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Did you know that Surfdale in Waiheke Island received its name via a competition? The winner was awarded a section of land near the beach...
At 8 pence a day on top of a small deposit, a Surfdale section was also promoted as a sound investment – so close to downtown Auckland that “values must … View moreDid you know that Surfdale in Waiheke Island received its name via a competition? The winner was awarded a section of land near the beach...
At 8 pence a day on top of a small deposit, a Surfdale section was also promoted as a sound investment – so close to downtown Auckland that “values must go up and up and up”.
Well, they weren't wrong there.
Today, Waiheke Island brings to mind sunny vineyards and beachy weekend getaways. The image of Waiheke as an “island paradise” has its origins in 1920s marketing, but the island has long been desirable even as its character has changed over the past centuries.
As we go into the long weekend and begin to venture further afield again, why not have a read of how Waiheke came to be the place it is today, in this blog about its recent history by our Project Curator, Jane Groufsky.
www.aucklandmuseum.com...
My wife Denise Monteguti Dias lost her wallet at New Lynn Fresh or Laundromat on 3 Margan Ave. Please, if anyone finds it, please let me know. Thanks.
It's inspirational to meet a family that's taken the plunge to leave the rat race and establish themselves in the country. This couple not only managed to keep their jobs, but also build a stunning house on the Coromandel Peninsula that has caught the eye of NZIA judges.
Don't let those picked-over supermarket shelves stress you. It's easier than you might think to grow fresh veggies and herbs for yourself and your family.
By Lynn Coulter
The good news is that many fruits and veggies are easy to grow, even for beginners, and they’ll thrive whether … View moreDon't let those picked-over supermarket shelves stress you. It's easier than you might think to grow fresh veggies and herbs for yourself and your family.
By Lynn Coulter
The good news is that many fruits and veggies are easy to grow, even for beginners, and they’ll thrive whether you’re gardening in a backyard plot or in containers on your patio, porch or apartment balcony.
Grow beans in a snap
You might be surprised to know you don’t need a big garden to grow green beans. Bush beans are space-savers, but you can also grow beans vertically, by choosing pole varieties and training their vines onto a trellis, fence, or other support. Full sun, regular waterings and moderately rich soil will pay off in a plentiful harvest, and beans don’t need much fertiliser, although they’ll benefit from a side-dressing of compost in mid-season if you didn’t work a lot of compost into the soil before you planted. Check your seed packet to know approximately when your variety will be ready to harvest, and keep the plants picked so they’ll keep producing. Freeze your green beans to enjoy them all year long.
Plant prolific zucchinis
Zucchinis have a reputation for being so easy to grow, and so prolific, gardeners joke about having to leave their extras on a neighbour’s doorstep, ring the bell, and run away. Just one plant can yield 2.5-4.5kg of zucchinis in a single growing season. Plant their seeds directly in your garden or a large container. They need full sun and moist, easily-draining soil amended with compost. Give them a couple of centimetres of water each week, if there’s no rain, and harvest when the fruits are small (botanically speaking, zucchinis are fruits) and the skins are tender. You can freeze zucchinis or bake them into breads, slice them into strips for pasta, grate them for fritters or chop them into vegetable chillis. They’re also delicious when you know how to roast vegetables until they’re crispy and caramelised.
Raise crunchy radishes
Many gardeners love fresh radishes for that crunch that you get when you bite into them – but these simple root veggies are good for more than eating. Because the seeds sprout quickly – often within a week – you can use them in the garden to mark the rows of other crops that don’t come up as fast. Simply sow the seeds outdoors about 1-2cm deep as the temperature cools. Wait ten days and plant again for a continuous crop. They’ll thrive in a sunny spot that has loose soil amended with organic matter. Thin the seedlings to 5cm apart, so their roots won’t be crowded, and keep the plants evenly moist. Some varieties are ready to harvest just three weeks after planting.
Cultivate cucumbers
Like zucchini, cucumbers are prolific and easy to grow. Just give them a spot with moist, fertile soil and lots of sunshine. Start the seeds a couple of centimetres deep into the ground. They’ll sprout in a few days. Keep them happy with regular waterings and, if you didn’t work a lot of organic matter into the soil before you planted, side-dress them with a balanced, soluble fertiliser when the fruits set. The cucumbers are ready to harvest when they’re still small and the skins are tender. To keep a steady supply for the table, make successive plantings. If you’re short on space, train vining cucumber varieties onto a support like a fence or trellis, or plant a bush variety in a container or raised bed. Use your cukes in salsas, salads, gazpacho and smoothies or turn them into pickles.
Crack out some capsicum
Capsicums thrive in sunny climes, so make sure they have a warm, sunny spot not prone to wind or frost. They can also be grown in pots. Capsicums like a deep, warm, well draining soil, mulch and room to breathe, so leave about 50–60cm between your capsicums when planting out. Prepare the soil a month before planting by throwing in some fertiliser, then mulch.
Plant tasty tomatoes
The hardest thing about growing tomatoes might be choosing your favourite kind. There are cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, heirlooms with rich flavours, Romas for stews, pasta and sauces, and hearty beefsteaks. Gardeners in cool regions may want to start with transplants to save time over growing tomatoes from seeds. The plants need full sun and soil that drains easily. For best results, your soil should contain lots of compost and be slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. As the plants grow, apply a fertiliser recommended for tomatoes as directed on the label. This raised garden bed with an automatic watering system makes it easy to grow compact or patio-type tomatoes, even in a small space.
Sow lettuce for salads
Lettuces are great for beginning gardeners. They grow fast, take full sun but tolerate some shade, and can be tucked between other fruits and veggies or into containers. They’re also available in lots of tasty, colourful varieties. If you don’t have an ideal garden spot – for example, your soil contains a lot of clay or rocks – use a raised bed instead. Add good quality planting soil, you won’t have to dig. The loose soil will also make it easy to pluck any weeds that pop up. Sow your lettuce seeds in early autumn or spring and keep the plants watered regularly. Lettuce started in spring will last until the summer heat arrives and autumn-sown lettuce will grow until a killing frost. Harvest the outermost leaves first but don’t pull up the plants, so they can keep producing.
Set out onions
Make a little hole in the ground, tuck in a bare-root onion seedling, and stand back. In two or three weeks, the small plants will be ready to pull and use as green onions, or you can wait until the bulbs are bigger and then harvest them. Mature onions will let you know they’re ready when their tops turn yellow and bend over. Just brush off the soil and put the onions, with the tops still attached, in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place to cure for a week to 10 days. Then remove the top foliage and roots and store the onions in a cool, airy place until you’re ready to use them. Slice and fry them for onion rings, chop them for salsas and salads, or grill, roast or pickle them. Chopped or sliced onions can be refrigerated in sealed containers for seven to 10 days.
Fill a windowsill with herbs
A herb garden makes a thoughtful gift for a housebound friend or a fun and easy growing project you can enjoy without leaving home. Although the types of herbs you’ll want to include may vary, good choices include basil to make into pesto, mint to steep for tea or dill to add flavour to homemade pickles. So many herbs are easy to grow, you may not want to stop.
Happy Gardening
Baptist Lobo
Practicing Chartered Accountant
Across the months of May and June, we have been asking Aucklanders to create a Pest-Free haven in their backyard through placing traps, pulling weeds, and planting natives.
To help further support Aucklanders we ran a Q&A session with our Pest Free Auckland experts on Instagram and thought … View moreAcross the months of May and June, we have been asking Aucklanders to create a Pest-Free haven in their backyard through placing traps, pulling weeds, and planting natives.
To help further support Aucklanders we ran a Q&A session with our Pest Free Auckland experts on Instagram and thought we’d share a summary of the great questions and useful answers to get everyone started on their Pest Free Auckland journey.
Always wanted to try and bake your own bread?
Sourdough is a bread raised by aerobic yeast (yeasts in the atmosphere) that are captured in a mixture of flour and water and fed regularly to keep them alive. There are many different ways to make a sourdough starter — some people insist on using … View moreAlways wanted to try and bake your own bread?
Sourdough is a bread raised by aerobic yeast (yeasts in the atmosphere) that are captured in a mixture of flour and water and fed regularly to keep them alive. There are many different ways to make a sourdough starter — some people insist on using mineral water to feed the starter, others use water from boiled potatoes to get the starter going. It’s very effective to get a cup of someone else’s starter that you can then feed and grow yourself. Other people have sourdough starters that have been handed down through generations, but there’s no need for all that fuss: it’s incredibly easy to make your own.
Read the full recipe and method in the link below!
A reminder to our Total Mobility Scheme clients. Don't forget about the Free Trips which are available up until 30 June 2020 !!!
Auckland Transport will pay the transport cost (up to $80.00 maximum each way) for all trips using your Total Mobility Scheme card. If your trip is over $80.00 you … View moreA reminder to our Total Mobility Scheme clients. Don't forget about the Free Trips which are available up until 30 June 2020 !!!
Auckland Transport will pay the transport cost (up to $80.00 maximum each way) for all trips using your Total Mobility Scheme card. If your trip is over $80.00 you will have to pay the balance. In many cases our clients trips are under $80.00 per trip so they are getting free transport :) This is a great opportunity to get out and about in Level 2 and to reconnect with your community again. Normal fares will resume from 1 July 2020.
There will be a charge for services such as Companion or Waiting as these services are not covered by the Total Mobility Scheme.
We have eftpos available with the option of contactless payment.
For more information please call Denise Ph 09 8365713 or Mob 021503644
People are diagnosed with cancer everyday in New Zealand, but what about during the coronavirus lockdown? We're keen to talk to someone whose diagnostic appointments were put on hold during alert level 4, and how this has affected you. If you are willing to share your story, and be identified,… View morePeople are diagnosed with cancer everyday in New Zealand, but what about during the coronavirus lockdown? We're keen to talk to someone whose diagnostic appointments were put on hold during alert level 4, and how this has affected you. If you are willing to share your story, and be identified, please email kelly.dennett@stuff.co.nz.
The feral chickens of a leafy Auckland suburb that were removed because of a rat infestation are bac…
Update a boring old plant pot with an on-trend terrazzo paint effect!
Make the most of this weekend with this easy project idea from Resene. Find out how to create this quick and easy project yourself
We are sad to announce that Palmers Westgate will be closing its doors on June 10th. We would like to thank all our loyal customers for your support over the years.
We have really enjoyed serving West Auckland with great gardening products and expert advice.
Our closing down sale is now … View moreWe are sad to announce that Palmers Westgate will be closing its doors on June 10th. We would like to thank all our loyal customers for your support over the years.
We have really enjoyed serving West Auckland with great gardening products and expert advice.
Our closing down sale is now underway with loads of amazing deals in store including at least 50% off storewide. So come in store and fill your trolley with these unmissable deals!
We would love to see you before we close.
The team at Palmers Westgate.
It was a pitch-black, two-second encounter with this amazing cephalopod that gave 14-year-old Aucklander, Cruz Erdmann an opportunity to capture the captivating winning shot of a bigfin squid illuminating the inky blackness of the ocean.
Cruz took out the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year … View moreIt was a pitch-black, two-second encounter with this amazing cephalopod that gave 14-year-old Aucklander, Cruz Erdmann an opportunity to capture the captivating winning shot of a bigfin squid illuminating the inky blackness of the ocean.
Cruz took out the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year category, being chosen from nearly 50,000 entries from 92 counties, honoured by the longest-running nature photography exhibition in the world! We spoke to this young creative on his incredible achievement.
As the Museum is now open, come and see all of the stunning images from the exhibition, extended for a limited time.
For bette sofas and better savings, come to visit us at 20 Catherine St, Henderson.
By getting rid of the middleman and dealing directly with the manufacturer, Sofa2u gives you the opportunity for massive sales. What's more, all of its sofas are made right here in New Zealand, giving you the… View moreFor bette sofas and better savings, come to visit us at 20 Catherine St, Henderson.
By getting rid of the middleman and dealing directly with the manufacturer, Sofa2u gives you the opportunity for massive sales. What's more, all of its sofas are made right here in New Zealand, giving you the peace of mind that you're helping support our local artisans.
For more our floor stocks information, you can find out on our website www.sofa2u.co.nz... .
Hi Neighbours!
Our June SuperSeniors Newsletter is out now, and it's filled with lots of useful and interesting information.
The Newsletter outlines things to keep in mind around COVID-19 and a few key points from the 2020 'Rebuilding Together' Budget that will benefit seniors.
15… View moreHi Neighbours!
Our June SuperSeniors Newsletter is out now, and it's filled with lots of useful and interesting information.
The Newsletter outlines things to keep in mind around COVID-19 and a few key points from the 2020 'Rebuilding Together' Budget that will benefit seniors.
15 June marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is an opportunity to shine the light on the role we can all play in reducing elder abuse and neglect.
Make sure to read and share it!
To subscribe, to the newsletter follow this link: bit.ly...
To view the current edition go to: bit.ly...
George Shiers has been looking for his favorite jumper for more than two years, and he is longing for its return.
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