Spirit Magazine, April 2022

There’s always a bit of pressure on at the end of each month, to bring everything together on the pages of our magazine, but this month, for so many reasons, has been the most difficult issue ever to pull together. I’ve had to keep reminding myself that its just work, and to breathe deeply.

This is a month of endings and beginnings. Daylight savings ends (I hope you remembered to wind your clocks back) and we wave goodbye to summer. I’m hoping we’ll also wave goodbye (never to be seen or heard of again) to many of the restrictions we’ve been living with. I can’t wait to catch up with our wee grandsons in Oz, to enjoy unrestricted events and to travel freely again.

At the risk of repeating myself, I can’t stress enough how important it is that we all pull together right now, appreciate what we have here, and to amp up supporting our local businesses, particularly our events and hospo providers. In the words of someone who knew a thing or two, “Use them or lose them.”

I do love autumn, the colours, the mild days, the cooler nights and it’s a great time to get out and about and enjoy a few walks around the district.

This issue has plenty of local reading, shopping and prize draws, so take a breath, grab a coffee, put your feet up and enjoy!

DAVID RUSH Owner and Director, Vision Insurance (S.I.) Ltd

73 Burnett Street, Ashburton | Ph 03 307 1990

Most, if not all, people when asking about insurance ask “How much will it cost ?” Very few follow up with, “how will they settle my claim if I have a loss ?”.

In this article I bring you a tale of woe dear people and how an insurance policy that we sell, would respond...Mr and Mrs Mercury have had a touch of bad luck...their lovely family home has burnt down. They have lost everything…what to do ??

So looking at their insurance cover let’s see what cover they had...their house was insured for replacement value based on floor area – their contents were insured for $200,000.

Poor Mr & Mrs Mercury have nowhere to live, so until a rental property is located Mr & Mrs Mercury are located at a local motel – paid for by their “alternative additional accommodation allowance”. As their policies were arranged through Vision they had superior wordings, and, as a result, they have up to $30,000 cover for alternative accommodation. They have a pet dog – “Freddie”, they are not allowed Freddie at the motels, he is put into boarding kennels – their insurance covers the boarding kennel costs as well.

As they lost everything they obtained an emergency payment from their insurer so they could get some clothes and necessities.

They are then faced with listing all their contents...they have their lounge suite that they purchased over 10 years ago, it was not in good condition and they were only offered $50 for it 2 weeks earlier...however with replacement cover and no age limit they can claim on a new similar suite.

The same applies to all their furniture, furnishings, home appliances, sun glasses, spectacles, clocks and rugs...Mr Mercury, who is a self employed widget installer, wants to claim on his work tools that he had left in his garage that was destroyed...as they are commercial tools he can claim but is limited to a specific total value.

Mrs Mercury who runs a home decorating business and has an office in the home can also claim on her office equipment up to $15,000.

Things are coming together they are arranging to replace all their contents when Mr Mercury suddenly realises his callaway golf clubs were destroyed – he paid $1500 for them 3 years ago – similar clubs would cost $2000 – these are also insured for replacement.

Their neice, phones up and asked about her wedding presents that the Mercury’s were keeping at their home till the big wedding day in 2 weeks time...what has happened to them ??? The neice, has no insurance and the Mercury’s ask if their insurance will cover the wedding presents, even though they are not theirs – the answer is “Yes” they can claim.

Whilst the circumstances are a work of fiction the available covers noted here are not. What does your insurance cover you for?

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SPORT

To say that Jan Cochrane is passionate about sport in Mid Canterbury would be an understatement. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her passion is evident when you mention sport. Jan is no passive observer. Having been heavily involved with netball and athletics before taking on the role of Regional Manager for Sport Canterbury – Mid Canterbury (MC), she has been a strong advocate for sport in the region. I recently had the privilege to sit down and chat with Jan about how Sport Canterbury has shaped and influenced the Mid Canterbury community.

Words: Leanne Gichard Images: Supplied

Whether you are a participant, organiser, observer, supporter, or volunteer, I think it is fair to say that sport plays a huge part in Kiwi culture. In fact, for a lot of families, the week is organised around either training, playing, or transporting children to and from sport. So, what impact does sport really have on our community?

“We recognise the unique role that physical activity, sport and play has on not only the community, but individual wellbeing and we work to develop and achieve community objectives in sport, health, recreation and education, through leadership and advocacy, activating partnerships, investing in capability and supporting priority populations,” Jan says. “Sport Canterbury’s focus is to build the capability of our communities. We achieve our vision of ‘more people, more active, more often’ through a targeted community approach, based on the needs and opportunities identified and the building of connections between people and organisations within a community.”

Sport Canterbury believe that aspects of a sporting environment have the potential to change a young person’s perspective on being active; not only now, but for their lifetime and that playing sport can create physical benefits, be a source of balance, fun, and friendship. They play a large advocacy/influencing role in Mid Canterbury and currently

focus on providing quality experiences for the district’s young girls and women.

There are many benefits of playing sport, particularly increasing fitness, connecting with people of different backgrounds, building up self-esteem and self-belief, setting goals and creating a sense of achievement. For many people, especially those who live alone or are elderly, involvement with exercise groups or sport may be the only time during the week that they interact with others.

Talking to Jan, it is clear that Sport Canterbury delivers so much more than most people see or realise. For instance, with SC Mid Canterbury health advisor, Aimee Cosgrove, they deliver health and wellness programmes that support and motivate participants to be active and improve their lifestyle, as well as delivery of the ‘Green Prescription’ and ‘Strength and Balance’ programmes to inactive clients. More importantly, there are a full range of activities to suit all people, such as low impact exercises, circuits, dance, yoga, and tai chi available through ‘Be Active’ programmes.

It is all about the enjoyment that being active brings.

So, what is it about her role that gives Jan the most satisfaction? “I enjoy that my role has allowed me to be able to provide opportunities for communities. Meeting and

working with people to manage and enhance relationships with strategic partners (council, sporting, community, health organisations, funders, and schools) is rewarding,” says Jan.

Step inside our doors and take a walk through time. The main attraction is our great range of antique furniture.

Stunning antique table and chairs sets, cabinets, sideboards and beautiful chairs to name a few of the larger items.

Come and see us today!

Open MON to FRI, 10am till 4pm | 229 West Street, Ashburton P. 021 228 2761 or (03) 308 8527 | E. ap.smith@xtra.co.nz

A hidden wee gem for knitters, crochet, quilters and patchworkers, with a vast range of patterns, knitting needles and crochet hooks, fabrics, wools, DMC products and sewing and haberdashery supplies. What isn't instore isn't worth mentioning.

Little Boutique is a destination, attracting knitters and crocheters from throughout the local area and further afield.

OPEN MON, WED, FRI 9.30am - 4.30pm, THURS 9.30am - 4pm, SAT 10am - 12pm

71 High Street, Leeston | P. 027 2287641

Ashburton Engravers

Your one stop shop for unique individualised gifts! We engrave trophies but do so much more! We have unique gifts to celebrate the 'Mum' in your life or can help you personalise something special for her. Pop in and discuss your ideas.

From personalised boards, etched glasses, unique cake toppers, pallet signs, personalised face masks (yip, even personalised masks) and SO much more.

130 Moore Street, Ashburton P. 03 308 7739 | E. ashburton.engravers@gmail.com

Simply Eco in the Ashford Village, is run by mother and daughter team Linda Blackmoore and Danielle Guise.

We are local and have both lived in the Ashburton district for many years. We started the business seven years ago and have continued to grow ever since.

We are proud to be the only one stop eco shop in Ashburton. We stock eco-friendly, natural and reusable products and also offer a refillery for cleaning and body products.

Ashford Village, 427 West Street, Ashburton www.simplyeco.co.nz

Julie Williams

• REAL -

• RAW -

• REPUTABLE -

• READY -

WHO'S WHO IN SOMERSET HOUSE

The Crown Jewel of local business tenancy –Somerset House precinct for Ashburton businesses.

• Currently providing superior tenancy for twelve individual successful businesses

• A melting pot of Corporate, Professional, Retail and Hospitality businesses enjoying this premier property

• Individual spaces to best serve each teams unique working environment

precinct for Ashburton Businesses

Ashburton Fanciers Society (Inc)

- Annual Show & Spring & Autumn Auctions

BRAIDED RIVERS COMMUNITY TRUST supports our community with funding across a myriad of local sports, projects and individuals.

A recent round of Braided Rivers Community Trust was announced, and if you read the details below, you’ll no doubt know of these groups, and know people who are directly benefitting from the grants.

$900

Ashburton Operatic Society $5,000

- Costs associated with running "Born Free" show at the Event Centre

Phoenix Preschool Inc $4,432

- To build sandpits & sandpit boxes with seating

Community House Mid Canterbury $3,000

- Replace Automatic Door

Mid Canterbury Hockey Inc $2,500

- Regional Development Manager, annual raffle, electronic scoreboard

Canterbury Water Ski Assoc Inc $2,000

- Costs with hosting the NZ Waterski Nationals at Lake Hood

ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALSO WENT TO:

Mid Canterbury Netball $3,000

- U18 Rep Team costs

Hakatere Multi-Cultural Council $1,000

- Hosting of Small Events

Ashburton Youth Café Charitable Trust $2,000

- Towards operating costs

Connecting Mid Canterbury $5,000

- Operational expenses for 3 years

Ashburton Methodist Parish $5,000

- Audio / visual equipment

One of the many community events supported by BRCT

THE DIRTY FORK

It popped up on my Facebook feed and I was intrigued by the name, so several messages and a few days later, I find myself on the road. I turn off a short stetch of gravel road onto a long driveway, chickens scattering as I go. Did one just go under the car? There’s no squawking, so I must be OK.

The driveway leads on to my destination – an enormous, fenced off, garden patch where I’m met by Kiri Roberts, mother, farmer, environmentalist, employer and now market gardener at The Dirty Fork.

Words: Judy McAuliffe Images: Supplied

It’s evident that Kiri is one of those people who constantly questions the status quo. No matter if something has been done a certain way forever, she wants to know why, and how she can improve it.

“The idea was a very small one in the beginning,” she says. “As farmers, we’re constantly talking about staff – training and retaining staff, improving the lifestyle and making farming a more attractive proposition. Health and Safety is the most discussed topic in our weekly meetings, but 90% of that is about safety, very little about health, and I thought ‘here’s where we can make a difference.”

Kiri and her husband Rhys are entrepreneurial farmers, managing seven farms, under the Align Farms umbrella. They currently have around 30 staff who are already supplied with meat and milk, so why not add organically grown vegetables? “We certainly had the space, so we thought we’d give it a go.” Mum, Liz Phillipps, who is a ‘gardening guru’ was keen to help out, so the plot was prepared, a selection of veges planted and nourished, and in December 2021 – yes, just four months ago - the first vege boxes were delivered, overflowing with fresh, homegrown goodness: lettuce, spinach, potatoes, beans, carrots, radishes, spring onions and plenty more.

So where did the name, The Dirty Fork, come from? Kiri grins. “It was totally Mum’s idea. We wanted something a bit quirky, a bit fun, so she made a long list of words associated with garden and food and she put that together. An instant winner!”

“Building a good garden is like building a house,” Kiri says. “If you have a good foundation, then you’re on your way. The better the soil, the better the plants will grow. We have

great soil here, and from our day-to-day farming, we also have the ability to measure the nutrients in it so that the veges grow to their full potential. We don’t use any chemicals, but there are plenty of organic fertiliser options available to replenish anything that may be needed.”

Remember those chickens on the driveway? Well, they follow the cows, breaking up the manure, allowing it to easily enrich the soil, and they also keep the insect population down. “Our girls (the chickens) are an important part of the picture. We’ve built them a roosting trailer that gets moved around behind them. They’re laying well, so they are pretty happy, and we’re very happy to have them around. It's also easy to collect the eggs, which are a new addition to the vege boxes.

The process is simple: staff fill out a weekly tick box request for the vegetables they want, make a note of the number of people to feed per household – not that Kiri doesn’t already know this, but she’s not always going to be involved in making the boxes up – and as if by magic, their vege boxes arrive!

She says that the reaction has been absolute delight and appreciation. “Our vision is to supply our teams with 60% of their diet on-farm. It’s another way to support our staff and their families, save them money, and it’s a nice wee bonus.”

More than a dozen boxes go out to the farms and any surplus is delivered in town. So far, word-of-mouth and social media have spread the word, and they’re steadily building a list of regular customers.

There’s no time for basking in the glory of success though. Liz is employed full-time in the garden, with sporadic help from Kiri’s children, Lottie and Gus, and says there’s continuous planting, weeding and feeding to be done. “A lot of vegetables can be grown on rotation, year-round, and some actually taste better after a frost, so we’re aiming to make the most of every season,” she says.

Did I mention flowers? A very talented cake maker lives on the farm, so they also grow a few edible flowers to provide instant, colourful decorations for her amazing creations. Companion growing of vegetables and flowers also keeps the bug population down naturally, so it works for everyone.

Looking ahead, there’s more ground being prepared to extend the outdoor garden; a sizeable greenhouse being built to provide early spring and summer crops of tomatoes, lettuce and more; plans to add to the variety of companion flower growing for the cake maker, and Kiri is looking forward to getting back to ‘regular farming.’

“It’s incredibly satisfying to achieve a goal, but it’s been full-on. It’ll be exciting to see how far it goes, but I’m a farmer and I’m looking forward to stepping back and getting out there,” she says, pointing to the open paddocks.

No doubt she’ll have her thinking cap on though, so watch this space.

Follow The Dirty Fork by Align on Facebook

TIP OF THE MONTH TIP OF THE MONTH

How to create a STRONG PASSWORD

Use a different password for every online account

Don’t use personal information in your password because it is easy for attackers to find online, especially via social media

Passphrases make the best passwords. This is a string of four or more words and uses a mix of numbers, letters or symbols. Tips for creating passphrase:

- Make a sentence or fun phrase that is unique to you. For example,‘popcornwithbutterisbest’ (no personal information)

- Look around you and pick four random items, for example, ‘Coffeelemoncupflowers’

Keep your password safe with a password manager such as LastPass (free to install)

STAY SAFE ONLINE!

Sign up to Geek+ and get access to the Geek+ Community Facebook Group full of daily tech tips, news and scam alerts.

grow your INDOOR GARDEN

When autumn and winter make their presence felt, but you’re still dreaming of all that lovely fresh produce from your summer garden, consider growing indoors. Not only do plants cleanse your household air and improve the aesthetics of your indoor space, but they can also provide your family with a wealth of yummy, organic foods.

Even with limited space, growing indoors, or on a sheltered deck or patio is a great alternative. Plants don’t need to take up much space - a windowsill is fine if that’s all you have.

Your indoor garden may become your starter plants for an outdoor garden come spring, so check seed packets for growing from seed. Not only is it waaay cheaper, but it will also give you an early start come spring, and by planting your own seeds you’ll most likely have healthier, sturdier plants because you’ve been caring from on a daily basis.

Shelves provide lots of planting room while taking up little space, but do ensure that every plant has adequate light.

There are a few ways you can tell if your plant is getting enough light or not. If it isn’t getting enough light, it usually will have small leaves, thin stems, and the colour of the plant will be lighter than usual. This may mean you have to re-think your location, or provide a separate grow light.

BERRY BEAUTY

Images: @jaxonandsaige

For more than a decade, internationally recognised makeup artist, Skin therapist and brow artist, Katie Berry has been enhancing our natural beauty.

Now settled in her fabulous, purpose designed Methven salon and academy, Katie and her highly skilled, highly experienced team are equipped with the most up to date techniques and products to help you put your best self forward. “It’s our mission to deliver a level of treatment experiences that you’ve never encountered before,” Katie says. “We want you to leave here feeling nourished, revitalised and glowing from the inside out.”

Berry Beauty takes skin health and wellbeing seriously, and they also understand that it’s so important for you to take time to escape and unwind. “Our treatments are designed

to nurture not only the skin and body but the mind too. Now more than ever before, we can all do with some self-love. This is why we offer a combination of soothing relaxation treatments, high-tech skin improvement therapies and refreshing beauty and grooming treatments, all completely personalised for you. And, if it’s a cosmetic tattoo you’re after, you need look no further.”

“The big thing is, we listen!” Katie says. “There is no one magic treatment. We deliver tailored treatments to suit all ages, all skin types and issues. You can choose your perfect treatment or consult with your beauty therapist to craft a bespoke solution, through a journey beneath the skin, take advantage of our Skin analysis appointment and enjoy a free L.E.D facial. Plus, I am always open to expanding my

ASK DAVID

You feel tired, overwhelmed, anxious, unsexy and often just plain cranky - life is not fun anymore?

Share your concerns and benefit from David’s extensive knowledge of health and wellness.

In my book, I identify 13 pancakes that are affecting your health.

Pancake 4 – You have less than the optimum amounts of all the essential minerals you need to be well.

NZ soils have low iodine concentrations, and iodine deficiency has been a recurring problem since the early 1900s. The biggest myths around Iodine are that all you need to do is use iodised salt or that the fortification of bread with iodised salt has solved the problem. A recent survey showed that 40% of schoolchildren did not have enough Iodine to support their thyroid. Yet every cell in your body needs more Iodine than your thyroid – particularly your brain and breasts, yet recent research from the USA suggest that around 90% of the population are short of Iodine.

Our soils also have deficient selenium levels, which is also vital for your thyroid and the functioning of your immune system. Recent research at Otago University suggests that NZ adults should supplement at least 19 micrograms of selenium per day.

Both iron and magnesium are also vital for your thyroid and the functioning of your immune system, yet deficiencies of these are also widespread.

I encourage you to incorporate real and functional foods in your diet that help your bodies mineral campaign.

Send your questions to david@itookcharge.nz www.itookcharge.co.nz Ph: 03 693 9845

David Musgrave is the founder and owner of the successful Waihi Bush Organic Farm brand. As a research scientist with 48 years’ experience, David has spent the last 30 years studying food, nutrition and in particular women’s health. He is still an organic farmer and is passionate about creating products that support wellness.

DISCLAIMER All advice given is from David’s 48 years of experience as a scientist, author, and owner of a successful health food business selling Omega 3 rich products. It should be used to supplement rather than replace the advice of your doctor or another trained health professional. If you suspect you have a health problem you should consult a health professional before embarking on any dietary changes. We disclaim liability for any medical outcomes that may occur as a result of applying methods suggested.

business to offer popular services to keep my clients ahead of beauty trends. No idea is a silly one!”

At a glimpse, Berry Beauty offer one of the most comprehensive beauty services available; from skin consultations and relaxing facials to world leading, innovative treatments including Cosmetic tattoo (Brows and Lips), Microneedling and Derma-planing; a full service Brow Bar; special occasion makeup and other beauty treatments from waxing to manis and pedis, and they’re also trained to offer cosmetic teeth whitening procedures using their state of the art facilities and equipment.

With a warm, friendly vibe, a knack for knowing exactly what you need, and the desire to leave you radiant, relaxed and with a spring in your step, Berry Beauty is all about you.

Adding to Methven’s growing status as a health, wellness & beauty destination, is boutique beauty salon, Berry Beauty Co.

Lighting style born from passion thriving on exceptional products & service

It’s not that long ago that lighting and lampshades were stock standard white conical items you picked up in any hardware store. Not anymore! Lighting has come out of the dreary sameness to create or change the theme of any space and Loftmotif is at the forefront, quietly revolutionising the way we buy our lighting.

Founded in 2012 Loftmotif is an online store created to supply a small range of light fittings to bars and cafes, particularly those rebuilding after the Christchurch earthquake. A decade on, what began with a few wooden crates of light shades has grown into regular shipments to Methven.

The business is flourishing, thanks to the clever product selection by owner, Katrin Geilfuss. Katrin has been at the helm of the business since 2018 and to say that she knows exactly what she is doing is an understatement.

Loftmotif boast a full range of industrial inspired enamel and raw steel light shades and the relevant accessories including LED filament bulbs, cables and ceiling roses. “Our raw steel shades and bare bulb pendants are enormously popular. Depending on the look you’re after, crisp white, bright red or soft duck egg blue enamel all work beautifully too. Our customers are often amazed about the versatility of our products. A light that looks perfect in a 100-year-old villa can be transformed into a modern looking light by tweaking a few accessories.”

To complement their range of lighting, Loftmotif offers midcentury inspired hairpin legs and other steel table legs. “Our customers love using the table legs for their DIY-projects.”

Loftmotif also sells gorgeous American Oak tables that can be made to order. “In the last 12 months we have noticed a vast increase in demand for customised products. We have a close relationship with our joiner and steel manufacturer and have been working on some very exciting projects.”

Loftmotif supply individual homeowners, trade clients and architects with products for homes, offices, cafes, restaurants and bars the length of the country, and in Australia. “Our aim is to provide well-made products of good design that we can offer at affordable prices. We have a few ‘staples’ but we’re continually working on new ideas and products, considering our customer’s feedback and overseas trends,” Katrin says.

Although Loftmotif essentially operates as an online store, customers are more than welcome to look at the products in person. In the Mid Canterbury / Christchurch area Katrin also does home / site visits so people can see the products in their own space.

Please get in touch at katrin@loftmotif.co.nz

RENEGADES - BORN IN THE USA

BARACK OBAMA BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Two long-time friends, President Barack Obama and legendary musician Bruce Springsteen, share an intimate and urgent conversation about life, music and their enduring love of America, with all its challenges and contradictions. This is a stunning book featuring more than 350 photographs, exclusive bonus content, and never-before-seen archival material.

Filled with full-colour photographs and rare archival material, it is a compelling and beautifully illustrated portrait of two outsiders-one Black and one whitelooking for a way to connect their unconventional searches for meaning, identity, and community with the American story itself.

MY LIFE IN DIRE STRAITS John Illsley

THE INSIDE STORY OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST BANDS IN ROCK HISTORY

The first - and only - inside story of one of the greatest bands in rock history, as told by bassist and founder member John Illsley, with a foreword by Mark Knopfler.

Dire Straits filled giant stadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records. Throughout the eighties they were one of the biggest bands on the planet. Their classic songs - 'Sultans of Swing', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Money for Nothing', 'Brothers In Arms' - formed the soundtrack of a generation and live on today: still racking up sales, still being played on the radio on every continent.

Starting with his own unlikely beginnings in Middle England, John Illsley - founder member, bassist and mainstay - he recounts the band's rise from humble origins in London's spit-and-sawdust pubs to the best-known venues in the world. Until, ultimately, the shattering demands of touring on a global scale and living life in the spotlight took their inevitable toll. John's story is also a tribute to his great friend Mark Knopfler, the band's lead singer, songwriter and gifted guitarist - the only band members to stay the fifteen-year distance.

HOT CROSS BUNS FROM HARVEYS BAKEHOUSE

RENEGADES - BORN IN THE USA

BY BARACK OBAMA BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

This is a stunning, hard-cover book featuring more than 350 photographs, exclusive bonus content, and never-before-seen archival material. These two longtime friends, President Barack Obama and legendary musician Bruce Springsteen, share an intimate and urgent conversation about life, music and their enduring love of America, with all its challenges and contradictions.

MY LIFE IN DIRE STRAITS by John Illsley

THE INSIDE STORY OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST BANDS IN ROCK HISTORY

Dire Straits filled giant stadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records. Throughout the eighties they were one of the biggest bands on the planet. Their classic songs - 'Sultans of Swing', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Money for Nothing', 'Brothers In Arms' - formed the soundtrack of a generation and live on today: still racking up sales, still being played on the radio on every continent. In My Life in Dire Straits, John Illsley - founder member, bassist and mainstay -evokes the spirit of the times and tells the story of one of the great live acts of rock history.