New Zealand Lifestyle Blocks

[ellebeaux]

I thought you all may be interested in learning a little about NZ lifestyle blocks. These are small 1-10 acre homesteads that are extremely popular here. Everyone wants to have a little mini-farm with a garden and some chooks.

Here's a link to an interesting book and website on sustainable gardening.

http://www.koanga.co.nz/

Here's plans to build a chook dome! What a great idea. You put the chooks in it and build your garden beds the same size...

http://members.iinet.net.au/~helcree...f/geodesic.htm

another one:

http://musingsfromoz.typepad.com/per...ome/index.html

Here's an awesome woodstove site, they look small and efficient:

http://www.wagenerstoves.co.nz/

Here's a good Countryside type magazine. There are dozens of these type of magazines in NZ and Australia. Simple self-sufficient living is greatly prized here.

http://www.farmonline.co.nz/farmmags...mer/index.aspx
http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/homelinks/magazines.htm

Here's a HT type website:

http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/

Hope that stirs your interest in NZ!

Beaux

[charles burns]

What a wonderful idea - that being to actively promote the lifestyle. If everyone wants a mini farm with a garden and some chooks you must be doing something right.

Is it a broad, national interest in simpler living and permaculture or is it a fringe interest?

[ellebeaux]

It's a broad national interest!!! NZ has a goal of being as self-sufficient a country as possible. At least that's what I've heard, I haven't seen a policy statement from the government or anything.

But I know they're finding it difficult - as an example, Fisher & Paykel, the washing machine people, are moving their business to China. They can't compete in the international market.

By the way, I'm from the US, I'm just living here for a few years while in school. I just love it here so I think everyone should move here!!

[abledrn]

What is the cost of land like? A quick search looks like $$$.

[Paranoid]

Originally Posted by abledrn

What is the cost of land like? A quick search looks like $$$.

good luck, first thing is it's expensive, second thing is you cant be a citizen there unless they want you due to your profession being on their want list.

it's definitely not like going to America.

[End of the Road]

Interesting

[oz in SC]

Lifestyle blocks are big in Oz too.

If it wasn't for the overbearing gov't there I think buying some land in Oz would be a worthwhile expense for us.

Of course I have the benefit of being an Australian citizen.

And land is expensive anywhere near an urban area,however if you wanted to you could buy a VERY large chunk of land in the middle of nowhere in Australia for very little money.

As for NZ,Blech,it is FULL of Kiwis....

Originally Posted by ellebeaux

It's a broad national interest!!! NZ has a goal of being as self-sufficient a country as possible.

Sure wish the United States would develop the same interest!

This lifestyle block thing sounds fascinating.

.....Alan.