Syntropic agro forestryIn 2022-2023 Wilderland had a huge syntropic argo forestry project where we educated people on how to implement and maintain a syntropic system and why. We now have extenisve syntropic gardens. Those who are interested in syntropics are still able to get a wealth of knowledge and the project is currently under new management.
Wilderland provides unique experiences in projects that are shaped by the seasons and defined or redefined by the people who are here and now. If you see a project that captures your enthusiasm or curiosity, reach out at visit@wilderland.org.nz to see what is happening and how you can get involved.
Recent projects at Wilderland
Cover cropsThis year saw the rejuvination of our gardens by sowing a diversity of nitrogen fixing grasses such as oat, vetch, mustard, phecelia and linseed - a method inspired by Christine Jones. There is now a teaming of life and biodiversification in gardens that had been laying dormant. Lots of hard mahi went into this project from the hands that dug the unhelpful grasses and weeds out and turned the soil, to the sowing of seeds and covering with harvested reeds from our esutary
Water tanksLiving in tune with your environment is to recoginse our most basic needs as humans - food, shelter, water. This has been a prime focus for us this year. To prepare for the dry season we have been lovingly crafting agricultural water tanks that store excess. We look forward to feeding our gardens in the dry seasons!
Ongoing and upcoming projects
Wilderland has always been a special opportunity to explore projects. These projects have been in the pipeline for some time and are now beginning. There are so many more projects on going or that would be helpful to do but these are a few we are excited about for now, if your keen to get involved and lend a hand, reach out!
Milling to rebuild our workshopWe are conducting a timber milling project with the support of ex-Wilderlanders. Cyclone Gabriel pushed down many a tall tree which we have learning to mill so we can utilise the timber to rebuild the workshop that was lost in the 2017 fire. We are enthusiastic to rebuild our large workshop using trees from the land, and finishing it off with earth-built cob walls! This project will house creative projects such as pottery, wood working, cabenit-making, sign-painting as well as machinery and maintenance.
Cob projectsWe are really excited to have projects coming in the future around cob building. By utilising our local materials we plan to lovingly make the walls of our workshop and a new compost toilet. We see the potential to run some workshops around this project as it will be a large one, lending many opportunities for people to get involved and learn about this awesome building method! We expect to start this project 2025 if all goes to plan!
Seasonal gardeningOne of Wilderland's central pillars is organic gardening and eating well. Our gardens will always be an ever-changing, ongoing project here just as Wilderland itself is. Every gardener that comes through offers different systems, styles and insights making our gardens ever-evolving. The ground work has been done to foster 5 more garden beds this season; we aim to get back to a point of abundance and educating ourselves and others in the process as the element of food sovereignty is key in our journey towards self-sustainability.
