It’s been a little quieter than usual around here over the last couple of weeks. Losing my granddaughter has taken a piece of my heart, and taking time to grieve, hold family close, and just be has been the only place I needed to be. In times like these, I’ve always found a quiet kind of comfort in the dirt. Step by step, I’ve been out under the Southland skies, throwing my energy into physical work and preparing the property for everything coming into bloom. What’s Happening

After what felt like six straight months of endless rain, the sun has finally returned, baking the ground and drying out the muddy tracks. With the warmth comes one of my favorite little signs that summer is truly on its way: Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea). Often dismissed as a common foot-path weed growing in dry, compacted soils along driveway edges and garden borders, this resilient little plant is actually wild chamomile in disguise. Crushing the tiny, petal-less y

There is a dirty secret sitting on the shelves of luxury department stores. If you walk up to a high-end cosmetic counter, you will find tiny glass bottles of "Rose Serums" and "Restorative Creams" wearing price tags from $800 to upwards of $1,200. They promise the rare power of historical roses, wrapped in multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements. If you flip those fancy bottles over and read the ingredient list, you will usually find the same thin

Left: Cold Process Soap Right: Hot Process Soap When you look at a block of handmade soap, you're looking at a fascinating mix of chemistry, art, and time. Take these two bars of my signature Golden Gorse soap: they were made using the exact same recipe, yet they possess completely distinct personalities. The bar on the left is a smooth, creamy cold process (CP) bar, while the one on the right is a warm, translucent amber hot process (HP) bar. What makes these bars truly spec

First, thank you so much to everyone who has been reaching out, checking in, and expressing interest in coming to visit. It is genuinely heartening to know there is so much enthusiasm for what I’m building here. However, I want to gently share an important update: the farm and workshop are not open to visitors, and will not be for at least another year. Why We Aren't Open Yet While automated posts have kept the background wheels turning online while I've been away dealing wit

In the quiet corners of nature, where wild herbs sway and blossoms whisper secrets to the breeze, there lies an ancient art - the crafting of botanical soaps. These are not mere cleansers but fragrant poems, distilled from earth’s own palette. As I embark on this journey of creating custom botanical soaps, I invite you to wander with me through the textures, scents, and stories that unfold when nature’s gifts meet the gentle hands of the artisan. The Whispering Roots of Botan

When you browse online marketplaces today, it is easy to get overwhelmed by a sea of neon-colored bars swirling with synthetic micas and glitter. It is equally easy to spot shops capitalizing on the "goat's milk soap" trend. But here is a hard truth: if a maker doesn't have milking goats or access to fresh, whole farm milk, adding a couple of teaspoons to a batch doesn't make it a true milk soap. It’s mostly marketing. As a soapmaker who doesn’t happen to own dairy goats or

In the quiet corners of nature’s embrace, where wild herbs whisper secrets and blossoms unfold their delicate stories, there lies an art both ancient and alive. It is the art of crafting botanical artisan soaps - a ritual that transforms simple, raw ingredients into luxurious bars that sing with the essence of the earth. Each soap is a poem, a tactile symphony of scent, texture, and colour, inviting the skin to drink deeply of nature’s purest gifts. The Soul of Botanical Arti

There is a moment during a relentless Southern winter when you look out the window at the rain, look down at your mud-caked boots, and realize your soul just needs a little sun. Back in 1971, Dewey Bunnell of the band America found himself sitting in a cold, grey, rain-soaked London studio. Longing for the heat and dry air of his childhood home in California, he channeled that homesickness into writing "A Horse with No Name"—a song born out of a desire to mentally escape a bl

The forecast promised a break in the clouds today, but Pukerau had other plans. By 7:00 AM, the heavy New Zealand rain was drumming a steady, familiar rhythm against the high corrugated iron roof of the chapel. On a clear day, you would find me outside. The garden beds are waking up, and the list of outdoor restoration tasks is always longer than the daylight hours allow. When the sun shines, production stops, the studio door is locked, and my hands are in the dirt. But today

Botanical Profile & Seasonal Harvest Forsythia is famous as one of spring’s earliest heralds, bursting into vibrant yellow, four-petaled blooms before its leaves even appear. While the bright spring flowers yield a delicate, antioxidant-rich oil, the late-summer and autumn seed fruit (capsules) has traditionally served as the primary powerhouse of the plant in botanical medicine. The Flowers: Hand-harvested during early spring at peak bloom, carefully dried, and slow-infused

Botanical Name: Rosa gallica Common Names: Apothecary’s Rose, French Rose, Red Rose of Lancaster, Rose de Provins Plant Family: Rosaceae Origin: Southern Europe & Western Asia Rosa Gallica, not the most overstated beautiful Rose, but the most amazing scented Historical Roots & The Apothecary Legacy Rosa gallica holds a prized place in botanical history. Long before modern hybrids dominated commercial gardens, this ancient species was cultivated not merely for ornament,

If your skin frequently feels tight, dry, or dull—especially as seasons change—the culprit is rarely a lack of water. More often than not, it is a sign of a weakened skin barrier. Glow & Barrier Ritual Serum Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of lipids that locks moisture in and keeps environmental irritants out. When this barrier gets stripped by harsh cleansers, dry air, or water-heavy skincare full of synthetic emulsifiers, moisture evaporates rapidly. To rebuild th

Rejuvenating Ritual Serum If you glance at the back of almost any luxury facial serum on the department store shelf, you’ll likely see the exact same ingredient listed first: Aqua (Water). In fact, the majority of big-brand serums consist of anywhere between 60% to 80% water. While water feels light and refreshing, it comes with a major catch. To keep water mixed with oils, manufacturers must add chemical emulsifiers. And because water breeds bacteria, it necessitates the add

At Pukerau Wild & Cured, we craft both our Rowan Berry and Elderberry Tallow Soaps using an uncompromised dual-extraction process. By replacing the water phase with raw, frozen berry juice and infusing dried berries directly into our oils, we capture the full spectrum of nature’s water- and oil-soluble nutrients. Both bars feature a deeply moisturizing, bio-identical tallow base—but their core super-ingredients target completely different skin needs. Here is a direct breakdow

Rowan Berry Soap Collection, pure unprocessed Botanicals Meet the Collection: Potent, Wild-Crafted Rowan Berry Tallow Soap We don’t just add a drop of extract for marketing—we build our bars around the true potency of the berry. Our soaps are crafted using a dual-extraction process: frozen rowan berry juice form the liquid base, paired with botanical oils slow-infused with dried rowan berries. Combined with nutrient-dense, skin-compatible tallow, this creates a deeply nourish

There is a distinct reality to life in Southland during the tail end of winter, and it’s not always picture-postcard perfection. Stepping outside this morning, the ground is completely waterlogged with pools of standing water sitting heavy across the property. Stubborn patches of snow still refuse to melt because the chill refuses to loosen its grip, and a light, persistent rain is falling. It’s cold, it’s damp, and it makes you question why you ever thought moving to an old

In the quiet moments of dawn, when the world is still wrapped in a soft haze, I find myself drawn to the simple, enduring beauty of tallow soap. It is a humble creation, born from the earth and the animals that sustain us, yet it carries a profound promise - a promise of gentle care, especially for those whose skin whispers tales of sensitivity. This soap, rich and creamy, is more than a cleanser; it is a balm for the soul and the skin alike. Let me take you on a journey thro

Why Whole Resins Beat Essential Oils in Skincare Long before modern laboratories bottled concentrated isolates, ancient healers turned to the bleeding bark of resilient trees for healing. Across ancient Egypt, the Levant, and the trade routes of Arabia, crude resins like frankincense, myrrh, and dragon’s blood were prized as gold. They weren't merely for sacred smoke or ritual anointing; they were the cornerstone of luxury skincare. These resins preserved youthful skin agains

In the quiet corners of nature, where petals unfurl and leaves whisper secrets, there lies a treasure crafted by time and tradition - botanical artisan soap. This is not merely soap; it is a symphony of earth’s purest gifts, distilled into a bar that cleanses, nourishes, and enchants. As I hold a piece of this delicate creation, I am reminded of the gentle dance between nature and craft, a dance that invites us to slow down and embrace the simple luxury of mindful skincare. T