The NZ Green Warrior

Urban gardening is the way of the future as more people live in cities and land for growing is occupied by buildings. In New Zealand urban gardening is starting to take off as more young people find ways to recycle waste, use parks and public spaces that have been neglected. The following story tells of what can be done to improve our urban environment. The Frontage on Lincoln Road Henderson Clark Wholesalers 2014 Limited is a company located at 6/251 Lincoln Road in Henderson which sells and repairs new and second hand appliances-stoves, washing machines, fridges, freezers as well as supplying  parts for such appliances. Inside Clark's appliance shop Its a normal wholesale/retail store within a set of unit businesses with a distinct industrial feel and the business, although with the changed ownership this year, has been operating in West Auckland for around 30 years. Why am I writing about this store?  Well its all about the garden and the plants that...

After 16 years of working as a tax law teacher at the University of Auckland I decided in January 2016 to quit my job and all the financial security it gave me for the insecurity of "something" else. Why? Because ultimately I believe that happiness and interesting challenges in life are more important than security. Further, as someone who has just turned 60 years old and who may or may not live for some years more I wanted to follow a new dream. This dream is for me to become a famous writer, storyteller, performer and wiccan practitioner. My university colleagues thought I was crazy and actually I feel very crazy struggling to live on $175 a week, being in debt up to the limit on my credit card and unable to get another job. However I tell myself that if I am truly walking my talk that I will have faith that it will all fall into place for me and that I will achieve my dreams if I put the energy in to create this new reality. Its scary though-especially when the new pow...

Three years ago I saw a small block of waste land at the end of Moana Street in Woy Woy with nothing growing upon it of note except for a few large Australian bush trees in one corner and I listened to the spoken vision of my friend Jill to turn this space into a community garden. Initial garden site view Initial site view This space now at the end of three years  is a proud example of great gardening from a community of dedicated people all inspired by the vision to create a public growing space that everyone in the community can use and enjoy. There are herbs, fruit trees and various vegetables all sharing this community garden space along with compost bins full of worms, scarecrows, toys for the children to play with and a fantastic mural on the garden wall.  I was told by Jill that initially a garden site plan was designed  and then various stages of that plan have been implemented as the garden has developed over the three years since I last visited....

This last week saw me, Fabrice and Bryan over 3 days, drive down from Whangateau in Northland to Wellington via Taupo, the Desert Road and Palmerston North and then back again via Whanganui, National Park and Te Kuiti-a total of 1869 kms. We stayed overnight in two holiday Parks on this trip, the best being the park at Paekakariki where it was $75 for a small cabin, more like a motel room and where I was able to cook dinner for the three of us and sleep on a great bed. The reason for the quick trip to Wellington was for Fabrice to meet with the French attache in the French Embassy to sort out his passport so we can apply for new immigration visas by the next new moon. Wellington was the same as ever-I still think it is one of New Zealand's nicest cities even with the wind tunnels of the inner city streets-inner city parking is always tricky but the place has good public transport, a great South Indian restaurant and nice energy for a city-something in my mind to do with its siz...

We arrived at a time when it was hot and wet. Just before we came there was large scale flooding in part of the island. It's not cheap and we have so little money left after spending too much on three nights accommodation.  Fabrice lost some money on the plane and when trying to get it back today had to walk almost 15km there and back as no one would pick him up and give him a lift. I am not sure that he and Bryan can get any money to stay here and maybe finding exchange is not so easy- with three of us now it is quite complicated anyway.  Bryan is desparate to be with other children who at present, because it is influenced by the northern hemisphere, are all in school. They have a park not far from us where there is an outside gym, a volleyball/soccer playing area and the equivalent of a play park with swings, slide and climbing bars but when it is raining they shut this because it is slippery. Bryan speaks English to everyone automatically although actually his firs...

More and more New Zealand children with the support of their unfortunately ignorant parents and those commercial  businesses wanting to make a dollar are celebrating the Wiccan festival of Halloween or Samhain or All Hallows' Eve as it is properly called on October 31. As a Wiccan myself for over 25 years and therefore someone who considers this day as one of my 8 sabbats (special celebratory days), I am getting more and more irritated at the misuse of this festival and particularly as it is being celebrated in this country of NZ at the wrong time of the year. All Hallows' Eve or Samhain the Witches New Year, is the night when the veil between the world of spirit and daily life is thin and able to be transcended, is in fact an Autumn festival which is why you can traditionally see pumpkins hollowed out with candles sitting inside shining their light in the windows of houses. It amazes me that "kiwi" parents think that it is appropriate to celebrate this autumn festi...

The past three-four months have seen us experiencing a very wet winter-On Caretaker Farm over a metre of rain was collected in the rain gage in three months and the past month of September saw us receive another 200mls on top of what had already fallen from June until the end of August. I personally am not complaining about the amount of rain as the past two winters have been dry and with dry summers also I was getting worried that our river would stop flowing and the spings that feed it would all dry up. I needn't have worried as finally this year everything feels back in balance and we are heading into summer with full aquaducts and a river at a reasonable level. We luckily had a few long-term wwoofers over the winter staying and I am grateful for the stability and constancy that their presence gave to our continuing projects. Unfortunately the builder was less constant and didnt come at all for over 4 months so the bakery building stalled and the wet weather has meant ...