Ride on mowers
Grass is a wonderful thing. On a lifestyle farm we usually either have too much or too little and the grass that does grow is often not where we need it - on the lawn, not the paddock! This article...
View ArticleBovine Tuberculosis (Tb)
If you have deer or cattle on your lifestyle block you need to make sure you meet Animal Health Board (AHB) regulations - even if you only have one or two animals. Bovine Tb is an infectious disease...
View ArticleBuying the right chainsaw
A chainsaw is an essential tool on many lifestyle farms. You can pay someone to trim trees, chop firewood and remove unwanted trees but if you have your own chainsaw you can save yourself money and...
View ArticleBuying the right watertank
There are many good reasons to store water. Many lifestyle farms have no access to town supply water and rely on bore or rainwater. Even if you do have access to town supply water, having a water tank...
View ArticleAlligator weed
Originally from Brazil, the exotic sounding alligator weed is a dangerous invader sneaking into wetlands, rivers and even subdivisions around the North Island. It's a hollow-stemmed "super weed" with...
View ArticleThe ill-treatment of animals - what should you do?
Most of us are responsible animal owners. We take good care of our animals, and we encourage our friends and family to do the same. But what if you see someone else's animal suffering and you are...
View ArticleAluminium plant, also known as artillery plant
Despite its silver coated leaves, this creeping groundcover is no little treasure. Aluminium plant, also known as artillery plant, is often found in gardens growing in the cooler areas around trees...
View ArticleSale yards are not a dumping place for unhealthy animals
Public Sale yards must not become a dumping ground for unhealthy livestock writes David Barbour, Animal Welfare Investigator with the Enforcement Group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry....
View ArticleYellow ginger
This exotic, ginger-scented perennial with massive, taro-like rhizomes close to the surface has shiny leaves, and cream coloured flowers overlapping in cone-like clusters from May to June. It is...
View ArticleJasminum polyanthum
This Chinese climber is loved for its strong scent and delicate white flowers, and hated for its tough, vigorous, twining stems that rapidly swamp everything it grows over.What is it? This Chinese...
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