Q&A

SUCCESS IN THE VEGE GARDEN: A lady gave me some old tomato seeds and they’ve been really fabulous. They’re ugly tomatoes – green and red – but taste amazing. Sometimes I just slice them up with salt and pepper and a bit of basil and they’re delish. (Trish)

A TIP FOR OTHER GARDENERS: If you have trees you want to get rid of, use them to make your own mulch and you’ll save a fortune. We had to take out some poplars and have enough mulch to last five years. (Bruce)

WATERING: I was going to set up some driplines, but the guy who helped us do the planting said not to water unless plants really needed it, to make them hardy, and sure enough we don’t really have to water much any more. (Bruce)

FAVOURITE LOCAL SPOT: Matakana has quite a few eating places and they’re all good. Smiths at The Stables has great beer and fantastically consistent food. (Trish)

WE SUGGEST VISITORS GO TO: Brick Bay at Snells Beach. The setting is beautiful and the sculpture trail is a delight. (Trish)