Permaculture Paradise

Hi everyone!

Wow. I just had the most amazing day, attending an "Introduction to Permaculture" workshop at Rainbow Valley Farm.

http://www.rainbowvalleyfarm.co.nz/

In less than a couple of decades, Joe Polaisher and Trish Allen turned a wasteland with no topsoil into a sub-tropical paradise, growing everything from bananas, eels, passionfruit, tomatoes, chickens, avocado, citrus, carp, absolutely everything one could imagine. All this, while actually improving the land quality and with a very low environmental impact. What an inspiration. Visiting this farm rekindled my belief that a sustainable future is possible and can be achieved.

Everything has been designed to make the most efficient use of the land with zero cumulative impact. Kiwifruit vines climb trellises of trees, but don't kill them because they are companion plants. Chickens scratch and aerate the soil, while disposing of kitchen scraps and fertilizing. Trapped possums (pests) fertilize trees and encourage root growth. Banana leaves mulch
around exotic fruit trees that shouldn't grow but do, because of created microclimates. Geese eat slugs, one species of goose for every species of slug. Shitake mushrooms flourish on spore-impregnated oak logs growing in a natural live willow greenhouse. Rice paddies produce different rice species. Aquaculture provides fish and eel. Greenhouses are heated by the body heat of chickens. A passive-solar mudbrick and reclaimed and self-harvested timber home sports beautiful bottle-art walls, tile mosaics, green roof and healthy fibres, while root cellar, outdoor kitchen and herb gardens encourage outdoor living. An artsy composting toilet uses worms to break down toilet waste in four weeks. No artificial off-farm inputs are needed, and artsy touches abound.

Sadly, the local council is considering shutting-down this farm because it doesn't allow composting toilets or education from farms. I just found out that wwoofing is actually illegal, as is selling honey from farms, or eggs or dairy products. The legislation is making it nearly impossible for small farmers to survive. The same ludicrous actions are happening around New
Zealand and the world, and gives an idea of how far we still need to come.

My interest in permaculture has been heightened, to say the least. This one-day introduction was a tantalizing taste of what lies ahead for me, and I'm eager to pursue further permaculture design training, and in somehow incorporating this into my master's studies. The past couple days I've been staying with a woman from the pc course, and tomorrow off to another family
that attended the course. It will be interesting to visit an ecovillage next week and see how these same design principles can be applied at the community level. Also a cohousing community in Auckland on the agenda, so excited about that.

Hope you're all well and enjoying spring (or autumn, in the southern hemisphere!)

Love,
Kristi

Northland

Hi everyone!

I spent a lovely few days on Waiheke Island visiting with wwoofing contacts. It reminded me a lot of the Gulf Islands in BC.... quite an artsy community, lots of vineyards, but only 35 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland. Every house has its own water tank and they rely on rainwater collection (or have to get water delivered), so seem to be a little more water conscious (moreso than Vancouver's 300 litres per person per day usage, anyways!)

I returned to Auckland and stayed a couple days with Leah, a yoga contact, which was nice, and gave me some more recuperation time. I'll probably stay with her just before leaving New Zealand as well. Then I spent a few days on the Coromandel Peninsula at Whitianga. What a beautiful spot. I rented a bike one day and biked 50 kms to Hotwater Beach and Cathedral Cove. Hotwater beach is a spot where natural hotsprings seep through the sand. At low tide, one simply digs a hole in the sand and voila.... your own personal hotpool! Cathedral Cove is a beautiful limstone arch surrounded by azure waters. The walk down to it passes along the clifftops with beautiful views of the sea and islands. Magnificent.

I'm now in Whangarei (Northland) planning my next stops. I found out about an Introduction to Permaculture workshop on April 30th that I'm looking into, and between seeing the Bay of Islands, Kauri trees, Cape Reinga, woofing and planning Australia, my last three weeks should be interesting!

It's gotten quite cold here.... Christchurch and Dunedin on the South Island had snow yesterday, and Northland is one of the few places in the country with highs in the double-digits! Brrr! Because houses here don't have central heating, it actually feels much colder than equivalent temperatures in Canada would. I'm looking forward to summer at home!

I'm flying to Australia May 20 and have confirmed that I'll be back in Penticton on June 20th. It's passing very quickly, but I've seen and experienced a lot, and am looking forward to being home amongst family and friends.

I hope that your lives continue to be full and happy!

Love,

Kristi

Surf and worms and hobbits....

Hi again!

 

The whirlwind continues!  I went to Waitomo for a day and saw the glow-worms.  Very surreal.  In an underground boat in the dark, and then from out of nowhere, the ceiling of the cave comes alive with glowing blue lights..... the glow-worms.  It's silent and erie, but magical.  Saw another cave with amazing limestone formations as well.  Fossilized bones and other things. 

 

Next to Hamilton, a large inland city.  From there I visited Matamata (AKA "Hobbiton") and learned all about the filming of the Lord of the Rings, from fake bridges and mills, to watering and gardening feats, and movie magic.  It was a goregeous day and a fun outing. 

 

Then to Raglan, world famous surfing destination on the West Coast.  Reminded me a lot of Tofino, a laid-back, artsy coastal town with amazing beaches and surf.  I had a lesson and am now confident catching and riding waves (small ones, but it's a start!).  I stayed an extra day since it was so relaxing, and spent the afternoon at Manu Bay (where they filmed "Endless Summer" in 1964) watching the pros catch huge 8 foot waves.... wow.  Pretty spectacular.

 

Then to Auckland and Waiheke Island, where I'm meeting up with people I wwoofed with on the South Island for a few days.  Then likely visiting yoga contacts in Auckland and maybe the East Cape.  I have some wwoofing possibilities on ecovillages, so am looking into that as well.  I still want to see the Coromandel and Northand as well.... Time is growing short it seems.... only a little over a month left here before heading to Australia!  Where has the time gone? 

 

Hope you are all well..... looking forward to seeing you when I return!

 

Love,

Kristi

North Island Whirlwind

Hi all!

Since I last wrote, I've been on a bit of a whirlwind tour of the North Island. First I headed to National Park and the volcanoes. Stayed there a day and did the Tongariro Crossing, billed as New Zealand's best day walk. It's a spectacular 6-8hr crossing of volcanic craters and emerald sulphurous lakes.... quite an alien landscape! Of course, Mt. Ngurahoe (a.k.a. Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) added to the surreal experience! Unfortunately, the walk is so popular that some days up to 1000 people do it. This leads to some congestion, and I was lucky enough to get behind a school group of approx. 100 kids, which made for slow going. Still fantastic anyway though.

Then it was on to Taupo for a day, and then Rotorura. Taupo was rainy and reminded me a lot of Penticton again.... strange, the more I travel, the greater I appreciate home. I even went so far as to look up BC, Vancouver and Penticton in the Canada Lonely Planet guidebook and after reading the gushing praise for all three, felt very blessed to be able to call that corner of the world home.

Rotorura has been very busy.... it's a very commercial, touristy type place. I visited a couple geothermal parks and saw geysers and bubbling mudpools. Reminds me of when I visited Yellowstone way back when, except that Yellowstone seemed bigger, maybe because I was smaller. Also visited the spa for a nice soak in the hotpools and am now too relaxed to get up to much. In the evening I attended a Maori Hangi (feast) and concert. It was a neat experience, if touristy. The women's demonstration with Poi (balls on the ends of strings) was incredible and has caused me to want to learn it if I can! Food was also great. It's interesting, that a lot of the commercial tourism operations here are run by Maori iwi (tribes). They're excellent entrepreneurs and don't seem to have any qualms about showcasing their culture. Quite different to BC coastal First Nations that I've had some contact with. I'm eager now to get to the East Cape and find some unexploited Maori culture.

I'm heading to Waitomo to see some glow-worms next, then maybe do some surfing before meeting up with friends in Auckland for a few days. Then hopefully either the East Coast or up to Northland and more wwoofing and visits to some ecovillages. Time is passing so quickly! I've really enjoyed traveling on my own, but after staying in a family situation for a while, it's all a bit lonely again. There are plenty of other travelers to talk to though, so it's ok. Even so, I'll be happy to be home when I return at the end of June.

Missing you all, and hoping you are well!

Love,
Kristi

Wonderful Wellington

Hi All,

 

Well, after some time recuperating in Nelson, I'm doing much better.

My tooth has settled down, but it may need to be totally re-done (more surgery) when I get home.  In the meantime though, I'll just make the most of all that I can!  I'm recovering well from my cold and feeling much more chipper and bright. 

 

I arrived into Wellington yesterday, after a bumpy flight to the North Island.  Wellington is known as "The Windy City," and for good reason!  It was a good thing that I had decided to fly across Cook Strait, as all the ferries were cancelled due to the high winds and rough seas.  Felt like winter!  I'm staying at the house of a woman whom I met kayaking in the Abel Tasman.... she has recently moved in with her partner and has her house up for sale, so I currently have a three bedroom house to myself, with views across Cook Strait to the South Island (apparently.... I haven't been able to see out the windows on account of the rain and fog), a wonderful bed, fireplace, and bath!  I had been craving a bath for the past few weeks, so I'm recuperating and enjoying the time and space to myself.  Sue took me to get groceries and rent some videos, so
I'm all set!  The wind is so loud though, that it is hard to watch the videos sometimes!  Windy city indeed!

 

I'm currently in town enjoying Wellington..... it is a vibrant city, with much art and culture and diversity, yet doesn't have that big city feel.  It's all built on hills leading down to the harbour, so almost reminds me of San Fransisco.  Lots of trees and green to be found as well.  Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand is amazing.... I just spent all morning there and am on my way back.  Great exhibits on natural history, Maori culture, contemporary settlement, natural disasters, etc. etc.  I think it rivals many of the museums I visited in Eurpoe and I'm enjoying this immensely.  As I write this the sun has come out and it has become hot.... guess I should strip off my wool socks and long underwear!  I never know what to wear in this country as the weather changes so quickly!! 

 

I'm going to spend the next few days here I think.... lots to experience, the weather is supposed to clear and there are some nice local hikes to explore.  Peter Jackson is filming "King Kong" not far from where I am staying also, so might poke my nose in there and see what I can see!  May also try to get a tour of Weta studios, where "Lord of the Rings" was made as well. 

 

Great to hear from you all, may you continue to be blessed and happy!

 

Love,

Kristi