Lifestyle Blocks
Includes the wider landscape, primarily from one acre up to 10 acre lifestyle blocks. These projects focus on regenerating land, growing food (table or market), restoring watersheds, broadscale infrastructure planning (siting watertanks, wastewater, houses, sheds, access etc), shelter, riparian, specimen trees, high value forestry, integrating low impact stock management and small animal systems and sensitive ecological plantings.
PLANTING PLAN. Approximately 50% of the land area has been planted with a combination of structural shelter, fodder belts, wetland revegetation and food forest. Pocket paddocks are sited on the flatter areas. ``...Hazel has her eyes on more trees. Is there the equivalent of AA for plant addicts?`` Derek
Hazel and Derek's site at purchase. Exposed to southerlies and westerlies with the land eroded from stock and only one mono-crop, grass. Assets include a pond for water resilience and Northerly aspect.
Earthworks at Hazel and Derek's site, where the ecological impact was carefully weighed against the benefits. Beginning with a degraded, windswept site, earthworks enabled immediate shelter and forming of diverse growing habitats. ``Its looking brilliant up there at the moment. Really really good. Its amazing how the vision is starting to take shape!`` Derek Stevens
Hazel and Derek's place at year three... an abundant and diverse food growing paradise (compare to 'pastoral desert' image). Habitats that would have taken ten years were formed in a few days with diggers, with subtropical fruit being grown in the first year!
This image shows the emerging food forest for semi-commercial use at the Urenui Farmers market and duck pond utilising road water run-off.
Hazel and Derek's place. Wetland revegetation revitalises the pond, horses graze in small linked paddocks to minimise hoof damage (Hazel is an avid horse women) and integrated ducks, goats and bees (Derek undertook an apiarist course).
The house and infrastructure sits snuggly nestled in the landscape at Hazel and Derek's place, protected from wind and taking advantage of sun.
This elevated view at Hazel and Derek's demonstrates how regenerative landscapes powerfully reflect the patterns in the landscape, whereby land use match the habitat.
This is one of two SKETCH CONCEPTS for clients Nukes and Lane. They wanted a quick indication of options around diversifying and regenerating this small acreage, including integrating a waste water system and mixed pastoral and tree crops use.
This is a BASIC CONCEPT we created for Shelley & Dan, who are moving to a bare 1 acre in the country. They envisaged a relaxed, peaceful, private, sheltered oasis that is easy care and kid-friendly, with lots of natives and a couple of lambs.
We created these two CONCEPTS for two young couples who are downsizing and sharing a lifestyle block…. to live the good life. They want to grow most of their own food, have a great lifestyle, and have a shared social space for good times. “We digested the plans over the weekend and were all really excited with what you presented. We all favoured the first concept with the houses closer to the shed. Pretty much hits the nail on the head for all of us!” Zoe, Ricky, Min and Ryan
This is the BASE PLAN and a WINTER SUN SHADE MAP we did as part of the site assessment for clients Jocelyn and Clarkie. The sun-shade map is a very useful tool that makes a big difference to decisions made during the concept design phase... pink = full winter sun, blue = no winter sun.
These are two of three CONCEPTS we created for Jocelyn & Clarkie. Their design brief: creating a sanctuary for their retirement: tranquillity, simplicity, & space…. with a sense of journey through the garden.
POND DESIGN & INSTALL Korito Road
SITE PLAN for resource consent for siting house and ponds.
BROARDSCALE CONCEPT DESIGN for house and land rural New Plymouth. Strategically sited ponds increase biodiversity. Pioneer species were planted for regeneration and firewood.
REVEGETATION PLANTING PLAN & Pioneer species for retiring a steep Hurford Road boundary paddock.
SECTOR ANALYSIS & SHELTERBELT PLAN for Pam and John's small acreage on Koru Road.
34 Acre Galloway Stud ECOLOGICAL DESIGN & FARM PLANTING, Omata. Initial infrastructure install spanned three years, undertaken by Greenbridge.
AERIAL of galloway stud farm before implementation. Assets of the site includes the land lending itself to polycultures and close proximity to market. Challenges include, wind exposure and scarce water resource.
Galloway Stud Farm. One of three, this FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM creates a broad-brushed, conceptual layout of one of the proposed designs, based on function. The clients brief included diversity of land use, maintain the integrity of private spaces and enhance connection to the land.
Galloway Stud Farm. HOLISTIC GRAZING PLAN to improve sward diversity and resilience, mitigate compaction of soil due to stock, diversify feed and long term regeneration of soil by extensive plantings.
SUCCESSIONAL PLANNING DIAGRAM showing stages of implement.
REGENERATIVE FEATURES PLAN overviewing the key sustainable features of the design and implementation.
