A rhythmic chorus of frogs and a coloratura tui wake us at 5 am each day here at Earthsong. As Tanya’s photo above shows, the frogs are afrogging in our pond. And the tuis are acrobatting in the tallest trees. Auckland in spring is tempestuous – sudden gusts and showers, days of rain followed by frosty nights […]
Inside Out
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We’ve had four very different experiences in the last week which could all be called “Inside Out”- very fitting for spring weather, this time of challenge, change and new growth: • Gurmon Sup (“Dark Forest”, an installation at Te Uru Gallery by an Auckland-based Korean artist and tomato grower) • New Voices (readings […]
Inside and Outside the “Dark Forest”
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Gurmon Sup (translated into English as “Dark Forest“) was an extraordinary installation at Te Uru Gallery in Titrangi by Jae Kang, an Auckland-based Korean artist and passionate tomato grower. She used recycled irrigation materials to create sinuous snakes and coils, piles of black polyethylene tubes, pipes and fixings invading rooms, hanging down the handsome golden spiral staircase […]
Tonga’s history – treasured or trashed?
July 26, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Within an hour of our arrival in Tonga we had learnt a little about Tongan government failure to protect an area of heritage and environmental sensitivity from housing development. The Tonga Heritage Society is a diverse group of Tongans and others – residents, expatriates, academics, business people -which was established to protect this area at Popua. […]
Away in Tonga
July 19, 2016 by 2 Comments
Three months ago, we booked a trip to Tonga, to coincide with Tanya’s break from Te Ara Reo classes, and the worst of cold wet of winter, we hoped. So here we are, after a very busy time for Tanya of te reo practice and assessments, for Charmaine of paperwork for community groups, and for […]
Walking for Peace
June 19, 2016 by 4 Comments
We’ve just been to Taranaki to join the Pakeha Hikoi for Peace– a walk from New Plymouth to Parihaka in support of Mayor Andrew Judd’s campaign for Maori representation on New Plymouth District Council. The council’s proposal to include one Maori ward for the next Council election was defeated last year by a Citizen’s Referendum. […]
Nga mihi o te tau hou… winter solstice greetings
June 19, 2016 by 1 Comment
We hope everyone in Aotearoa will be enjoying some Matariki events and festivities… (and midsummer greetings to our northern hemisphere friends and family!) Arohanui, Tanya and Charmaine
Autumn at Earthsong
May 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Manabu has helped Tanya harvest the kumara – a good crop to be shared around the community – and has planted the onions for their six-month growing season. Garlic goes in next month, of course, on the shortest day or thereabouts. We are also gathering copious quantities of persimmons, tamarillos, apples, guavas and feijoas, and the […]
Earthsong Eco Neighbourhood
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