinct and varied. 80% of our trees, ferns and flowering plants are endemic, and we should be proud to be the guardians of something so uniquely ours. What to plant? Is it shade you want? Birds? Something that climbs or perhaps something to climb on? What you can plant will depend on your local conditions and needs. Go for a stroll and look around for what's doing well in your area for best results. Get creative - your garden is yours and there is little reason to envy the jaded visitor centre garden of cabbage trees fronted by sedges, grasses and flax.
Natives attract birds and bees! - what better way to beautify your section than with the songs and vibrant flashing colours of native birds and insects? Both are looking for pollen year round which they can get from our natives and flowering shrubs. Here on the Kapiti Coast, each new year brings more native birds and bugs, no doubt due to the good work of DoC conservation initiatives and volunteer planters that have made big headway over the last 10 years. At the moment on the GrowingThings section, birds are loving any trees with berries/seeds. Our winged friends will thrive in your section if you give them a nice, homely, familiar place to hang out.
With the rains coming, now is a great time to get your young plants established. They love a good douse of water as you plant and should settle in nicely over the next few weeks. They'll love lots of mulch too. Natives can be some of the easiest plants to maintain as they can be perfectly adapted to our local environment. Just be aware that some natives will struggle to get going if there are frosts. Check with your local supplier.
Kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens and more. The Brassica family is known for high nutritional value unmatched elsewhere in the vegie patch. With cooler temperatures on their way and white butterfly on the decline, now is a great time to get your favourites in. Here are our best reasons for giving them some space in your garden.
The benefits of the whole Brassica genus are well known. Cooked right or eaten raw, these little gems are proven to give a boost to your immune system - Mum was right about brussel sprouts!
New Zealand has the cooler temperatures that Brassicas like, and now is a great time to sow. Rotate your crops and keep the soil rich for a flavourful harvest. Be careful though, bugs love Brassicas too, so thinking about some crop cover should keep more goodness on your plate. For pests and also the coming frosts, we recommend our Microklima cloche kits to keep things nice and snug.
Try shredding or grating this vitamin rich bulb into a coleslaw or salad. It has its own distinctly sweet, mild aniseed flavour that will add punch to your kitchen creations. Throw in sweet carrots to keep things balanced nicely. Goes well with pork or fish too, just don't go overboard - aim for one of your big fresh kohlrabi for one big cabbage.
