Among the Permaculture Principles is “Obtain a Yield.” Yields can come in many forms, but probably the most obvious is abundant, healthy food.

While we enjoy yields throughout the year, autumn brings the most abundance. This includes the butternut squash that will help make many hearty winter meals.

It’s also great to make lots of basil pesto to freeze.

This is the first year we’ve had a heavy crop of olives, although they are not harvested until winter.

Another winter crop are guavas, and it looks like we’ll have plenty.

Another first for us includes a good solid pear crop rather than a few per tree. I pretty much bought every single variety I could find to ensure the correct cross-pollination. I think we have close to 10 different pears at this point as well as a quince.

Here are some Nashi pears on a young tree.

Yet another first – passion fruits! My daughter will be excited.

Among our staples are these two peach varieties: Golden Queen and Sanguine (aka “Black Boy”)

Grapes are another staple with hundreds of kilos hanging off the vines.

Same goes for avocados.

We had an amazing plum crop with much of it in jars and the freezer at the moment. The fridge is stocked with goats milk ready for yet another batch of halloumi.

The hens are laying well as we approach the equinox.

And apples…yup be got apples! More than I can count but not more than the pigs can eat!

Kia Kaha!

Estwing

When you’ve been working at something for over a decade, success should not come as a surprise. Yet as a wet spring gives way to a warm start to summer I am amazed at the shear abundance on the farm. It seems every aspect of the farm is absolutely thriving! The permaculture and regenerative approaches we’ve been applying for 10+ years are paying massive dividends.

The loquat trees have matured and this is the first year they are covered in fruit.

Likewise with the passion fruit. I have never been able to grow passion fruit but have finally found the right spot for these vines to thrive!

As usual, there is great fruit set on the plums this year and we look forward to a big harvest.

Likewise, the avocado orchard is absolutely pumping.

We’ve harvested the garlic and hung it in the sheds – super happy with the crop this year!

Looking forward to summer in the vegetable garden with corgettes, tomatoes and basil.

The beans are up and running!

Not to be outdone by the plants, the animals are likewise thriving. After having twins in June, Abby had a doe kid in late November.

Frenchy followed shortly afterward with twins of her own.

The hens have been equally fertile, producing four clutches of chicks this month.

And never to be outdone, the kune kune pigs have all had a second litter of the year.

We’ve got a great diversity of colours and patterns.

Using permaculture and regenerative approaches to agriculture we integrate animals into our plant based systems to achieve synergistic results. In a world where we see so many downward spirals at the moment it’s so refreshing to see our farm spiralling upward!

Kia Kaha!

Estwing

Over the last few years I’ve been blogging less and writing for publication more. Below are some of those articles about our holistic approach for farming and home renovation that are available online:

What is fourth-dimension garden design? How Nelson Lebo uses this approach on his 5.1ha permaculture farm

What is regenerative agriculture? This Whanganui farmer explains how it works on his land

Why it takes six months to build the perfect garden bed

https://www.buildmagazine.org.nz/articles/show/from-tent-to-toasty-home

Peace, Estwing