New life…new hope

A forest in the car, taking delivery of the first batch of the season, 225 new trees…… In an attempt to mitigate the carbon burnt on travel to retreat in San Francisco, our Diamond Approach retreat group, the IRG, regularly contribute to a ‘Trees for Travel’ fund to purchase trees….  And here they are! I… Continue reading New life…new hope

Summer’s promise

I love the delicacy of the Rata flowers. They speak to me of the promise of Summer and of hope, which is kind of what we need right now with the climate talks going on in Paris. The belief that we can live ‘with’ the earth, and make the necessary changes to the way we… Continue reading Summer’s promise

Planting the seed

The last of the spring planting is done at ‘Hou Ngahere’! We got the final 30 Kowhai trees in the ground (part of the 270 from the Easter planting) before it dries out for the summer.   Now we’re watching the Kereru (Wood Pigeon) shred the older Kowhai trees. Its not all bad though, having them visit… Continue reading Planting the seed

One small step…

They’re in! Every single one of the 500 trees supplied by the Wellington City Council are now happily ensconced in their new home, the Buckley Road Reserve. Thanks to all that gave a helping hand. We had some good weather and a great mix of new and familiar faces, young and old, Maranui scones and… Continue reading One small step…

In the field of opportunity…

its planting time again! – (HT to Neil Young). Since we started in 2002 the “Friends of Buckley Road Reserve” with the help of the WCC, we have planted more than 6,000 trees into the reserve that runs the length of Houghton Valley. Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.… Continue reading In the field of opportunity…

Giving back

We’re back at Hou Ngahere for a week of tree planting….. Our Diamond Approach retreat group, the IRG, has committed to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions used in attending the two retreats in California each year. Called “Trees for Travel“, the scheme really has something tangible to show for it now with the… Continue reading Giving back

Shifting Summer Sands

Returning from a few days at Whangapoua beach in the Coromandel. A very special place I’ve been going to for many years now, lots of memories – like this painting above “Summer Sands” from 1993, going round the rocks to the harbour… seeing the changes over the years; in the shifting sands, in the village,… Continue reading Shifting Summer Sands