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FEBRUARY 12 - 2014

THE RECORD

Around the Home Living the dream: potager style  by Belinda Cullen-Reid

Recently my husband and I bought a 1.5 acre paddock on which to build our dream property. The paddock is reasonably bare, with a pine hedge bordering the south side of the property and a small picturesque stream on the eastern

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border, behind which is an area of native plantings. Our house plans came back with approval from Selwyn District Council before Christmas and to our delight building began mid-January. Our foundations are laid and frames and trusses will arrive this week. The dream is starting to take shape. With most of the big decisions about the build made last year, we are now sitting back and enjoying watching the work happen. Our thoughts now turn to the landscaping of the property. While I am enthusiastic about establishing trees and shrubs along the borders of the property for shelter and privacy, what I am most excited about is growing my own produce. As a keen cook, and with two lovely and ever hungry fellows to feed, the idea of living off the land as much as possible, eating fresh and wholesome home grown produce, is very appealing. I have big dreams of vegetable, fruit and herb gardens, some pet lambs bred

 It is important to have a clear plan before you begin your potager garden. That way you can create a sense of balance and symmetry otherwise impossible if you plan as you go

for wool, and perhaps even a goat for cheese production. Having chickens roaming in the paddock and sampling their golden yolked eggs is something I really look forward to. From paddock to plate, good for both body and soul. Potager style gardens I discovered the term ‘potager garden’ this week in my reading and have spent time investigating this ornate form of vegetable and fruit gardening.

Potager is a French term referring to a kitchen garden with ornate design. Flowers and herbs are planted alongside vegetables to enhance the beauty of the area which is laid out with thought. Raised beds, bricked paths and water features are all part of the design which can be in simple peasant style or as elaborate as the grand potagers from the sixteenth century Renaissance and Baroque period, of castles in Europe.

Well Drilling When Texco Drilling Ltd installs your new well you can be assured of quality. To ensure this we provide down-hole camera footage at the end of each well. We use experienced operators, with casing joining undertaken by skilled and qualified welders, using formal weld procedures. Environmentally friendly products are also used in all situations where equipment engages or enters the ground (thread grease etc.) We specialise in:

•150mm and 200mm wells to 150 metres • 250mm and 300mm wells to 60 metres

• Large diameter wells up to 1.2 diameter for efficient shallow wells • Galleries also installed with excavators up to 35 ton available

Well Development: We pride ourselves in leaving your well correctly screened and developed to its full potential with quality stainless steel wedge wire screens of the correct diameter and aperture size. Correct and full development has a positive impact on pump selection, protects your pump investment, and maximises the overall long-term economics of the well and pump installation. Each well is unique and requires a different approach, something that we can discuss with you to reach a suitable and economic solution. Texco use primarily mechanical and air development methods depending on what is required in each situation.

Inspection, rehabilitation and repair of existing wells: With our comprehensive range of equipment and high resolution Down Hole Video Camera we can inspect and recommend further action on your existing well or indeed recognise if it has reached the end of its economic life. We can then discuss a solution with you for each case. Well repair system: We also have a well repair system available to give you a viable option to fix a broken or non-complying well, rather than drilling a new one. Test Pumping: This can be undertaken with measurements taken by Orifice Weir, V Notch Weir or electronic flow meter with data loggers and down hole measuring done by electronic pressure transducers. We have our own diesel generator if power is not available on site.

Tim O’Toole on 0274 688 834 Texco Drilling Ltd, 45 Francella Street Bromley, Christchurch 8062 dig@texco.co.nz • www.texco.co.nz