Replanting The Land

Part of our plan is to replant native trees & plants on areas of our block that we can't use.  IE the ground is to boggy & wet, or the ground is too steep or along the property boundary where we want to create some privacy between us and our neighbours. 

Replanting in natives to me feels like we are doing the right thing for the land.  The native plants are more suited to the land, they help feed the local bird life, and hopefully fix the soil in places, especially where it gets very wet. They also provide shelter for our sheep, produce the air we breathe and not to forget, some of our native trees are absolutely beautiful.

Last weekend with Geoff's help (thank you again Geoff) on a steep corner of our property we planted 8 trees. We had to put up a little fence, weedeat the area, and then plant... was a good effort:

Once the trees are well established, and the sheep can do no harm to them, we will take down the temporary fence.

Wood... Who Wants Some Firewood?

Earlier this year I posted about some tree's we had to cut down to keep our neighbours happy:  

http://lifedownwattlelane.blogspot.co.nz/2017/06/trees-are-love-trees-are-life-it-breaks.html

Well we've started chopping it up so it can dry and then we will sell it or trade it for more native trees this summer.

Before...

During...

It's all being done by hand, no fancy log splitters here... a chainsaw and hand tools is all we have, so it is a good workout that is for sure.

But seriously if anyone is looking for firewood, get in touch, we are preparing it now to sell in summer for use in winter 2018.

Last year we sold a few trailer loads for $80 per trailer load delivered within Kaiwaka area. 

But this year we will sell the cut/split poplar at:

> $60 per cubic meter if you pick up from home here in Kaiwaka

> $70 delivered within Kaiwaka area

> $80 delivered out to Mangawhai or Wellsford

The poplar burns fine, you just need to keep it dry.

It will also be a generous 1m3 as we stack it in, rather than use the more common "thrown" measures. So you get more bang for your buck!

Or we will consider trading for the same value in good healthy native trees... all trees considered, so do get in touch.

All funds are being used to develop and replant more natives trees around the property.

Wattle Tree

Living Down Wattle Lane would not be complete without having a Wattle Tree or three planted down the lane.

So I had been on a hunt for a Wattle Tree or similar to that, and a nursery I like to visit, www.mckechnienurseries.nz had a very small selection of Australian Blackwood trees, or Black Wattle.

Oneday in the near future they will grow into these beautiful trees...

Outdoor Entertaining

Something that has been on my wishlist for a while is an outdoor entertaining area off the deck. A barbecue and fire pit with outdoor seating... surrounded by insect repelling plants.

I have visions of outdoor dining & drinking, sitting around a fire, while someone plays a guitar... everyone just enjoying the good life. I don't play the guitar myself, but we will get to that issue later, for now we have started our little project.

Before:

Adding some timber:

We sprayed weed killer, then laid weed mat, and covered with crushed lime for a raised solid area:

I'll add an update pic soon... we've planted, but we still need to add barbecue, fire pit, steeping stones, seats and top layer of blue gravel to finish it off.

Little Red

We recently purchased an antique of sorts. Nicknamed "Little Red" a 1940-60's (we guess) Massey Ferguson Tractor.

The reason for purchasing her was to put on a back blade to make some V drains in the paddock to help with drainage during winter.  Then after purchasing a mower, to top paddocks when required and to carry the firewood up the hill.

After a little research online, I had read they are very reliable, and pretty simple mechanically, so for $2000 including delivery we thought she was a bargain, although she has her charms.

We've replaced the battery, and I've fixed a little fuel leak and a tightened a couple of loose pipes.  She doesn't blow any smoke so pretty clean I thought.

She was starting first pop after installing the new battery, but on our first excursion out in the paddock she wouldn't re-start again. We had to bring the car down to jump start her... so I'm not sure what is up with her now, the battery locked fine, so I'm guessing a the leads to the battery need replacing as the battery is brand new? Anyway that will be my first thing to check.

The other thing I'm struggling with is the brakes... they don't seem to work... so any tips or advice on that is appreciated... currently I'm keeping away from any hills.

But we're very happy with Little Red, she will be very handy if we can get her running better.