Lifestyle block-Getting help and requiring services

When is it time to call the professionals?

You will find that you need to get away from time to time and when you have a lifestyle block it is sometimes not that easy. There are gardens to be watered, stock moved and animals to be fed. It is a lot to ask of your neighbours but if you ask around, you may find that you have a small farm service person in your area, someone who will do these chores while you are away.

When it comes to larger jobs like baling hay or cutting a paddock for sileage, cleaning out the septic tank, sorting your water pump, cleaning out water tanks, cutting shelter belts and servicing your filtration system, unless you know what you are doing, you may be better off getting a professional in. I get my sewerage system serviced every 6 months and the same company services my water filtration system. This gives me peace of mind.

The hedge cutting contractor comes once a year and I am lucky with my sheep, as when feed is short, they wander up the road to their owners’ paddocks, who always have more feed than I do.

Hopefully your property will have some trees that you are able to cut down for firewood, otherwise have a chat to your neighbours as they may have some old trees that they want to dispose of. You will find investing in a good chainsaw will need to be added to your shopping list.

Planting and encouraging birdlife

You may be lucky enough to have a pond of your property, something I wish I had but unfortunately don’t. To encourage birdlife to the area, why not consider planting around the pond. A native nursery, your local regional council or the Department of Conservation will be able to assist in giving advice on what natives will attract what birds. Plus, by making a safe and sheltered pond, ducks will arrive and start breeding along with such birds as tuis who will enjoy the flax flowers. This year for the first time since I have lived on my property, a kereru has made home in one of my trees. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy watching this bird gathering food from surrounding bushes and trees.

One of the reasons for having a lifestyle block is knowing that you can plant trees without worrying they will outgrow the space. With careful planning you will get the enjoyment from watching these young saplings grow into large and beautiful trees.

You will need to fence your pond off especially if stock is close by. You need to live on your property for a while before deciding what and where you are going to plant any large trees.

And if you don’t have a pond and want one, there are plenty of contractors that will be able to assist in building you one.