Global Connection

The essential responsive man decades ago was the mail man who despite conditions ‘the mail must get through’

Today’s world the electronic mail is just as critical ‘ the mail must get through’ the invisible mail man delivers despite conditions, however when it fails and the electronic medium being the computer and the technology collapses in an invisible heap who is the responsive man?

Living in a rural district in isolated parts of New Zealand being disconnected for today’s expectation for banking, business, writing for a living, and other essentials an IT ( Internet Technician ) man becomes the essential responsive man.

Like diamonds in the sand dune these men seem rare. Even rarer is the man who enters into ones rural framework that brings the consumer S.P.I.C.E. Simplicity, progress, Information/integrity, connection, explanation plus excellence in service.

Responds to the consumers requirements and like the trusty mail man of decades ago will turn up when expected and not forget you. The responsive man for the IT world with hands on approach, who pauses at the gate way of the global world, irrespective of rural or city, belaying the myths and mystery of the electronic world is not only the diamond in the sand dune: but the true essence of the essential responsive man.

One such hero or essential responsive man, armed with a bag of tools, as the mail man carried his bag of mail is mike@computerman.co.nz who took time to stop at this gate.

Old Faithful

Over time since the early 1900s’ the industrial surge saw the development of machinery demonstrating artistic flair, craftsmanship and above all engineering skills of solid design.

Industrialization and the surge for development to today of modern technology, mass production, cheap short cuts, planned failure for the consumer to encourage re-purchasing for what one has already bought there is no doubt the dedicated restoration of old machinery that had been previously cast aside is Mechanical Sustainability.

Any machine well oiled, serviced and respected is the true meaning “guaranteed for a lifetime”

Understanding the importance of the restoration dedicated people like Darryl Hudson: found on the following link

http://www.hudsonscustommachining.com/

Being green is not just the land and solar, but surely the integration of recognizing the value of past craftsmanship in the mechanical sense that has served mankind well in many industries.

Like the line in an old song says “ You don’t know what you have got till it’s gone.

100 years old and still going for a spin everyday

Photographs from the site of Darryl Hudson…………..  Sustainable Mechanical Living Craftsmanship

http://offgridecostay.com/ so this is where you are!!!!

The opportunity to reside in New Zealand hill country in an established ‘off the grid’ home sustainable, self sufficient environment is a unique offer.

The choices are wide and varied. For example a growing wine industry in New Zealand the land offers a visionary the scope for the development of a grape from vines sturdy and rugged on the hills of the Marlborough landscape. Producing a wine not seen any where in the world.

Backed by Department of Conservation land the property as it stands is heavily laden with natural New Zealand natives and wild life. A canopy under which for the bush explorer or naturalist could enjoy.

The house on the land offers a retreat to the writer/artist ,or those inspired to work the land, one of comfort, warmth and self sufficiency with ease using all the modern technology one desires.

Choice of being connected with Picton on one side and Blenheim the other the Koromiko ( Marlborough) area potential for ease of living: with innovative green techniques demonstrates harmony and balances for integration of work life balance or endless other choices that one desires to choose.

Stunning place for the ‘students’ or those educating to develop green solutions. The land offers huge potential for the pioneers in this field. The challenges harnessing the sun, wind, water, the elements of the land, its contours rise and fall, soil type,vegetation an exciting opportunity not to be missed.

Take a look at the following links;

http://www.harveys.co.nz/ property ID RH427 Marlborough

http://trademe.co.nz/

As does one who lives ‘off the grid’ is concious of the types of food bought as part of the values of enviromental care in support of the producers of organic foods.

One outstanding product is Clearwaters Cream Top Yoghurt. ( Certified Organic ) handmade on the farm loaded with live cultures.

Clearwater is based at the foot of Mount Peel South Canterbury New Zealand. www.clearwaterorganic.co.nz

Tucked away with stunning vistas on the hills in Malborough offgridecostay.com/ there can be found buckets of the Clearwater Yoghurt . One of the finest quality natural yoghurts made from organic milk, rich and creamy with the most exquiste taste. Beautiful in the fruit smoothie, by itself or with the favourite ceral.

The relationship bewteen the consumer and the farmers standing on the box of same values for the enviroment , the health and well being of the animals and quality of their lives, is the quality of the food one consumes that can only be beneficial to the human health.

From the producers to the consumers the interrgration of respect of the world around us on a closer study, to change practices irrespective if it is farming, living off the grid, or living in the city the change can be one of ease and support for all pursuing a balanced life with the accesibilty to modern technology , the road to a sustainable healthy alternative for the human race and mother earth herself.

Clearwater’s Cream Top Yoghurt is a first class representation of the producers farming practices that many could well follow .

Found in New Zealand a pocket watch with an extraordinary history and links to a remarkable family  and time of the British Empire.  Captain James Cook and his wife Elizabeth Cook (Batts)

Signed by John Cragg.  Engraved Northhampton Sq London. Full History and enquiries on the following link.

http://hazledinebarber.com/time-links-found-in-new-zealand/125/

Being connected globally today is as important as breakfast living in the rural lands or bush of New Zealand.  Transmission by satellite for internet, uninterrupted, no matter the density of the bush or the hill one is sitting on. Or how rugged the country, as many parts of New Zealand are.

Armed with the laptop the connection to world is one of ease, i.e. the connection is reliable, no underground cables, no mega multi- corporation control mixed with regular events of failures: or consult with  technicians of the national tele-communications taking days, then engaged conversation does not make sense.

Promises of  ‘fixing the problem’  from the latter, ( multi-corporations) last effort (intermittent  connection) for smooth running took over 14 days, all down the East coast  South Island  New Zealand.

Rural districts struggle with limited and reliable internet connection, poor phone reception, reliability and cell phone reception if any at all.

Satellite Broadband, surfing the net in seconds at a constant, reliable broadband speed faster than the mosquito surfing the bush in the Koromiko hills, sits a satellite dish surrounded by indigenous bush, some buttered blooming broom serviced by http://www.inzonecorp.com/Ruralinzone.htm from Taupo (North Island New Zealand).

Many busy rural folk farming the land, developing eco-environmentally friendly accommodation, for example www.offgridecostay.com ,   Department of Conversation staff collecting data, caring for the wild life sometimes in very wild rugged parts of New Zealand, today reliable internet is essential. Service or technical problems the staff of the service provider solving ability have responses within a matter of minutes or advice is invaluable.

Tuaropaki Communications (izonecorp.) has a broad range of interest in agriculture, geothermal, and horticulture industry in New Zealand raising their awareness the struggle rural folk’s frustrations for a service of sustainable interaction for internet that supported the selected rural business many the back-bone of the country.

Connectivity to this back-bone so valuable to the veins of goods and services to the cities and exports, Tuaropaki Communications is like the shining light warm and welcoming from the bush mans hut in the hills on the winter nights.

Export Logging Koromiko.

Jason McElwain the Enviromental Logger

Pine plantations scattered throughout the Marlborough Sound  hills reaching maturity the loggers, unlike Jason, contracted to fell the plantations, leave behind a scarred landscape of clearfelled land.

Clay ribbon tracks like veins criss-cross the landscape. Laid naked to the wind, rain, sun the exposed landscape provokes thought of the indigenous plants, creatures that have scurried away or died in the process of the felling.

Sitting on a felled pine log a Weta “God of Ugly Things” (Translation from the Maori name wetapunga) appearing alone and lost.

So bare are the hills a rabbit would have to take a cut lunch. A saying taken from the local farmers leaning on the fence feet squarely planted in the lush paddock of green grass sporting the latest in gumboots.

Chips of wood go flying from his chain-saw, logger, Jason McElwain works an environmental approach, choosing only the best matured trees, cuts so the angle is such that the tree falls with little impact on the bush. Care taken to ensure young indigenous trees had no impact in the felling.

The road into the bush that was graded by the  Jason serves as a road and possible link to Department of Conservation walking tracks.  Well graded with gentle curves it meanders through a heavily laden pine tree hill: a mix of indigenous growth and wild life.

The hauling out the logs are chained together pulled to the new road then to a clearing for stripping the bark and cutting to size then stacked.

Being aware of the environment the art form of an environmentally caring logger preserving as much of the bushland without clearfelling, seems to give strength to the land and promotes the possible seeding of natives that would have a chance to take hold and grow.

As many parts of New Zealand rural land for cattle or sheep are bare of a tree it is thought provoking as all animals like shade or shelter more trees should be planted. New Zealand natives.

Buttered coloured hills of broom on some previously clearfelled areas undergrowth compete to take hold, perhaps taking into account the bare hills, the environmental caring loggers the bush land and the logging for timber could co-exist.

The rural districts benefit from trees planted in the paddocks offering shelter or shade. So does the Nation and those that care for the land or promote the growth of indigenous species require a louder voice hand in hand with funding/investment?

For the future maybe the rabbit will not need to pack a cut lunch.

i the fly

cabbage pots and tins

i visit,

free to fly over tree tops and

razor wire fences,

i buzz the vast bush lands

wings spread,

flying great speeds,

free,

pest to you,

i carry disease that affect me not,

God made me like this,

that is my lot,

i have my uses and break down waste,

eco friendly chap i freely fly,

leaving you sadly

behind razor wire fences,

with cabbage pots and tins.

Written for all people trapped behind razor wire fences, refugee camps,  for those trapped in mind behind razor wired fences with views of a wonderful world. Those that are aware for change and do nothing.

Extending life in a peaceful environment, to live as one chooses, grounded with nature and being globally connected, does require a special patch of land.

A retreat for the holidays, write or create the painted masterpiece in surrounds that allow the creative flow through one uninterrupted.

Waxed buttercups in the fields below sparkle in the morning sun, soaring above through the native bush land and trees often seen are Kereru New Zealand’s only native wood pigeon. Kereru (wood pigeon) is the only surviving bird since the moa capable of ingesting large fruit and berries from native bushes. But partial to the common plum tree, eco friendly important bird for the dispersion of seeds of the native bush land. It is also able to drink without lifting their head to swallow which is unusual for the bird species.

Apart from many other species from quail, fantails, bell bird , ducks, to a peacock who lives happily alongside the busy wild life, he often strolls across the road with his tail fully fanned out in a magnificent display of emerald colours: if willing allows one to pass.  Koromiko offers keen bird watchers a place for diversity of New Zealand’s native birds.

The opportunity for development in an eco friendly way considering the neighborhoods’ of busy families of New Zealand’s wild life to live in harmony  alongside each other . Preserving the native bush land and aiding the regeneration of new native growth.

An eco stay with a difference. An extended peace project of change.  Like the buttercups in the fields awakening to spring so grows awareness.

Basic supplies for the continuation of sustainable living in the bush land eco sustainable home: such as flour, free range eggs, coffee, cane sugar and other things the trip from Koromiko to Picton is only fifteen minutes.

However seeing familiar faces and local conversation catching up with local news relaxing at the Corner Bistro on the High Street: a sustainable eco friendly restaurant of excellent cuisine and local wines a plus to the “off grid” bush lifestyle.

Every day all food is made from scratch from the expansive variety of locally sourced seasonal produce, fresh fish out of the exquisite Marlborough Sounds, quality export meat, free range eggs plus almost everything served is gluten – free.

New Zealand mussels fat and juicy served on the day are local live mussels, steamed served in white wine and thyme jus, fresh basil, lemon aioli with generous portions of home/made on the premises crusty bread.

Gourmet Pizzas with classic from scratch hand-made bases lashed with caramelized Onion and Te Mata blue cheese, toasted walnuts laced with balsamic syrup.

To compliment the icing sugar dusting of snow on the Koromiko hills is the stunning New York cheesecake with crème Chantilly, blueberry sauce served on a large white plate dusted with a delicate touch icing sugar.

Almost a mirror image of leaving the snow capped hills to connect with civilization.

Fresh ground coffee to wash down a sandwich ( fondly called the Jewish Burger ) of toasted home-made on the premises bread filled with fat slices of local salmon, local tomatoes and onions with slices of cheese,  the human body absorbs the freshness lifting the spirit, mental capacity, because the food really sustains the energy required for daily living.

Where there are no pre-mixes, powdered stocks, artificial flavourings, or any other processed foods is used a food life balance is easily worked into from the Corner Bistro of Picton to the “off the grid” sustainable living in the Koromiko hills.

The eating out experience of sustainable good quality food of local products, with a dash of flair, in a mixing bowl of intelligence a real chef who uses real ingredients, to cook real food, with real flavour, served exquisitely as demonstrated by Chef/Owner Julie Sokolsky  “French Internationally trained Chef” complimented by low keyed first class front of house service by husband Director/General Manager James McLeod.

Processed foods eaten still leave the unsatisfied human body hungry whereas sourcing elegant real food the Picton (Marlborough Sounds NZ) Corner Bistro a Sokolsky experience is not to be missed.

Home to the wood pile an’ cuppa Chai….

A warm gift by James Mcleod for the frosty nights in the bush lands of the Marlborough Sounds