Dismantling a suburban homestead

The time has come — I need to restore this patch of paradise in Titirangi to the way it was when I moved in way back in 2010. That seems like a lifetime ago!

Back then it was a blank canvas of flat, sunny grass, which took SUCH a long time to mow each week. Flat & sunny is somewhat incongruous with Titirangi, and this quality alone will make the section very appealing to developers.

If you’d like to help dismantle these garden beds, please get in touch by email at katrina@blueborage.co.nz — there will be chances to purchase plants, soil, or just help out.

I’ve set up a calendar for 20 minute meetings. You can book a slot here: https://calendly.com/blueborage/shopping-at-the-blue-borage-home-garden

I’m SO hopeful that someone somewhere will see this blog post and get in touch with an offer to purchase all the soil and plants for relocation — and also offer the labour to do the work. Please share this post far and wide if you know of a corporate looking to set up an urban farm in Auckland, or a restaurant looking to start growing their own food in Auckland. Who knows, I might even be able to offer them advice on creating a magical biodynamic growing space.

There are also a few odd items needing new homes, including about 1,000 bricks from a house that was demolished, and many of the logs from trees that fell in the last decade and were too cumbersome to use for firewood. These logs are now perfect for hugelkultur, but I can’t take them all with me.

Another big item that needs special attention is this chicken run (see photo) — the thing I love about this is how the netting goes over the top, so it’s effectively bird proof and pukeko proof. Some of the upright stakes have big chunks of concrete at the bottom — it’s going to be a big job just to dismantle, let alone remove.

Chicken run ready to dismantle and remove (free to a good home)

This is how the section needs to look when I leave — as if I was never here.

Ideas for innovative edible gardening solutions using biodynamic methods to make ‘soil with soul’ is what New Zealand needs right now. For tips, advice and online courses go to www.blueborage.co.nz or get in touch by email at katrina@blueborage.co.nz