It seems like the coldest week of the year so we through we would cheer things up by thinking about spring gardening – which is just a few weeks away. But first, here’s a question from oily ragger Noreen. “Has anybody any tips on how I can prevent pukeko from destroying my veggie garden? […]
Here are some of the many tips we have received recently. Happy Harry from Whangarei has this tip. “I was buying some nails at Bunnings the other day. I needed 2000 (it was a big handyman job!) so I bought 2 boxes of 1000 each. The friendly chap at the counter asked if I […]
Here are some of the many tips we have received recently. Greenfingers from Wellsford says coffee grounds are a good growing medium for mushrooms. Meg from Te Puke says, “Set aside part of your garden to grow flowers with long stems. This could save you a fortune in florist bills.” Anita from […]
A few weeks back we extolled the virtues of backyard chickens. However, the Auckland Council has just released proposed controls for livestock in urban areas: keeping more than six chickens, a rooster, ducks, geese, a goat, or a sheep will require a licence! The message is clear – check with your local council first, before […]
The winter chill has set in so oily rag households have the wood burning stoves stoked up and the slow cookers brewing warm winter meals. An oily rag family up north said although the power was out for three days during a recent storm they cooked delicious low-cost meals on top of their wood […]
Its school holidays and a time to give young ones even more attention than they already receive. An excellent letter has prompted us to think about kid’s money. Stephanie writes, “Let kids save for their own college fund by encouraging them from a very early age to earn money by getting paid for what […]
The NZ Herald recently ran an article celebrating the health properties of broccoli. It’s fair to say that broccoli is a staple for the oily rag garden. It’s easy to grow, provides all year round, and it’s easy to use in the kitchen. On top of it all, it’s good for you! The article […]
We have had lots of mail regarding last week’s column about chooks. Karen from Morrinsville writes, “I was smiling from ear to ear reading about hens/poultry. We have 15 head of poultry at the moment- some roosters and some hens mostly about 12 weeks old and rare breeds. I spend a lot of time […]
A few weeks back we went to the annual poultry and pigeon show put on by our local breeders association. A queue of eager patrons extended well into the car park, and when the doors opened there was a rush towards the For Sale section (like retail shoppers rushing for bargains – but without the […]
This week we have more creative money saving tips from readers, including lots of cleaning tips and ways to save money on heating costs. Giselle has this tip passed on by her grandmother. “My grandmother taught me to put about half a teaspoon of baking soda in the cup and add a splash of […]