Country Life

This week on Country Life Gianina meets a worm farmer in Hawke's Bay, while Sally drops in on a Kerikeri orchard growing dragon fruit and Anisha is with some Canterbury grain farmers. Amid punishing weather and high costs, they're making the switch to dairying. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: With thanks to: Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A trial of the striking and exotic dragon fruit is hitting its straps in Northland. Could the new sweet varieties grown under cover be a viable crop in New Zealand amid a changing climate? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. And you can find Sally's other story from Northland Te Tai Tokerau about the Land family, here. With thanks to: Bioeconomy Science InstituteNorthland IncGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Canterbury is an arable powerhouse, but in recent years, many have started moving into dairying. What's behind the change? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. And you can find that other story we mentioned about the Wairarapa Grains Collective, here. With thanks to: Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Want to chat to us or find out more about RNZ Podcasts? Join the RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Trevor Hellyer made the move from one mud loving animal to another - changing from pig farming to worm farming just outside Havelock North. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of news from RNZ's rural news desk Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life visits New Zealand's only cranberry farm, finds out about the origins and passion for the trusty ute and meets Laura Watson of Monowai Station You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Anisha Satya visits New Zealand's only cranberry farm - and samples the produce. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

While Americans have their pick-ups, Kiwis and Aussies have the ute. Mark Leishman finds out about the ubiquitous farmers' and tradies' vehicle at the Methven A & P Show's Ute Muster You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Laura Watson is a the fourth generation of her family to run Monowai Station. She's not only helping restore wetlands and pockets of native bush on her family farm but across wider Te Tairāwhiti. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's rural news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life meets some pioneer egg producers and a farmer growing and harvesting an ancient grain. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: With thanks to: Wairarapa Grains CollectiveBennik's EggsMake sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From moving to cage-free farming in the 90's, becoming SPCA animal welfare accredited and launching a liquid egg processing plant - the Bennik family has never been afraid to try something new and ruffle a few feathers. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. You can learn more about Bennik's Eggs, here, or the NZ Egg Group, here. With thanks to: Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Want to chat to us or find out more about RNZ Podcasts? Join the RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Amid a growing eat local movement, durum wheat is being grown and turned into pasta by an artisan food producer and a group of Wairarapa farmers. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. Find out more about the Wairarapa Grains Collective here Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's rural news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

For a few years now Lisa Daunton has been stocking food banks in Te Tai Rāwhiti with wild venison which she harvests with fellow hunters. With thanks to Lisa Daunton For more on the story, click here To find out more about Kaiwhakangau and Kai Connect, click here Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life meets a family using bullock-power instead of diesel to grow their own food, and gets a taste of the tomatoes grown by some of Wellington's Italian community. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: With thanks to: Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Bullocks and horses power the Land's farm in the Hokianga where three generations live off-grid, growing practically all their own food without the need for fossil fuels. Country Life spent a morning with the families whose way of life echoes more traditional modes of farming last century. With thanks to: Head here for photos and more information Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From Italy to Wellington's south coast, growing and eating great food is central to the Cuccurullo family maintaining its cultural heritage. For the past 60 years, they've kept the tradition of growing tomatoes from seeds first sourced in Capri in the 1960s. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Anisha Satya chats with Kristine Asuncion, Filipina dairy farmer and advocate. With thanks to: Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details