Cernunnos Mil Homesteaders

04/02/2026

New Chapters form, with four children it can be a bit tricky at times to make our own remedies, let alone hold herbal workshops. However, a new chapter we're helping out with hosted by Earth School Aotearoa. Which is a homeschooling, world schooling and regenerative education hub based in Upper Hutt at Mangaroa Farms.

Humanitix link below for the new chapter herbal workshop we're helping with

https://events.humanitix.com/earth-school-aotearoa-community-herbalisim?_gl=1*r76eg3*_gcl_au*MTYyMzUwMDUzOS4xNzY1ODIzNDI1*_ga*MTgwMDA1MDI3LjE3NjU4MjM0MjY.*_ga_LHKW5FR9N6*czE3NzA0ODEzMTgkbzI0JGcxJHQxNzcwNDgxMzQzJGozNSRsMCRoMA..

06/01/2026

Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop at Mangaroa Farms -

We will tackle all things Summer health wise for your fruit trees along with summer tree pruning and why it matters. Tickets are $35 per person.

If you are interested and planning an orchard in winter, we will also discuss what trees suit our bio region and where to source them!

Ohh so relevent and not considered.

Join Mangaroa Farms for our Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop. This is a hands-on, practical fruit tree workshop designed to give you the knowledge and skills to grow thriving, productive trees.

09/12/2025

Foraging and harvesting has kicked up this week.

Young hawthorn leaves (for tea) before they harden.

Summer balms for all the cuts, scrapes and bumps (this recipie is false balm of gilead for nice scent), stinging nettle, comfrey, calendula, kawakawa, plantain. chickweed infused in a mixture of organic olive oil and high olec sunflower oil , and organic castor oil).

Elder flower harvesting.

Garlic scape preserving in brine and blending some up with olive oil for cooking.

Garlic checking - see photos for individula comments

24/08/2025

Cute wee Jersey Giant Chicks have hatched. The first hatch.

Although living offgrid in winter we asked a friend to do the hatch for us! Thanks Carlie!

These chooks, depending on the s*x and what she ends up with, Greer may choose to sell some. So stay tuned over the coming months.

On the spring front and living off grid, we have daffodils up for the first time in years prior to daffodil day! Last time we had this it was a very dry spring and summer, with droughts and we were swimming in our local river before term four.

Our hydro power is very stop and start this year, the water table isn't as high as the last few years for us. It has been raining heaps! but often followed by weeks of fine patches.

It will be interesting to see what Spring/Summer bring.

21/06/2025

With homeschooling comes projects our children choose ( with support) . Our eldest loves chickens and was fortunate enough to be offered two roosters by a friend . These roosters are called Jersey Giants and although not officially in NZ come from a breeding program up north ( underway over the last 8 years). A lot of work has gone into these birds and we’re very grateful to continue some of the work.

The two roosters named Kale and Gale are 18 weeks old and will be joined by three hens tomorrow.

One trait they have Is yellow feet and black Legs. In America these guys were breed in the late 1800’s as a bird to replace turkeys.

We don’t grow cobs, preferring slower growing meat birds which is why these appeal to us as homesteaders. Already we’re impressed at the size for such young birds.

Meet Kale and Gale . Pictures below. Follow too if you’re interested in these birds.

21/06/2025

Yule (Shortest day) is today, and marks the return of light. A tradition for us has been to go for a mid winter dip, this year the eldest also joined and turned it into a battle of who could stay in the longest (she won!). Cue extremley blury photo. Probably good with said daughter in it.

Yule for the celts though is a different battle, one between the Oak King and Holly King.

Twice a year, they engage in an eternal battle for dominance. At Yule, the Oak King triumphs over the Holly King, bringing the promise of longer days and the return of warmth. At Litha, the Holly King rises again, signaling the waning year as the days begin to shorten.

A cool write up here - https://nelliecole.com/2020/06/19/folkdays-the-oak-king/

03/05/2025

We have a bit of this going on here at the moment. And one doe due end of the month! Super early.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AEzztTPSZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/05/2025

It has been an awful tomato season for us. A cold summer and late planting from having a baby hasn’t helped. However a mild autumn means our toms are still ripening. All to be picked this weekend and box stored with an unripe apple or banana. Both will help ripen them.

Too many for windowsills!

13/10/2024

Fresh tea making time but now is the time to save spring leaves for herbal teas before they get too tough.

You can save most berries. Including things like blueberry leaves. Don't harvest too many though or you damage the fruit formation. Plants need the leaves for photosynthesis to grow health fruit.

Raspberry and nettle leaf tea this afternoon.