Author: guido.jehle

Kia ora koutou,

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, caregivers and nurturers in our community today. We also take a moment to acknowledge Papatūānuku, our earth mother, who continues to hold, feed and sustain us through every season.

Take a look at Bex’s incredible handiwork for the cover of our upcoming kūmara book (image above). What an absolutely breathtaking expression of diversity, colour and beauty. Read on for an update on the project, plus an opportunity to get this stunning image as a poster for your wall.

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Kia ora koutou,

It’s been a joyous week in the māra for us, enjoying the sun on our backs (plus the moon in the night sky!) and the comfort of knowing most of our Autumn plantings are in. Our brassicas are nearly doubling in size each week, and citrus are beginning to turn from green to vibrant shades of yellow and orange.

Read on for the jobs this week, a great bread recipe and a reminder around our kūmara book preorders.

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Kia ora koutou,

It was so good to have your friendly faces in the māra with us yesterday for Pizza Sunday and the cover crop workshop, such a great day. Enjoy a few snaps below. Read on for a summary of Bex’s approach in the centre patch, plus an exciting update on preorders for our upcoming kūmara booklet.

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Kia ora koutou,

Good news! Thanks to some excellent ingenuity and a fast fix by Aussie and Hans, our Pizza event is back on this Sunday. They quickly repaired the cob oven’s chimney, which had been damaged in the recent cyclone, and it’s been tested out – works a treat.

So… see you in the māra for a slice of pizza and a catch up!

11am – cover crop workshop with Bex
12pm – pizzas served

2pm – wrapping up

BYO toppings to contribute, we’ll provide GF bases and sauces. Mauri ora x

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Kia ora koutou,

It’s been a busy week, so there’s lots in this newsletter! Read on for an update on the compost, a change of plans for the end-of-month pizza event, and a look at Te Pourewa’s kūmara harvest (plus an opportunity to pre-order an exciting booklet).

First off the rank, news about our upcoming pizza event.

Unfortunately, due to the recent cyclone and wild winds, the chimney for our pizza oven has collapsed. While we’ll absolutely rebuild it (pizza + Dignan St is non-negotiable), it’s not happening in the next week. As such, our upcoming Sunday event is now…

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Kia ora koutou,

What a weekend. We hope you’ve all stayed safe and dry as the cyclone passed through. Sending love, and fast-draining vibes, to our friends further south who bore the brunt of the wild weather.

In good news, our kids screenprinting session is going ahead tomorrow! Despite a bit of rain in the forecast, it feels like the right time to gather and do something creative together!

Tuesday 10am – 12pm
Bring along an old t-shirt or fabric to print on. See you there.

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Kia ora koutou,

Happy Easter weekend. Whether Easter is a significant time for you, or simply a long weekend, we hope it has been an enriching few days with whānau and friends as the natural world around you slowly cools and settles into its restful season.

There’s a definite shift in the māra now. Softer mornings, more moisture in the soil, and the feeling of the garden gently drawing inward after the fullness of summer.

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Kia ora koutou,

We hope you’re all doing okay after the recent deluge and winds. Our māra fared surprisingly well, sheltered by the surrounding walls, and despite the sheer volume of rain, the soil drained beautifully. Check out the kūmara (above) looking vibrant and perked up after a good drink!

A nice reminder of what living soil can do when it’s functioning well. Like a sponge, holding and releasing water as needed. It’s also really cool knowing that the water draining through our soils heads toward the aquifer cleaner than when it landed, thanks to the microbes and organic matter acting as a living carbon filter. Ka rawe!

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Kia ora koutou,

Ngāhuru has arrived. We’ve just passed the autumn equinox, marking the shift from longer days to longer nights, and from warm into cool. There’s a subtle change in the air now.

Despite the seasonal slowing, things have been busy in the māra: clearing broken and unused materials, breaking down old pallets, and building our new compost storage bags (ngā mihi Sandy for the use of your van!). Check out the macrocarpa-sleeper compost setup when you’re next in… it’s pretty snazzy!

Hope to see you this coming Sunday 29th for our Garden Tour & Woodfired Pizza Party, 11am – 2pm.

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Kia ora koutou,

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend! Perhaps you’ve had some of the rain we’ve been holding out for, perhaps you didn’t get much (like us). Either way, it’s a good reminder to keep up with watering in your māra. Consistent moisture means happy microbes and happy plants, and that living soil life is what keeps everything ticking along.

This week we got our first round of cover crops sown in the long beds, planting tic beans to start rebuilding some life in the soil after a busy summer season. It always feels good to move on the tired summer crops and make space for new growth.

We also built a new compost storage bay. Our previous one served us well for six solid years, but it was time for an upgrade. The new bay is built from salvaged macrocarpa boards and will give us a place to store the extra compost we’re hoping to produce this year. Check out the photo above of Bex and Luke looking suitably proud of the new addition.

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