Levin Life

We're happy to have found our way onto a 2 1/2 acre block of land in Levin, having lived in cities all our lives, with 4 children aged between 14 and 23 living at home. Our interest is to plant native trees and plants - good for birds and bees and the land - plant herbs for our family use, some vegetables, some flowers. We're getting a couple of goats soon, being interested in trialling goat milk for allergy-related reasons, and would like to have bees and chickens in the future. As our family all has allergies, to dairy, wheat etc, I want to develop cooking and baking that's allergy-friendly. This seems to be the best place and space to do it! Thank you for this awesome lsb forum which seems to be a great supportive network. Best wishes.

I'm happy to recommend goat milk having converted to it a couple of years ago. Your dreams sound great. As you plan your garden, make sure you do research about what you can plant that is not toxic to goats so you reduce risks to them as they will get in the garden unless you have good fences, and will taste and sample all that is growing there. Rhubarb leaves for instance is very toxic to them.
Welcome to the LSB. We look forward to hearing more about your adventures.

Welcome homeschooler, I'm a long term Levin resident, well out in the country nearer Ohau.

We have heaps of native seedlings coming up around our place which you are very welcome to come and pot up if you would like any-kowhais, lemonwoods, totaras etc I pull them out like weeds most of the time!

Happy to talk chickens too when you are ready to take that next step!

This site may help a little
www.treesforbeesnz.org/garden
There are a few pdf documents around on the web for best plants to grow that attract native birds etc

Best of luck

wow, sounds like the beginning of a great adventure, and you have a teenager who can help out around the place!
Regarding goats, my son has bad eczema and other allergies and we went to great lengths to bring him up on goats milk and soy, it never really made any difference. Only cortisone creams helped, and lack of stress.
Miking goats is a big undertaking, have you tried A2 milk? Many people say they are more tolerant to it. You can get it at Countdown.
Tree Lucerne is a fast growing shrub which makes good stock food and shelter for other trees. Kowhai is good for Tui's and Radiata grows anywhere. Don't plant anywhere near power lines and make sure you know exactly where your boundaries are first.
Are you building a house or is it a bare block?