BEHIND THE SCENES

BA R B ROGER S JOUR NA LIST

Journalist Barb Rogers has been increasingly drawn to writing about gardens, and is currently working on a book about extraordinary New Zealand gardens. In this issue she writes about the Mannerings’ garden south of Auckland (page 100). Barb divides her time between a quarter acre in Pakiri, north of Auckland, where she has a “proper garden” with a vegetable plot, and a townhouse in the city where herbs flourish in pots. She’s just back from three weeks in Iran, where the photo above was taken, visiting ruins and museums and enjoying the “incredibly hospitable and outgoing Iranians”, who also love gardens. Fin Garden in Kashan was a highlight, with squared-off beds, hedging and water at its heart. Iranians love colourful flowers, says Barb: “There was stock, honeysuckle and roses everywhere – it was fragrant and beautiful.”

A NDR EW MCKENNA BLOGGER & BUILDER

A Wanaka builder who wrote the recipes for this issue’s midwinter feast (page 124) and has a blog focused on nutrition and wellness, Andrew McKenna laughs when he describes himself as a “modern man”. His blog (theexplorationoffood.com) had serious beginnings though. Andrew had been plagued with depression and anxiety for a decade, and felt tired and unhealthy. “I’d tried that many different diets – I’d literally tried everything.” He spent five months working with nutritionists at BePure to improve his diet and health, and began to blog about what he was learning. “It’s been life-changing.” He’s lost 15kg, his back pain has vanished, and his anxiety and depression have improved “tenfold”. Next, he wants to build a new home for his family and start a bed and breakfast where guests enjoy nutritious food he grows himself.