Newish to everything

Hi, I have only been living in New Zealand for 7 months, but have been having a love affair with the country for almost 17 years. Since being here we have been delving into living sufficiently and have not been happier. It is a long learning curve, and sometimes I think I won't be able to remember everything I read . In fact, I know. I have started making some cheeses : mozzarella, cream cheese and feta so far. Have not been on a course, but they are working out beautifully. We are moving into a rental on a 3/4 acre property that is set in a 29 hectare private eco estate where there is also communal grazing land. Our dreams are to buy a large piece of land, and built our dream strawbale and cob home. We will be using the time while we rent, to delve into smaller projects and learn as we go.

So far we have two daughters, my husband, two chickens, two rats, and two snails. Have planted my tomatoes, a few strawberries, lettuce a Kumi Kumi, cucumber and brassicas. Hoping to add two young sheep to graze our lawn by Xmas (present for our daughters ) Am teetering between East Fresians for their milk or Wiltshires for their ease and lovely personalities. Do you think I can milk my Wiltshires ? It would not be for commercial properties, just for home use .

The first magazines I bought when I arrived was this one, and I was so excited to find this forum. Now I just need to learn how to use it.

Thanks to everyone who always takes the time to answer questions. I am sure there will be many from me if I can't find it on the Search.

Hi and welcome, I'm sure if you ask a question on anything there will be someone on here who can help.

Where is the Eco estate? Sounds an interesting concept and might suit one or two on here that have recently been talking about retirement options for 'older' farmers!

Are you sure you only have 2 snails

lol Sue. Welcome savayla. When time permits i like to log in to the great site everyday. The people here have a vast array of helpful knowledge and don't mind sharing. We are still learning everyday too

You breeding the rats and snails to eat or are they feral?
The eco-estate concept sounds very interesting. Do they have a website?

Hi Welcome sounds very interesting I am sure you will have a great time all the best.

igor;345354 wrote: You breeding the rats and snails to eat or are they feral?
The eco-estate concept sounds very interesting. Do they have a website?

Nah, rats are both males. Made sure of that !! They are delightful. Snails are a project the girls have going, by themselves. I have a major problem with my 10 year old daughter who is highly sensitive to the plight of animals. It was WW2 yesterday in my household when my youngest fed a fly to one of the rats.

I don't think they have a website, and I am not sure about how it all works. But it is called Silkwood Park. All I know for now is that there are some communal grazing grounds, the houses are far apart (not far enough for my liking, but we are renting ), there is a 4km walking pathway that goes down to the estuary and all around, many wild duck and geese ponds, I have heard mention of organic vege gardens but not too sure. Will investigate when we move next week.

If you feel like an ass .... ..... come and visit some time. We have about 14 looking for a good home.
I once considered snail farming, because the common garden ones make quite good eating .... not quite as good as the bigger French kind, but quite good enough. I couldn't work out how to keep them fed economically over winter, and how to fence them in.

Too me a while to understand what you were saying. I thought you were calling me an ass !!! That did actually crop up, a donkey or ass. Could you give me more info on them, how much grass they need, friendliness, cover, etc etc .

We are managing to keep the snails alive as I bought these very good "How to keep bugs " books for my daughter for her birthday in June. They are coming in handy.

I think the best way to keep them alive is to put them in vege garden, ones in ours sem to grow well till HE HE they have a mishap!!!!!!

Savayla, I'm sorry to hear that your daughter has a problem with killing things. Is she a vegetarian? When we had ducklings in the house a couple of seasons ago the children (then 3,5,7) were all flat out collecting moths and slaters for duckling food.

Hi Savayla! I have been a member of the forums for a little while but haven't logged in for ages, due to excessive children and animal use of my time lol. Silkwood park sounds fabulous, what a great concept, I will love to hear how it all goes when you get there! Re: the snails, I heard a thing on National Radio a while back about a lady who was farming them and used little tiny electric fences to keep them in...never could quite work out whether it was for real or not!, Cheers, Ruth

igor;345661 wrote: Savayla, I'm sorry to hear that your daughter has a problem with killing things. Is she a vegetarian? When we had ducklings in the house a couple of seasons ago the children (then 3,5,7) were all flat out collecting moths and slaters for duckling food.

No, she is not a vegetarian, she loves her meat too much. She has an incredibly sensitive (too sensitive ) side to her, but she can walk past raw chicken, whilst holding her chicken in her arms, and say "cool, chicken for dinner ". Last night she went crazy when she saw a snake swallowing an egg on TV.

It is a very difficult situation as my youngest loves to catch bugs, feed them to the chickens, rats, etc. She has come to terms with the roosters on the place we are staying on, being culled, even though she had named them all and been with them for the past 6 months. So there is hope.

Savayla .. um how about 2 pet Alpacas .. they eat less than sheep and goats .. and are really lovely lil animals and every different one i have ever met has its own personality
Just a thought

Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of the most exciting "Time Eating" web site on the internet. And I mean this in the most positive way.

One good thing about farming is that children learn the realities of life. Animals do and will die, there is no way around it. But they will also see how they are born again. I guess you just have to be careful and slow with them making experiences.

Is this the Silkwood Park you are talking about? Looks pretty. I couldn't live in a community like this. I am too much an individual and want top be able to do what I want to do. Too many regulations.

Cheers

Peter

Alpacas. Hmmm, certainly on our wish list, but too dear at the moment.

As for community living .... Silkwood park does seem nice, be we are also could never do this for a long time. We only see us being there for a year, until we find our dream spot. But for the waiting, it is perfect. We are also too individualistic.