The final Cob wall, planting trees, and Eileen and Lottie visit.

We have began cobbing the final wall in the cottage. Marie, along with new Wwoofers Quentin and Marine from France, show how the mud and straw should be mixed..........








................and applied to the wall foundations. Suzie's mother, Eileen and her friend Lottie have been visiting from Australia. Eileen took a keen interest in all that was happening.











During their visit Eileen and Lottie stayed in the Earthouse, and found it cosy and warm and very much to their liking! This barn style door was designed and made by a local craftsman, using our Macrocarpa timber.









They earned their keep, loading up the wheelbarrow with silage for the cows each morning. They have lost none of their farm girl skills from their youth, and helped with moving the cows as well as feeding them.












They became quite fond of the younger animals in particular, spoiling them with extra feed and attention, as they do with their own grandchildren.









During their visit Joy calved, producing a beautiful big bull calf we've decided to name Bill. He is strong and handsome like his name sake, and has taken a real shine to life at Earthstead.











He is much larger than little Beryle, but they are both full of beans and play and romp together. We all spend a lot of time watching their antics each day - great time wasters. The only problem is that Joy is so very bossy to Lucy, pushing her away from the feed and often pushing her through the electric fence. Our farming friends have told us that we should leave them to sort out their differences, and that time will right it. In the meantime, we have given up on break feeding with an electric fence, and have put the four of them in a full paddock to share. At this time of year with feed short it is not ideal, but it is all we can think to do.










Over the past weeks we have been pruning our fruit trees and clearing and upgrading our entryway. It is such a feeling of achievement to see our plans taking shape.









Marie has worked very hard planting a hedge of Griselinas along our boundary. These native trees will form a wonderful glossy leafed evergreen hedge, maintaining our privacy while looking beautiful










Quentin and Marine, under the watchful eye of Ali are cutting recycled carpet to place around the new trees to keep the weeds down, and help keep the soil moist.









Next our senior wwoofers spread a leaf and lawn clipping mulch to cover the carpet. The wool carpet will eventually break down along with the mulch and form a natural compost layer, feeding the plants in a way similar as they would if they were grown in a forest.








We also used the recycled wool carpet and underlay in long strips between the living roof on the Earthhouse, keeping the weeds down, and conserving moisture. The native grass we have used is Carix Testacia , and it is not completely drought proof, so we anticipate having to use some watering system over the hot dry weeks of January and February each year. The thick felted wool underlay will help keep the grasses moist.









Spring has arrived, and we are enjoying the daffodils, and the sound of baby lambs and calves. Although Suzie's mum has visited New Zealand 14 times over the years, this is her first winter/spring visit.










Quentin and Marine are Engineering students back in France, and they both specialise in all things wooden. Here Quentin has used his skills to make a nesting box for the young exotic hens who have just begun laying. We have placed an egg in each of the bays and are hoping they will find the nests themselves and begin to lay in them rather than on the muddy ground as is the case now.










We have continued our Friday night dinners with the now world famous in New Zealand trivia quiz. Here Quentin and Marine prepare their curly questions to add to quiz master Ali's repertoire.










Our regular patrons, Ali's parents Beryle and Ron were able to spend time with old friends Eileen and Lottie and toast one another's good health.









And once again the famous decadent Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding has claimed a new devoted fan. Sadly it was Marie's last night with us as a wwoofer. We are looking forward to welcoming her back as a guest in the not too distant future.











Last two photo's are from our lightning visit down the Winston and Sarah at Waitawere Beach to show Eileen the gorgeous Lachlan. He seems to know she is someone very special as he looks up at her.










On the way home we stopped in for a delicious meal at the Chateau Tongariro. It was a magical time, with the afternoon sun sparkling on the snow covered mountains which surround this iconic New Zealand building.