Country Life

Country Life speaks to farmers and growers around New Zealand to find out about growing conditions over the past month. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life dives underground to take a closer look at soils, from Canterbury farmers using the Japanese Bokashi system to a market gardener making garden beds as rich as chocolate cake in Taranaki. We also unpack the recently announced biodiversity credits. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:48 - Rural News Wrap...

Over the past 20 years, Jodi Roebuck and his wife Tanya have turned a bare paddock into a thriving market garden with an emphasis on microgreens, teachers others from around the world how to do the same. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Roebuck Farm, here . In this episode: 0:19 - Roebuck Farm 3:26 - Cover crops 7:04 - Microgreens...

Bokashi, the Japanese anaerobic composting system which ferments organic matter, is helping to maintain healthy soils on a sheep and dairy grazing farm in North Canterbury. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Tim Hawke and Murray Weaver Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

News that the government is looking to support a market system to help fund the huge cost of restoring nature could be music to the ears of farmers and iwi wanting to do their bit for biodiversity but facing huge costs. So what are biodiversity credits and how do they work? You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Sean Weaver, EKOS Hayden Johnston...

This week Country Life celebrates Matariki with stories about Māori horticultural wisdom and a couple setting up star gazing experiences on their farm. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:48 - Rural News Wrap 6:02 - Nick Roskruge - digging into indigenous knowledge 14:05 - 'We can grow anything here': A family&#x27...

This Matariki, the stars align for Mark and Susannah Guscott - award winners bringing whakapapa and astronomy together on their sixth-generation Wairarapa farm. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Glen Eden Farms, here . You can also learn more about their Star Safari, here . And for Whitimanuka Retreat, see here . In this episode: 0...

The McClutchie whānau explores growing different crops, with aspirations to grow Māori medicinal plants, on their family whenua in North Taranaki. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Venture Taranaki's Branching Out, here . Or by listening to this interview with Michelle Bauer here . With thanks to: Rawiri McClutc...

Nick Rahiri Roskruge is Country Life's guest this week. His work in agriculture and soil science have taken him far afield looking at crops sustaining indigenous communities. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Nick Roskruge Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life is out and about at Fieldays, meets a boy with a side hustle farming quail eggs, and chats around the kitchen table with the Harvey family about their century of farming. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:41 - Rural News Wrap 7:45 - Rural Women NZ at 100 15:45 - The Quail Kid - cracking the egg marke...

Strong family support, innovation and a dash of good luck have seen the Harvey family of Wairarapa clock up a hundred years on Daisybank Farm near Martinborough. They're banking on a similar mix to see them through the next century. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 1:02 - Life at Daisybank 4:10 - The next generation takes over 7:23 - 100...

Hamish Sturgeon is on his first farming venture rearing quails for their eggs. They're healthy, delicious and it's a fun side-hustle keeping the cute little birds fed, watered and healthy, the young teen says. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Hamish Sturgeon and his mum Briar Sturgeon Giovanni Vico Go to this episode on rnz....

As Rural Women New Zealand marks its centennial year, it hopes a $250,000 boost in government funding can help fuel its mission to connect, support, and advocate for women in rural communities. President Sandra Matthews is Country Life's guest this week. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can read more about the centenary rose, here . Wit...

A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life delves into the world of protein, finds out how a small community raises money for a rescue service through its hunting competition and meets an orchardist with a knack for upcycling as well as growing. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:44 - Rural News Wrap 07:30 - The Power of Protein 16:48 - Bob Te...

The annual Pongaroar hunting competition is remote Tarara District helps hunters and farmers tackle growing pest numbers, while getting together and raising funds for the local rescue helicopter. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Abbey Maher Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Fr...

Bob Teale's resourcefulness has allowed him to keep growing a niche range of berries into his 80s at Bruntwood Orchard near Cambridge. He uses upcycled push chairs as picking trolleys and adapted his golf cart to run under his DIY tunnel houses. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Bob Teal, Bruntwood Orchard Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz fo...

Distinguished professor Paul Moughan from the Riddet Institute breaks down what protein is, why we need it and all the things you need to know when considering your protein fix. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks: Distinguished professor Paul Moughan, The Riddet Institute Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. You can find more from the rural news team here Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life moves with the cows on that traditional day of the farming calendar - Mooving Day. The team's also in northern Coromandel where locals have fought back to retain their local post office and finds out about diversification in Taranaki. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:53- On the farm 8:34- Venture Ta...

June 1 is an important day in the farming calendar when dairy farmers relocate animals, typically from one farm to another, for the start of the new season. Back in 2009 producer Susan Murray stepped out with some farmers to find out what the day - now known as Mooving Day - involves. With thanks to: Mike and Raewyn Sweeney, and Gary Coombe For more on Mooving Day, click here . Make sure you’re fo...

An hour's drive from the northern tip of Coromandel, you'll find a tiny post office run by volunteers. As rural postal services shrink, the small community here - population about 1500 - has taken things into its own hands to ensure the old motto "the mail must get through". You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Peter Sander Story here Go to th...

Michelle Bauer from Venture Taranaki's Branching Out programme shares exciting new opportunities for Taranaki landowners to diversify their farming and growing operations. You can learn more about Venture Taranaki's Branching Out, here . You can also find our previous interview with organic dairy farmer Janet Fleming who's taking part in the trial, here . With thanks to: Michelle Bauer G...