Newsletter

 Winter 2016  

 

A time of reflection Wilderland has returned from a five week holiday, which has left us feeling rejuvenated and ready for

preparation of the busy seasons ahead. It is the first time in Wilderland’s 52 year history that a collective holiday has been taken! This also meant

closing our roadside shop which is where the majority of our energy is focussed. With only absolutely necessary obligations being completed, this has freed up some time for us to focus on our three pillars of sustainability; environmental, financial and social. Wilderland has a decent grasp on the first two but the latter is somewhat deficient, resulting in exhaustion and often burnouts. We are seeking to change this by introducing a dialogue, amongst the resident core, about what are we dissatisfied with, and how can we bring about change within community to sustain our people. This is about creating a holistic lifestyle for all participating, in every facet of our lives. Now is the time for

us to focus on ourselves, so that we can provide for others in a truly sustainable way. It is the time for deep introspection and honesty with ourselves to identify and change these elements that affect us most.

 

Word out for new residents!  We are still seeking enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our team of residents to help us develop and maintain Wilderland. We are particularly interested in people with skills in mechanics, orchard care and forest management, business, IT and localised food initiatives. However we are open to anyone with the right attitude - often this is more important!

● Throw yourself full-time into a project that is all about positive change for the world, holding and

developing a space for hundreds to come and learn with us every year

● Help us to engage with and strengthen local community and economy to become well-balanced, healthy, and mutually-supportive group of people

● Learn a huge range of skills, share your skills with us, get a full dose of the extent of holistic sustainable

living and what it really takes. Apply yourself to an ongoing need for creative solutions in all aspects of living and working For more information visit  http://www.wilderland.org.nz/   Or contact us through  visit@wilderland.org.nz

 

 

Plan, Plant, Planet 

For the first time, Wilderland is offering an official Permaculture Design Certificate course, under the mentorship of professional permaculturists Trish Allen and Dan Tohill. Both have decades of experience in permaculture design and are veteran PDC teachers. The course will be hosted on the property, allowing an experiential classroom to unfold; seeing the ideals in practice! This course is a two-week, intensive course hosted from

the 8th-21st of October, 2016. All of the participants will earn a PDC, bringing you into the world of permaculture and giving you access to a wealth of resources. This is ideal for people who are wanting to transform their house garden or land into a self-supporting eco-system.

If you have any inquires, or would like to submit an application, please email us at visit@wilderland.org.nz . Applications close on the 23rd of September!

Of critical importance  Why is permaculture (or permanent agriculture) such an important idea?

Well….

 When the 12 principles of permaculture are applied cohesively, they ‘allow us to creatively redesign our

environment and our behaviour in a world of less energy and resources’ (David Holmgren). Each principle is a vehicle that allows holistic thinking and sustainable application, and should not only be relegated to our gardens; these are applicable to the myriad aspects of our lives; including, social, personal, economic and political. It is a new way to view the world and the ways that we interact with it.

An update from the garden  The gardens are kicking at the moment, with an abundance of brassicas, carrots, turnips, leeks, radishes,

beans, peas, citrus. There is currently a heap of green manure (a mixture of oats, barley, lupins and rye) growing in the unoccupied beds, to return valuable nutrients back to the soil! At the moment the hothouse is sprouting our summer crops (think endless tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants) with the polytunnel heat nurturing them through the winter, to be ready for when spring has sprung. We are also busily making compost piles with waste kina and mussel shells, donated from local fishing companies. We are hoping for a productive upcoming summer season- from the gardens to the markets, and everything in between.

 

Winter renovations  It is in this quiet time of winter reflection that we are collaborating and creating more efficient systems to make our busier periods much more manageable. The focus at the moment is on transforming the Honey House, once the centre of anything bee related, into our hive of food packaging and storage for all of our products! The Honey House is located next to the food caravan, our licensed venue for food production This

change will allow multiple departments to work together cohesively whilst saving Wilderland needless transportation costs. This project is expected to take around 4 weeks for the transformation. We will keep you posted!

Another massive project recently completed (and years in the making), is the replacement of a window at the rear of the main hall. The window has sustained some severe weathering over the course of the years and has been replaced by a much larger frame,

allowing more light into the space. With the completion of the window and surrounding wall, there will be the opportunity to replace the flooring with wide, wooden floorboards, 

The new and improved hall!

A natural progression   It is with so much gratitude that we say goodbye to Josh Mainwaring, who spent a total of 6 years with Wilderland, and is well known for his friendly smile at the Wilderland stall at the markets. Thanks for your contributions Josh, all the best with your next endeavours! A huge welcome into the world to little Luka Ayana, born on the winter solstice, to proud parents, Timu and Effie. The new family has decided to move on to other opportunities in Hamilton. We wish them well on the next exciting chapter as a new family.

Another welcome to Clarity, Arthur and wee Silvanis, who are now Wilderland residents, acting as shop manager and leader of the landcare departments respectively. We are looking forward to new collaborations and fresh energy as the Wilder life-cycle continues!

Silvanis

Wilderland is a unique educational center open to  all where learning is experiential and inseparable from daily life and a personal development emerges through reconnecting with nature, practicing sustainability and living collaboratively.

    

www.wilderland.org.nz contact@wilderland.org.nz

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