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Hang! That’s a nice Kokedama!

November 5, 2019 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

The naturalisation process of kokedama, how to look after your kokedama. — **Rex begonia in kokedama finery**

So, what is this kokedama that I keep going on about?

Kokedama is a Japanese art form like how bonsai is. “Koke” means moss and “dama” means ball (or jewel). Japanese dictionary.

苔玉

A plant has its roots surrounded by a soil medium then it is wrapped in sphagnum moss and bound by twine. The plant can then be hung or placed on a special dish or structure.

Corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus "Spiralis") kokedama — **Corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus “Spiralis”) kokedama**

They look stunning, they’re eco-friendly (as long as the sphagnum moss has been sustainably harvested and no peat has been used in the soil medium. That’s a tick and a tick for me and I even use fair trade organic hemp for my twine) and more often than not they contain houseplants for, obviously, inside. If you don’t know how much of a good thing that is, you need to read my article here on indoor plants.

how to look after your kokedama. — **Bird’s nest fern getting a misting**

Kokedama are super easy to look after too. To know when to water your plant you just check the weight of the ball, when it feels light it’s time to water. You water by placing your kokedama in a bowl or sink of water that comes about half way up the ball. Let it soak it up for about 10-30mins, then take it out and squeeze the ball, let it drain a bit then hang back up! A lot of plants like a bit of misting here and there, ferns especially. You can mist the ball too in-between waterings’.

Things can get hairy. Literally. A soft sort of white down can appear on your ball. This is really quite normal and will not harm any person or pet. You can rub it off next time you water it and maybe look at how much air circulation your kokedama is getting.

The sphagnum moss may start greening up too. It’s all part of the naturalisation process. The twine will eventually degrade and roots may appear through the moss. But by this time (1-2 years we’re talking) the roots will be holding the shape of the ball, it’s not going to all fall to pieces!

So what to do… you can wait to see what happens, it will eventually build its own little eco-system and come out the other end looking beautiful, or you can put another layer of sphagnum moss over the ball and re-twine it or staple in pieces of fancy/wild moss over the “unsightly” bits.

Whatever the case, they are worth it for the pleasure that they can give you as well as their aesthetic and architectural presence in your home, patio, courtyard or deck.

At the moment I’m only selling my kokedamas at markets. Just need to work out packaging and how to make sure I have plants available online as well as at my markets. I’d love to know if you would be interested in purchasing kokedama off me, let me know through the comments section or the contact form on the right~

Coming Near You Soon!

November 1, 2019 By SandRa Timmins 3 Comments

We had a an imposed computer free week this past week (it spontaneously broke, as computers do and had a bit of a wait for a replacement). It felt a lot longer than a week! We have our phones of course which are pretty clever (and now I’m on Instagram!) but there are a few things that are easier (or preferred) to do on the computer. Emailing, updating website, listening to music! I’m one of those people that find it hard to concentrate if I don’t have music on, I’m sure I’m not the only one…. Eh?

Fortunately it’s a busy time of year and have been occupied with plenty to do, from the mundane (but satisfying) weeding to having a stall at various markets. This weekend I’m at Te Horo Country Market on the 3rd November. Kapiti people, I’m looking forward to seeing your faces again!

I’m away in Australia the next week for my brothers wedding. It’s in NSW where their temperature lows have been our highs, hoo-wee, wish me luck in avoiding heat stroke!

Soon after I get back I’m at Woodvilles’ Mad Hatters Market, should be fun, 17th November is the date. I’ll have all my selection of herbs, plus dried herbs and my new product, kokedama.

My kokedama has been getting a really good reception. It’s about 50:50 of people that have seen kokedama before. So I’m guessing that 50% of you that are reading this may not of come across kokedama either. So please read my next article and I’ll tell you all about it.

**Goldfish plant (Hypocyrta tropicana) hanging kokedama in my sons room**

One thing that I’ve been absolutely loving is how it attracts children (except when they start batting the hanging ones around!). Most kids just walk on by my stall, plants, boring. But hanging balls of plants makes them stop… “Oh, wow, cool!”…..”Oh, wow, is it a pineapple?” All fun!

So, hope your garden is getting into the spring swing of things, the weeds aren’t getting too tall and you can feel that summer vibe coming~

White sage, purple sage and climbing rosemary

Mahuru Māori

September 6, 2019 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

I am in waay over my head!

So I signed up for for the Mahuru Māori challange that I talked about in my last post here.. Fortunately I said I’d do just one day a week for the month; so on Sundays (my chosen day) all of my communication must be in te reo Māori.

I think I will start my day with a cherry Mōrena! (Morning!) Then say this….

And stay out there for the rest of the day so I don’t have to talk to anyone!

Which is totally chickening out and not stepping up to the plate at all. But, we’ve all got to start somewhere. I am not a fluent speaker of Māori, I don’t even have a good grasp of it. I know LOTS of kupu (words) but putting them into sentences off the top of my head is another story. So my hope is that by doing this it will force me to at least learn, memorise and use phrases that is of use to me and my family. Because that is what Mahuru Māori is all about, getting te reo into more everyday speech and everyday living for all of Aotearoa.

He roa te wā e whakamāuitia ake ai he reo
Languages take time to be revived

If you follow Maramataka Māori….

August 17, 2019 By SandRa Timmins 1 Comment

Me te rangi i whānau ai a Horu

A whakataukī (proverbial expression) for an unpleasant day

For that is what it is today here, which is a shame. For one; I’m sick of the rain and I’m ready for summer now. For two; Today is Rākanui, the day after full moon and according to Maramataka Māori (Māori moon calendar) “He rā tino pai mō te ono kai….” a very good day for planting and general gardening.

If it wasn’t ~~pissing~~ heaving down with rain.

I had grand intentions on doing my spring divisions today, basil mint, soapwort, mint, peppermint, some more bergamot and St John’s wort.

Fortunately, the weather is set to get better by Monday, Takirau māheahea, I have a window from dawn to midday where it is OK to do planting (Rākaumatohi, which is tomorrow is a very good day for planting and fishing – but I don’t think our weather will be complying by then).

I like to do my rooted divisions after the full moon, the plants still have energy in their leaves but that energy is moving down to the roots as the moon starts losing its brightness (waning). Perfect timing for the new plants to settle their roots into their new home and for the mother plant to recover its losses.

Come Tangaroa piri a roto (moon in its last quarter, 24th August) it will be all on for seed sowing. Being in a cool climate zone I’ve learnt that there’s not a lot of point in going crazy with seeds in August, unless they’re destined for the glasshouse or under cover. But Go! temperate NZ, Go!

As an aside, did you know that September is Mahuru Māori? It’s a nationwide challenge to kōrero te reo Māori (for whatever space of time that suits you) to normailise te reo in everyday life. If you get in quick to register you may be eligible to receive resources to help you as well as there being lots of online resources available. My friend did it last year and to promote te reo Māori and her business Dye Happy (beautiful hand dyed yarn) she posted on facebook Māori words for her craft, like “knitting” “yarn” etc, it was really cool. I’m not on facebook anymore, but I think I’ll do the same on here, (but you know, more plant based!) for me and for you~

Kei a koe mō te kawe i te mānuka? (Are you up for the challenge?) Go here for more information and to register for Mahuru Māori.

Fill Your Life with Plants!

August 11, 2019 By SandRa Timmins 1 Comment

I have always loved herbs- they were the first plants I grew when I was a child (oregano and thyme, growing them is child’s play, you should buy your child/mokopuna a pot of oregano!)

Origanum vulgare, wild marjoram — **Origanum vulgare**

But I have another plant passion and that is house plants (my first was a cast iron plant). For the last 10 years that passion took a backseat, from when I had to give away my 60+ plant collection to friends when we moved from Wellington to Picton (we were going to live on a boat~ I really couldn’t keep them!). Thereafter we just moved around so much and had young children with fiddle faddle hands – there has never been much appeal to start the collection again…

And then along came kokedama… and me oh my, how I’m kicking myself for letting go of those plants! But nothing like starting afresh eh.

So let’s talk about indoor plants for a spell then we’ll get back to kokedama..

Herbs are wonderful plants with a variety of features that make them useful and beneficial for humans (and animals). From gladdening your heart with their scent (I’m looking at you pineapple sage) or taste (basil), to their bittering principles (hello dandelion) and healing properties (all of you).

It’s my real belief though that indoor plants can be placed on the plant healing spectrum too. This plant healing spectrum below is of my own making, therefore it’s purely my opinion, you’re free to agree or disagree!

Plant healing spectrum, from preventative to healing/cure. Indoor plants have their place on this. — **Prevention is better than cure!**

You perhaps have heard of certain plants that help with air purification in the home or office?

There’s a surprising amount of toxins in our indoor air, coming from our furniture, plastics, cleaners, cosmetics etc. there are certain plants that do a particularly swell job of absorbing these pollutants, filtering them through their leave s as they respire.

NASA did a whole lot of research on the subject and they actually examined the levels of various toxic chemicals in the air that could be reduced by indoor plants. Chemicals like, benzene, xylene, toluene and formaldehyde. You can see their results here.

Possibly more relevant for office spaces (and space stations) and/or poorly ventilated buildings than our homes that have doors and windows opening letting in outdoor air..

Plants for dark places
**Plant Life Balance**

But how’s this, there are some plants that actually work their photosynthesis magic (turning carbon dioxide into nutrients for themselves and oxygen for us, using the sun’s energy) at night! It’s called CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis. Want a more relaxed, sleep conducive atmosphere? Put these plants in your bedroom…

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Bromeliads
Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)
Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Air plants (Tillandsia spp.)
Zebra cactus (Haworthia fasciata)
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

(Take note of those botanical names in italics, there are many plants with different common names, for example you may of never heard of a Mother-in-law’s tongue but you do know what a snake plant is- they’re the same thing).

**ZZ plant** **(Zamioculcas zamiifolia)**

For more science-y information go here to Plant Life Balance; they also have beautiful pictures for your eyes to inspire you to have many plants in your home (I’ve used a lot of their images on this post).. You’ve been warned!

Mindfulness

The other health benefit of house plants, mindfulness and wellbeing. Studies have shown that plants in indoor spaces boost mental wellbeing. After spending time living and working alongside plants, those taking part in the studies found that, on average;

Their mood levels improved
They felt less stressed
They felt more productive
Their attention span improved (in some studies)

Even just one plant in a room can make a difference to the feel (and look) of a place. Here’s our (in need of repair) bathroom as an example!

Bathroom, so plain! — **BEFORE. So plain!**

Bathroom made new by plants — **AFTER. A plant based transformation!**

Lots of people have a fear (fact based or otherwise!) of killing house plants. Perhaps in the past (or right now) you’ve gotten the right plant but in the wrong place. A lot of indoor plants don’t appreciate direct sunlight for instance.

I used to be store manager at Ambience in Mt Victoria, Wellington. We specialised in unique and unusual indoor plants- I learnt a lot there. the owner Nicola Byrne was/is so knowledgeable and generous to boot. Not only did I learn from Nic but also the customers and I learnt that a super common mistake by those whom really want plants but keep on killing them – kill by love.

YOU CAN OVER WATER A PLANT! A more common mistake than clear neglect. Browning on the tips of leaves can be a sign that your plant is getting too much water. Some good advice can be found at this website Plants are Alive.

Most indoor plants come with light and watering requirements on their label, if in doubt ask the person that you’re buying the plant from. (Which could be me soon, once I get stock levels up~).

Right, I think kokedama can wait for its own post. I’m going to be doing a workshop on how to make them for our homeschool group in a couple of weeks, by then I would’ve had a lot more practise!

Two books that I’ve been perusing at the moment and where I’ve gotten some of this info from are, Yates, Top 50 Indoor Plants and RHS Practical House Plant Book.

Quietly busy times

August 2, 2019 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

There’s been a bit of a hiatus on my writing posts of late due to having started studying,

I’m doing He Papa Tikanga through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and I’m loving it. I have no idea what it will lead into but it’s rocking my socks and that’s enough for me.

It’s great to have something to do whilst there’s nothing doing in the garden except navigating mud!

Though that’s not entirely true, I’ve just planted four new fruit trees- again through Edible Garden. This year we got an apricot (Moorpark), a plumcott (a cross between a plum and an apricot), a dwarf peach (Kotare Honey) and a dual pear (Red Bartlett and Doyenne du Comice).

I also have just recently pruned our other fruit trees. If you haven’t done this yet (get onto it!) and are new to the game I highly recommend Kath Irvines book Pruning Fruit Trees, A Beginners Guide. (Click here to get a copy or check it out.) It is bloody brilliant, easy to follow with great illustrations~ reading it is like having a conversation with Kath, where you’re asking all the right questions! I have used it for my ancient apples and plums, my second year apples and my new bare rooted trees, my currants and my espaliered fig.

Kath Irvine's book Pruning Fruit Trees: A Beginners Guide — **Worth every penny… or make someone super grateful to you (thank you Glenbo, I am grateful!)**

I Got Me a Knife!

June 18, 2019 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

He asked me if I wanted a knife.

I said, yeah, I’d like a knife.

What kind of knife? He asked.

Oh, a cleaver would be handy, I said, to you know, cut up pumpkin and cut up slices etc…

I got me a knife.

Industrial Fusion, hand forged cleaver cutting a pumpkin — **You call that a knife?**

Take that pumpkin!

If you didn’t know, my husband is a full time blacksmith. You can find his amazing creations on his website here; Industrial Fusion. It’s how we live, so it really pays to support him whilst you’re not buying my plants (which I don’t have at this time of year, I forgive you) dried herbs and tinctures!

Cleaver made by Industrial Fusion — **Boom!**

The whole piece is hand forged out of spring steel with an epoxy infused cord wrap. She ‘aint light but she does make short work of a pumpkin (cuts a pizza pretty good too!).

cleaver hand forged by Industrial Fusion — **Nice touch with the touchmark**

Touchmark there of JT (Josh Timmins), like a signature on a masterpiece!

Excuse the goose pimples! I have his touchmark too~ (Does that make me a masterpiece? Hmm, I am of my own making, his touchmark is a detail on my own canvas).

So let me run you by that again, Josh Timmins designs at industrialfusion.co.nz Go check it out.

(Promise my next post will be about herbs!)

Making the Most of Your Smashings

May 12, 2019 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Do you have kids under the age of 14?

If you answered yes, I’m guessing that like me, broken cups, mugs, bowls and plates are a part of life.

I actually save our flour bags specifically for broken glass (we do have hard tiled floors). Plastic isn’t an option – and you know, it’s good to learn that not everything bounces!

Not all goes in the flour bags though. we usually have quite pretty plates (ie. random selection of floral op shop finds) and I can’t bear to throw them out nor have the patience (or desire) for mosaic crafting.

So in the garden they go…

Sometimes, cups and mugs don’t smash but merely crack- usually unbeknown to me until my coffee starts pooling up under and around my cup! If the cup is another can’t-bear-to-throw-out number they make lovely containers for succulents or small cacti. Goes for bowls too.

what to do with cracked mugs — Cups new lease of life

Do make sure you put small stones in first for drainage.

What about broken plant pots? Terraced garden! Almost tempting to break a pot on purpose for this one~

what to do with cracked mugs, plates and pots — Or you could make it into a fairy garden..

I’m sure there are plenty of other fantastic ideas out there for broken crockery, which ones are yours?

End of Two Eras

December 15, 2018 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Tomorrow (16th Dec) I’m at the Greytown Country Market; it most likely will be my last market ever (I will still be selling my plants etc online).

I’m also turning 40 tomorrow.

To be frank with you, whomever you are, things have not gone well for Stoney Ground Herbs since moving here (been here over a year now, ‘here’ being Eketahuna). I’m quite sad about this. I know I should be saying things like “I’m moving into another phase of my life” or something else that doesn’t imply that my business is going to shit and I’ve been losing money for two years now. But today I can’t be arsed, I’m just a bit down about it all. I really thought that this year things would come together and be amazing. This is my fifth season and the boat is sailing away from me.

It’s true that Eke has a different climate and I’m still getting my head and ways around how to garden with crap weather. But it’s more that I haven’t got a weekly market to go to where people like/appreciate my plants enough for it be worth my while travelling to said imaginary market and paying the stall fee.

Online sales have been VERY slow this year, sure there’s lots of white sage lovers out there but I’m sorry, I don’t want to base my business on one plant, one fickle slow growing plant at that!

I still absolutely love herbs and I love sharing my knowledge but with all of the above I’m another small business going under. Do I wind this website up? I’m not sure, I’m not entirely sure that a lot of people read my blog anyway, are you still reading this?? Well done you and thanks. Should I even publish this? What if this is just a wee glitch? What if I’m being too honest or am I not honest enough? Maybe I’m not trying hard enough. Or should I just embrace that whole I’m turning forty thing and not give a fuck?

So there we have it. I’m a gonna go make my birthday cake and maybe I’ll see you at Greytown.

P.S. It’s not all doom and gloom, honest, I’ll post a much chipper entry before Xmas!

Christmas Deadline

December 7, 2018 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Kia ora folks, just a heads up that this is your last week to order plants until the new year. It’s too risky sending plants during the xmas rush, couriers are way too busy to take the care with plants that I prefer. So hustle hustle!

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苔玉