The Restoration Journey of The Old Church

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

The storm is howling outside the old church tonight, rattling the windows and making you feel every bit of how isolated and exposed this place can be. But storms are nothing new around here. People often ask how I ended up restoring this old, rundown building in Pukerau, clearing the land, and crafting natural tallow balms and plant-based serums. They look at the rustic setup and think it’s just a quiet lifestyle change. But there is a very deliberate purpose behind it all. W

Bruce the Sebastapol Goose and his Girls Every good country property needs a cast of characters, and it didn't take long for ours to arrive. Aside from the trusty heritage chocks we carted all the way from Dunedin, we soon welcomed Bruce the goose and his girls to the fold. Bruce and his ladies made their presence known very loudly from day one—honestly, they are better than any guard dog on the planet. Not long after, we added a small line of Indian Runner ducks to the lands

When you are trying to reclaim a piece of land from the wilderness, you accept that nature is a partner in the process—sometimes a challenging one. Just as I was making headway with clearing the ground for the new herb garden, October 2025 delivered a stark reminder of who is really in charge. We had received warnings that strong winds were on the way, but it had already been blowing a gale for weeks, so it was easy to become complacent. Then, the storm hit. In just 22 minute

The large and overgrown rhododendron on the left of the driveway. Every garden has a history, but some begin with a dramatic clearing away of the past. When I first looked at the strip running up the side of my driveway, it was hard to envision anything flourishing. Massive, overgrown rhododendrons had taken over, tangled inextricably with thick, aggressive blackberry canes. Not only were they blocking out the light, but they had also grown right up through the power lines—a

When we first arrived at Pukerau Church, we were truly starting with the barest of basics. There was no hot water—just a small tank that loved to overflow if you forgot to turn it off—and an outside toilet. For the first few weeks, we relied on my son’s bus, which had a gas shower, to get by. Resourcefulness became our daily uniform. I immediately hooked up our dishwasher because it heated its own water for the dishes, giving us our first small win. But I knew we needed a per