Before (Autumn 2014)
To keep the maintenance low and the soil fertility up for this couple in Waikauaiti, chickens are playing a key role in our garden design. They have a deep litter scratching yard where they will process weeds etc into compost for the garden. During the summer they will graze in the orchard and in the winter, with the change of a couple of small doors, they will run under the berry fruit bushes in the berry cage. This integrated design has many benefits. The chickens get fresh ground, weeds and bugs to eat, and they help with maintenance by scratching and grazing.
In winter 2014 we supplied the fruit trees from our Heritage Fruits Nursery and completed the planting of them, right down to the companion plants.
John (pointing, the garden owner), describing to our planting team the constructed of the the raised beds and berry cage that he completed himself in the autumn months
