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PS...I was really impressed with your poly tunnel, its thriving and looks beautiful, as does the rest of the property. x

Slugs and snails are a problem here too. I guess the healthier the garden the more visitors. We have several lines of defence to dissuade them. Our volume growing vege gardens are all incased in wooden boxes and covered with insect netting. This keeps 95% of the critters out. For the determined remainder we use copper coils around every plant within the boxes that they like to eat. We made the copper coils from old electrical wiring that we salvaged. Slugs and snails will not cross over the copper as it creates a chemical reaction similar to electrolysis. The other alternative to copper coils is to run a copper wire completely around the perimeter of the garden as some of our friends have done and this works too as long as debris doesn't cover the wire. The other reason we use the copper coils for our leaf veges is that they require copper to grow well and our soils in the Wairarapa contain very little. We also use rhubard leaf spray for the leaf veges growing in our food forest. This is fine for these plants as they are our seed bank plants. Rhubard being toxic shouldnt be used consistently on leaf plants as they mature. But this organic spray will deter all unwanted critters, including aphids. I steep the Rhu leaves in a barrel of water for a week and they add a fixer to it like organic soap suds. I have a pile of other remedies but these are the ones that work best for us and dont involve killing anything.

It's just a case of fingers crossed and hope the weather complies when I have time away. Temporary waterers sometimes forget or miss some areas but I don't go away for long periods of time. Your garden is looking really good. =-)

Think I've got it - slug hunt, no hosepipe in the polytunnel, watering can only. You need to get that bloke of yours to build you an irrigation system!

Hi there Menita, my comment is quite late as we've had a couple of very busy weeks here. I managed to watch your Vlog whilst doing dishes and thoroughly enjoyed it but didnt have time to comment. On our small organic farm in the Wairarapa we practice holistic farming which includes no dig permaculture but also regenerative grazing. (Letting the paddocks go to seed to replenish themselves is the simple version) Whilst pasture is waist height, I can forage for all the edible herbs that also grow in the Paddocks Puha, dandelion, broad and narrow leaf plantain, yarrow and many more etc. Our water is from an aquifer or bore on our property and is pure. We test regularly. But Lorraine is correct that there are alot of rivers and streams that are now contaminated with Nitrates and a number of nasty bacterial bugs. NZ is still beautiful, and some parts are well protected due to Government legislation, and I hope this continues. Like yourself and possibly Lorraine below, I too have auto immune issues, hence why we grow and eat only fruit, veges, herbs etc and meat from our farm. Ironically on our bucket list is Visiting my ancestral Highland home of Scotland :)

Thanks for the idea of using up pea pods! 😊

I'm a bit 'do I, don't I?' with leaves and wild plants. I get migraines if I eat fruit and it makes me cagey about eating / drinking without knowing what the consequence will be. You are so lucky that you can rinse food in the burn. Our creeks and rivers often have high nitrate levels due to fertiliser spread on farms. New Zealand used to be so clean and green, sad that it's no longer that, although it's still beautiful and very much like your highlands in landforms. Take care =-)

Lovely video. Some really pleasing progress- hope you agree! I’ve only just started my garden journey in our little space. Planted up some leaves and veggies and mulling a herb border now. Thanks for the inspiration 😊

It is Autumn here in NZ. I rake up the leaves on my long driveway under many deciduous trees and pack them tightly in feed bags, or compost bags. Then poke holes in the full bags all along the bottom and the sides. These then sit outside during winter to decompose. In the summer they can be used as mulch and after 2 winters they turn into the most lovely potting mix. I sieve this mix and sieved bought potting mix to use to grow seedlings, and it works well. No need to buy expensive seed raising mix.

Thank you, Menita, for another interesting vlog :) It was great to see more of your garden. I'm now starting to understand the lay of your land. Your garden appears to be as hilly as ours is flat. We are well into Autumn here and the last of our summer harvest is in. Currently Im preparing the winter vege gardens. As we are a no dig permaculture farm, I just pile on the compost and plant straight into it. We only get down to -2 degrees Celsius on average, therefore we can generally grow crops all year round. Our winter crops consist of onions, winter salad greens like kale and spinach etc and hardy lettuces. I also plant garlic, onion, shallots, brassica's and root crops. With the recent rain our lawns have started to recover from the summer drought and are growing again, which means I'll be letting our geese out of the orchard to graze on the lawns during the winter months, which also means I'll be safe to venture into the orchard to prune our stone & pip fruit trees. x

Lovely and relaxing video, what is the song name?

Very nice video.

The wee (actually not so wee) slow worm was an interesting fellow. We don't have worms like that in NZ. I thought he was a snake before you explained. Menita we have a huge pile of branches and logs to deal with every year too. I just look at it and wither and keep on walking :) My hubby attacks it with gusto! and we use it as you do. I was impressed with your chipper is a good size for the job. I did enjoy seeing the view onto your cottage its very picturesque. Like Lorraine below, we had a good frost this morning which has hastened me to getting all our Autumn jobs done pronto. Great to see we are all doing the same routine seasonal jobs. x

You have a lovely, sizable lot to work with. I will follow your journey to see your vision come through. Thanks for taking us along.

I love going from one smallish job to the next in the garden, getting the little jobs out of the way. Sigh my chipping pile is quite big, hopefully I can get it done soon. Love watching Northern hemisphere gardeners getting ready for planting. We have had our first frost sigh. Take care =-)

I'm pleased I have found your channel, on a few different levels. First off, I'm retired and am planning on building a greenhouse in the next few weeks, nothing too big, but enough to give my wife and myself some fresh greens, pickles, beets and cucumbers. So watching you do your greenhouse chores is a great help. Outside the greenhouse I have a garden spot that loves growing potatoes, rhubarb, sunflowers, peas and beans. Another spot grows raspberries and blackberries. Last but not least, I find your videos very relaxing, your voice, and the background music are very soothing to an old soul. Thankyou so much!

Sigh, slugs. I now make a tent over seedling trays using old net curtains and bamboo and tucking the edges under the tray. I don't seem to have slugs enough to cause damage but the snails definitely know where to find my young plants. I tried cucumbers first time this year and was surprised that I got a few good sized ones. Take care and enjoy the hopefully warm weather =-).

Good morning Menita, The plants in your polytunnel are flourishing. I'm impressed with how much you manage to pack into the limited growing space. It all looks healthy and thriving. Like you we love radishes and also roast, stirfry and of course eat them raw. I also pickle them when we have surplus. (they are very good too) The varieties you have are interesting, the only one I recognised is 'French Breakfast'. Your beautiful cat Blue is never far away from you. I guess he's doing his bit in the garden, by keeping you company :)

Beautiful! Happy birthday Menita, wish you all the best!❤

When I see where my ancestors lived and the conditions they endured, I am always amazed.

Interesting about roasting the radishes, never thought of that. I usually grow swedes, turnips and beetroot to roast, so will try the radishes. Good idea to grow the peas as seedlings and to transplant outside too. Everything is looking good.

The polytunnel is looking amazing. Interplanting is great and also leaving roots to rot down also feeds the soil. Have fun and take care =-)

Fab! Thank you!

Ah you have been busy. The soil at your Rental property looks like a lovely friable loam. Oh to have soil like that here! Was that a cordyline (also known as a cabbage tree here) I spotted in your front garden? PS.... I hadn't quite twigged onto your Christian name and felt it rude to ask. Menita is a pretty name and not one I've heard of before. x

I so love the sound of the seagulls. I was brought up in a port called Lyttelton in New Zealand. An amazing place with a close community. We had a veg garden and like you worked with what we had. Mum knitted and sewed all of our clothes. I am so lucky with the skills handed to me. Take care =-)

Hi Menita it's a challenge having two gardens sigh but also a joy. I'm still in my house where I brought up my sons and just love sitting outside with the memories, now I have grandsons who play in the same garden as their Dad did. Take care =-)

How lovely. Fried biscuits!

Great videos and very achievable for most people who haven't got lots of land. Love the cats. Mine are also very helpful !! in the garden.

You are so lucky to have access to such delicious food. I remember dairy products like those back in my day. Thanks for the recipe.

Thank you for another enjoyable vlog. I smiled at your choice of 'Money Maker' tomato seedlings as I've been growing them as our primary tomato crop for the last five years as theyre prolific and reliable croppers and tomatoes can grow to a good size here. I liked your trick for growing your pea seedlings in recycled guttering! Brilliant idea. I also wanted to thank you for pushing the no dig method. Weve been gardening like that for years and our gardens like yours are healthy, happy and easy to maintain. Keep the Vlogs coming as you are starting to reach people, before you know it you'll have several thousand subscribers. X

I love the sign Adam bought for you - it looks great!

The greenhouse is looking lovely after the work you have done. Plants are happy in it. And same the little furry helpers🐈🐈‍⬛, they are lovely. I can't wait for more of your videos, more walks with you, and more about the already started projects. Has Adam finished that beautiful shed? Please keep us updated. Thank you for sharing the beauty of nature with us!❤

You need to lean on that bloke of yours to hurry up and finish your shed. Can't wait to see it being used!

Yes working out how much space you have to what seeds you start can be tricky. I bought 6 punnets of bargain priced seedlings only to struggle finding room for planting all of the seedlings. My neighbour was happy with the cabbages she got ha ha. The laurel cuttings are looking healthy =-). Take care =-)

PS..... a big congratulations on achieving 1000 subscribers....X

Hi there, from cold and overcast Carterton NZ! We are polar opposites with our seasons as we are heading into Autumn. It was lovely to see your daffodils in bud. Spring is on the way in your lovely Highland Garden! I wondered if at some stage you could provide me with or perhaps when you have time, do a vlog making your green lentil and Rhubarb curry. Im definitely keen on trying out the recipe. Anyway, all the best and I'm looking forward to your next vlog as spring on your side of the planet springs forth. X

Interesting video. It seems that most gardeners have cats with them (including myself). It is lovely to watch the cats as well as what going on in the garden.

Thank you for your video, very useful information about laurel and how to propagate it. Looking forward to your next video❤

The log store is epic!

I miss milk in a bag. It’s a Canadian thing.

Great job 🌱

Another interesting vlog. Im an avid Rhubarb grower having been gifted a couple of crowns and root stock from my mother 35 years ago. like you we make pies and puddings and also jams and chutney from it. One can also soak the leaves in water and use the water as an organic pesticide and deterrent. I didn't know Rhubarb was also forced and am keen to give it a try next season. I loved your wee furry companions, so cheeky and inquisitive. X

Hi how do you make your dried orange peel powder. Thanks Heather

Hi how do you make your dried orange peel powder please. Heather

Hi, as someone who loves to cook but wants to make better choices what would you say are your essentials in the kitchen, food and equipment, and would you be prepared to make a separate video on it. Sorry only just found your channel so that why I’m asking now. Also would love a tour of your kitchen I love to see others kitchens mine is old fashioned as I live in an old terraced cottage. Heather

Just found your channel and subscribed. Heather

The start of the growing season is always exciting. Love your helpers, they do bring a magic to the work that is being done =-) Take care =-)

Nice surprise your video I am always keen to see and hear more on your channel. Lovely to see a nice sunny day in the Highlands so much waited and totally appreciated. The garden is looking neat and clean, as always. Nice to see your little helpers around you, they are beautiful 🐈‍⬛🐈 Never knew much about rhubarb thank you for sharing the properties of this wonderful plant and some of it's needs. Looking forward to your new posts.Thank you so much.❤😊