Home and Leisure 02-09-15 by Local Newspapers

DESIGN INSPIRATION • EXPERT ADVICE • DIY PROJECTS • AND MORE

Backyard

lb iss

Create your personal paradise

Driveway mini makeover A solution for offstreet parking

art in a garDen How to add visual interest outdoors

increase your energy levels In five simple steps

Home & Leisure | 2

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editor’s note 3 | Home & Leisure

welcome

Editor kate@starmedia.kiwi

Escaping the office for a walk around the block is doing wonders for my state of mind. I can see why Elly McGuinness cites a stroll as one of the five ways to boost your energy levels (page 13). I am lucky to have coworkers who encourage each other to down pen, separate from the screen and step away from the desk. In fact... I’m surrounded by runners! And while running is beyond me (and not what I would call fun), walking is different. Even 10 minutes makes a difference, and when you make the time, you realise this. There’s nothing like an injection of fresh air to recharge the mind and body. In a roundabout way, enjoying the outdoors is what this issue is all about. We focus on landscaping, and generally sprucing up the backyard, to highlight how a little work done now will enable you to reap the benefits in times to come. Al fresco dining and sun-soaked afternoons are not too far away. Now is the time to put in the groundwork to heighten your feeling of self-satisfication when you walk out the door – barbecue ingredients in one hand, and thirst-quenching beverage in the other – set for an evening in your personal paradise. How is your spring clean going? We hope you’ve been able to take heed of some of our suggestions from last month’s issue, but if not, we supply some eco-friendly tips in the following pages, to perhaps change your approach to cleaning. Rebecca Lees, who is as much a clever gardener as she is an eco-warrior, supplies us with a recipe to concoct our own washing powder (p. 9), as well as turning our attention to landscaping that works in with our ecosystem (p. 8). What she outlines makes sense, and the end result can be not only visually stunning, but, if you have managed to entice more local fauna to your patch, could be just as pleasing to the ear. With that in mind, don’t forget the bees – plant some herbs while you’re out and about, and you will not only boost your local pollination power, but have great ingredients to hand when it’s time to put the final touch on super salads. We hope you enjoy the latest issue, and take time to enjoy the great outdoors.

What's inside:

my find

What a first impression! This one is my favourite, but there are oodles of options. Made from 100% renewable coconut fibre (coir), mats start at $45, with $1 donated to KidsCan NZ. www.dontbeadoormat.co.nz

On display 5

Tools of the trade: a gardener’s best friend

Special feature 6 7 8

Questions of a landscape architect: solutions for common Canterbury problems A garden worth visiting: how to add visual interest to your own backyard Sustainable solutions: natural landscaping options

Interior 9

A greener way to clean: scrub up with the environment in mind

Exterior

10 Transform a driveway: creating more space and parking for a Christchurch home 12 Bring in the bees: plant herbs for you and your pollinating friends

Fitness & leisure 13

Going up: increase your energy levels in five easy steps 14 Bumper Ball: the game that will make your face hurt

Publisher Charlotte Smulders, Star Media | Editor Kate Preece, kate@starmedia.kiwi | Advertising Kerry Smith, Phone 962 0743, Mob 027 654 5367, kerry.smith@starmedia.kiwi Graphic Design Narelle Denmead

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Outdoor flow Improve your time outdoors with these products designed to make your life easier and your backyard prettier.

6 5

1. Prep for your garden starts in the kitchen with this benchtop-worthy Burgon & Ball compost bin, complete with replaceable bin liners. Available from The Company Shed, 32 School Rd, Tai Tapu, RRP $58. 2. This Kneelo chrysanthemum kneeler is one in a range that features iconic prints from the Royal Horticultural Society, London. Waterproof, with a luxurious top layer of memory foam. Available from The Company Shed, 32 School Rd, Tai Tapu, RRP $58. 3. A garden accessory you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be without come harvest time, the Joseph Bentley garden trug is as stylish as it is practical. Available from Portstone Garden Centre, 465 Ferry Rd, RRP $29.99. 4. Win the war against weeds with the Niwashi. The angled blade cuts into the soil to disrupt compacted soil and stubborn weeds with ease. Available in both left and right-handled models. From Terra Viva, cnr Wairakei Rd & Roydvale Ave. RRP $39.99. 5. Add a natural, rustic edge with a Tuscan Path wooden barrel made from acacia. Fill it with flowers and herbs, or use it as an outdoor drinks holder, gift hamper or even as indoor storage. Available from Bunnings, RRP $47. 6. Tend to your plants in style with this galvanised-zinc 10-litre watering can. If blueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not your colour, there are white and red options, too. Available from Mitre 10, RRP $34.98.

cover story Home & Leisure | 6

Questions for the great outdoors Christchurch landscape architects Grant Stephens and Rebecca Hammond from H & S Landscape Design answer three commonly asked questions arising from typical Canterbury gardens. Q: I want a low-maintenance garden so I don’t have many plants, but now I seem to spend half my time weeding the spaces between them. Should I use weed mat? A: Many people think that fewer plants means less weeds. Unfortunately, this is not normally the case. Instead, it gives more space for unwanted plants (weeds) to grow and the required sun and nutrients for them to do so well. Weed mat can be known to turn the soil sour underneath, so before you try this, consider using plants as a natural weed suppressant. If plants are shading the soil and already covering the space, it can be harder for windblown weeds to become established as they lack the space and light under the shade of your existing plants. The other option is a nice thick layer of mulch, but in Canterbury, you need a minimum of 100mm

of mulch to effectively suppress the weeds. Q: My garden is currently very onedimensional. How do I make it more interesting and eye-catching? A: Cantabrians love their lawns and therefore often only leave a narrow strip around their fence, about a metre wide, for the garden. The problem is most plants grow wider than a metre (especially the ones tall enough to hide your fence). This means we end up with gardens that have a single line of shrubs that lacks visual impact and still requires maintenance so these plants don’t overgrow our precious lawns. If you want a three-dimensional garden it’s time to sacrifice a bit of lawn to give your plants space to grow. We recommend 1.5m (or wider if you have the space) is a

RIGHT FIRST TIME: Decide how you want to use your deck before you start construction. good size to start with, as this allows you to have a shrub with a smaller plant in front, along with an edging plant between the lawn and garden. By doing this you will get a much fuller layered garden that is more interesting to look at. Q: I want to build a deck for my outdoor entertainment area, but I don’t know how big it should be. Is there an ideal size I should make it? A: The ideal size for a deck is entirely dependent on how you wish to use it and the amount of people you commonly entertain. Do you need a deck that is big enough for two seats and a coffee table, or one that can fit a six-seater outdoor setting? Once you know the area the setting takes up, you can then add space for chairs

to be pulled out and movement around the table. This should give you a good idea of how big the deck should be. Another thing to consider is that most decks are raised above the ground. This means people feel naturally uncomfortable sitting or standing too close to the edge, where they may fall off. If you don’t want an unsightly hand rail to give ease of mind to your guests you should probably consider the half metre to metre alongside the edge of the deck as unusable space for sitting or standing room. Therefore, you may want to make your deck a bit wider to compensate for this. Be sure to carefully consider thoroughfare access to doors, too, as this often becomes unusable space and will affect the size of the deck.

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cover story 7 | Home & Leisure

Al fresco design Interior designer Leeanne Kerr steps outside to add some visual interest to our backyards.

FEED THE BIRDS: A simple birdfeeder or bath for wild feathered friends will also keep them out of harm’s way. Be warned, bird watching can become addictive!

As an avid gardener, I love being outdoors, enjoying our outdoor spaces. If your backyard is lacking in visual appeal, there are some simple ways to add interest and create an even more inticing outdoor area. I love to see birds in my garden. Not only do they perform a valuable service in helping keep the insect population down, but their presence adds colour, movement and song. Despite what feels like fewer and fewer large trees in the suburbs, you can attract more birdlife to your garden by considering their needs: food, water and a nesting site. Birdhouses can be a great decorative element in your garden, and their variety is limited mostly by your imagination. There are all types of bird homes, from basic boxes to organic shapes; from rustic to highly architectural designs. If you’re thinking of making your own, while wood is common, it’s not the only material you can use – even a dried, hollowed-out gourd with a small entry hole makes a suitable site for small birds, and a coat of polyurethane will extend its life beyond a year. You want to place your nesting box where you can see it, but in a spot safe from predators, away from direct sunlight and sheltered from wind and rain. Birds like a direct flight line to the box, too.

REUSE AND REPURPOSE: With a lick of paint, you can add visual interest with simple garden items. LIGHT UP OUTSIDE: Lighting placed beneath plants can have a dramatic effect.

Water features soothe the soul and are beneficial to birds. If this is not an option in your garden, a birdbath is a great alternative, being both practical for the birds and safer than a deep water feature if you have very small children. Sculptural elements to consider range from traditional concrete statues to those crafted by your own hands. Recently, Christchurch was invaded by a herd of fibreglass giraffes – as part of public arts project Christchurch Stands Tall – but you can produce something similar using papier mâché. Papier mâché was invented in the Far East, but became popular in Europe in the 18th century when paper was expensive, and reusing it made economic sense. Using this medium, you are certainly not limited to just giraffes; try giant snails, crocodiles, swans, caterpillars and dragons. Material and equipment needs are minimal; essentially it’s your junk mail over a shaped wire frame, which is then painted and weatherproofed. We normally think of paintwork in the garden in fairly utilitarian terms – painted or stained fences, stained decks – but there are plenty of opportunities to add decorative effects to your garden. A painted canvas coated in polyurethane can be used to decorate a wall or fence, and if

you’re aiming for a cottage-garden look, paint and hang up an old push mower to make an impressive sculptural statement. There are also more subtle decorative paint effects. Go faux by painting one material so it looks like another. Plastic, for example, is a cheap, rustproof and lightweight material that can be finished with marble, sandstone, rust, verdigris or weathered-lead effects. Moulded concrete stepping stones can be marbled or made to look like weathered terracotta. Give life to plain terracotta pots with a craquelure effect, sparkle or glitter varnish or by gilding with metal leaf. Another decorative style that lends itself well to outdoor (as well as indoor use) is mosaic. There’s a variety of materials you can use, such as ceramics, glass and stone, and a variety of styles you can make to keep it consistent with your type of garden, from Greek to Oriental styles. There’s also a range of projects you can try; think garden wall tiles or a wall frieze, add a mirror to the garden with a mosaic surround or use it as a table top or on stepping stones. One of the things designers consider indoors is lighting, and it’s no different for your garden. We’ve seen an explosion in the variety of solar-powered garden

lighting over the last few years, but currently one of the least used methods is one of the most effective, and that’s using uplighting through the foliage to achieve a much more dramatic effect. Once you’ve decided on what to add to your backyard, assess your garden layout and what plants will make most out of these outdoor design elements. Think about and look at the textures and colours of each plant. Will they sit well together? Pop down to your local garden centre to discuss the best options for your soil and area, and to get more input for garden design. Some hard work and a bit of expenditure now will be most satisfying later when you, your family and friends are enjoying the results all through summer.

How to make papier mâcHé: Mix one part flour with one part of water to produce a thick glue-like paste. If it’s too thick to work, add some water. Mix well with a spoon and add a few tablespoons of salt (this will help prevent mould). Soak strips of newspaper in the glue and apply over your desired shape – be it a wire creation, or simply a balloon. Bolster the strength of your artwork by adding more paper, as each layer dries.

LANDSCAPING Home & Leisure | 8

A NATURAL SETTING: Stick to natural solutions and you won’t harm the environment.

Landscaping au naturel

struggling. Your backyard can provide an important water source, and can attract these wonderful living additions. An old frying pan is one I use for my bees, filled with large rocks for them to stand on. A small pond can be a wonderful addition to the natural garden and doesn’t need to be flash – I’ve used an old sink placed in the ground, blended into its surroundings using rocks and flaxes. It provides a water source for other species and a place to fill up my watering can.

Forest gardener Rebecca Lees shares some benefits of naturalising your outdoor space.

Maintaining your space

For me, landscaping is about enhancing natural beauty, enjoying nature as she’s meant to be, with a little helping hand. Overdo it and the outdoor environment becomes too controlled, too linear and barren. Getting involved in nature reveals all sorts of surprises – and you don’t need a large area to enjoy the treats nature has in store, just a little time to experience them.

were they made? The more interference by man, the more unnatural the overall look, and higher the chances are of damaging the environment you’re trying to enhance. Natural materials, such as stone, slate, rocks, wood (untreated), bricks and mulch are my first choices. They blend into the site and weather well.

have missed the magic of watching that tree grow, spreading its branches into your space over time. Work out where the larger trees go first, keeping in mind where they will cast shade when mature, and how that will affect other plants or outdoor areas. Choose trees that grow (or can be pruned) to the height and shape you’d like.

Materials

think of the future

Water

Visualise your outdoor space and how it might evolve. Think long-term. Quick fixes such as expensive mature trees may give you the shade you want now, but you will

Water is so important in our region, and not just to us. Bees, birds, other small mammals and insects all depend on water for survival and if it’s dry outside they’ll be

One of the most important aspects of natural landscaping is the materials you choose. Where did they come from and how

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Any form of plastic in the garden is a no-no for me. It breaks down and doesn’t fit in. I once used carpet as a weed mat under trees, until I tried to pull it up and saw the huge amount of plastic that was left behind, in my soil. Natural weed mat works well, especially around fruit trees, or cardboard covered with mulch (remove the sticky tape). Weeds aren’t really an issue in my forest garden – we eat them, or grow a vast array of herbs and perennials in their place. Underneath my grandest apple tree you’ll find no grass, instead berries, kale, garlic, rhubarb, lavender and other herbs all take up that space. Using plants as mulch works splendidly – they keep weeds at bay, moisture in and provide a home for beneficial insects.

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9 | Home & Leisure

Eco-spring clean Rebecca Lees shares ways to green up your cleaning regime. Cleaning is basically shifting dirt from one place to another – yet by doing this simple chore we can come into all sorts of problems these days. Generally it’s not the dirt causing the issues – it’s what we use to move the dirt around. Toxic chemicals (some carcinogenic and hormone disrupting) are hiding in our homes, from ovencleaners to personal-care items, without our knowing. We’re doing our best to make sure our kids’ hands are 99% bacteria-free, and the bath they soak in is sparkling and clean. In the process, however, we’re exposing them to potentially harmful substances – and a multitude of untested mixtures of these. How do we ensure what we’re using to clean our homes is safe? There’s a simple answer. Don’t buy those potentially harmful toxins in the first place. Use chemicals as a last resort instead of a first response. Secondly, use natural-ingredient-based products (or make your own), which are safer. And thirdly, declutter and better organise your life so spring cleaning is not the laborious task it can be.

mAkE YoUR owN DIShwAShING powDER

Excluding the salt, I buy all my ingredients online from Trade Me. I make several batches at once, which last for months. Store in airtight containers.

ingredients 1 cup washing soda/sodium carbonate (powder not crystals) 1 cup borax 3/4 cup oxygen bleach 1/2 cup salt 1/2 cup citric acid

Method

Make the change Make the change to natural plant-based products, those whose brand depends on a reputation of providing safe products. There is a wide range of good-quality safe cleaning (and beauty) products out there. Try them out, my favourite is Ecostore, which you can also buy in bulk at a lower cost online.

Use 1–2 Tbsp per load. Use white vinegar as the rinse aid.

Make your oWn Making your own laundry detergent or dishwashing powder can save hundreds of dollars a year (see recipe). Great for anyone on a budget with stacks of washing! In fact, everything you clean your home with can be made by you – go onto Google or check out DIY cleaning books at your local library. The recipes often use simple ingredients you can buy in bulk, saving you dollars, too. Two simple, effective ingredients often used are baking soda and vinegar. I use baking soda and vinegar to clean almost everything.

less is More Decluttering your life means less stuff to clean, lug around, and store. Put a day aside to rid your home of anything that hasn’t been used in the last year – but don’t send it to landfill! Give it away to charity or sell it on your local buy-sell-swap Facebook page, and resist temptation to replace it with something else. Instead, spend your money on experiences, and less on accumulating material objects.

Baking soda and vinegar These two ingredients can be used all over the home, from the bathroom to the kitchen. I keep a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and a little water to use on kitchen benchtops, basins and to wipe down cupboards. For areas harder to clean, shake baking soda onto the surface (e.g. benchtop), then spray vinegar and rub.

DIY: Make your own cleaning products, so you don’t have to worry about hidden nasties.

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exterior Home & Leisure | 10

Designer driveway Christchurch clients of landscape architects Grant Stephens and Rebecca Hammond were looking to solve the problem of little off-street parking and a narrow garage entrance. Outlined below is a step-by-step guide to how the issue was resolved. Step one Identify the problem and the most desirable solution. For this instance, the fence needed to be shifted back and the garage entrance widened. In order to match the existing fence, and reduce waste and cost, as many materials were reused as possible.

Step two Existing plants, bricks, rubble and other garden materials were removed or relocated, for later use elsewhere.

Step three

Before

Using a crowbar, the tin was gently pried loose at the fence post where the new corner will be created.

Step four Using a handsaw, the fence railings were cut, leaving the railings that remain still attached to the fencepost.

Step five Once the rails were cut at both ends, the fence panel was lifted out and stored for later use.

Step Six Any unneeded posts were then removed, along with the concrete foundation.

Step Seven Any excess soil was removed and the ground levelled off. The concrete foundation blocks saved from the original fence were put in their new location. The addition of a new post allowed for the fence panels to be reattached.

Step eight AP20 mix (shingle and sand) is then spread over the area to be concreted and compacted well.

Step nine Concrete was poured over the AP20 and brush-finished to match the existing concrete before being left to cure. A wrought-iron gate was installed in the gap between the garage and the fence to allow pedestrian access. The clients returned to see their new off-street parking and garage entrance.

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exterior 11 | Home & Leisure

Handy hint

We always recommend thinking strongly of what materials can be reused in a project, as this can reduce waste and costs.

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leisure Home & Leisure | 14

Follow the bouncing ball Linda Moser slips inside a huge bubble and takes on her peers in this entertaining, high-contact ball game. Recently I was talked into attending a social club event organised for my husband’s place of work. We were instructed to wear comfortable, lightweight clothing and running shoes. This, of course, made me slightly suspicious and a little apprehensive about what might lie ahead. As we pulled into the parking lot of Howzat Sports, 4 Matipo St, Riccarton, on a drizzly Sunday afternoon, I remember thinking it would have been a perfect day to snuggle up on the couch in front of the fire with a good book. Instead, we walked into the slightly cool sports centre and met up with a huddled group of my husband’s work colleagues, their partners and a number of children. Inside the basketball courts were 12 giant plastic balls – bumper balls (sometimes called zorb balls or loopyballs). We were shown how to lie back and wriggle our way into the centre of the ball, fit and adjust the internal harness and then try to stand up. A very enthusiastic and friendly staff member instructed us on safety and how to avoid possible injury. Twelve bubbled-up participants huddled in a circle waiting for what would happen next. Our first game was basic soccer and we were divided into two teams depending on the colour of our bubble’s internal harness (blue or orange). When the whistle blew, 12 people of various ages, sizes and abilities tried their hardest to get at the ball and score for their team. There was no strategy,

we bumped and crashed and flipped and rolled. It was absolutely hilarious. Cold upon arrival, I was soon toasty warm inside my bumper ball and glad I was wearing just a T-shirt and leggings. Once everyone was confident and comfortable in their bubbles we played a new game called ‘Queens and Kings’. Teams had to pick a queen or a king, who were identified to the opposite team by a pool noodle tucked down the centre of their bubble. The aim of the game was to knock over the other team’s queen or king first, while protecting your own, of course. Great fun and quite an eye-opener into human behaviour! The bubbles made contact painless and lighter people were knocked off their feet and flipped over at regular intervals. The kids loved it and spent most of their time upside down or rolling around the floor tripping people up. I took a break after ‘Queens and Kings’ and let someone else have my bubble for a while. Watching was just as much fun, maybe even more! Seeing everyone bumping and crashing and flipping was hugely entertaining and it was difficult to stop laughing. I snapped a few photos as the group played ‘Sumo’ and then, ‘Last one Standing’. While we ate pizza (ordered and delivered to the venue), people buzzed excitedly about how they’d love to come back again; it had been a blast!

option TWO

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Bumper Ball Christchurch is open seven days a week for any event you can imagine. Popular for birthday parties, corporate team building events, stag dos, school camps or Christmas parties, the gear is completely portable and the game can be played indoors or out. Best on grassed areas or wooden courts, like basketball courts, Bumper Ball is an all-season sport suitable for anyone over seven years of age. There is no minimum weight limit, but the maximum is 100kg, and the only part of your body that will hurt after playing Bumper Ball is your face. There’s no way you can help but smile and the laughter is guaranteed to be of the non-stop howling variety. Starting at $180 an hour for six bubbles, it’s an affordable way to enjoy an afternoon or evening of hilarity. Bumper Ball Christchurch can hire of an arena, too. See www.bumperball.co.nz for all the details you will need.

fitness 13 | Home & Leisure

Putting spring in your step

2. DRINk wELL Water should never be underestimated as a powerful way to energise your body. It is common practice to grab a coffee or another caffeinated beverage that may provide a temporary energy fix, but could very well leave you feeling low on energy once the effects have worn off. Caffeine is a diuretic, so it flushes water out of your body. Take a large glass of water, try out tip number three, and then see if you still ‘need’ that coffee.

Elly McGuinness provides us with five tips that will up our energy levels.

3. MOVE YOuR BODY There are immense benefits to regular activity, one of which is having a ‘mental’ break to refresh and re-energise the mind so you can return to a task or move onto your next one with increased energy. Some tips for increasing your movement levels include taking the stairs, parking further away and walking to work, getting up from your chair every 20-30 minutes, and taking a walk around the block during break times.

4. MIND YOuR STRESS Modern life can be busy with an array of stresses that can lead to low energy levels. Try the following stress-reducing tips and see if it changes how energetic you feel: • Practise regular ‘belly’ breathing. Stop and take 10 deep breaths with your eyes closed. Place one hand on your belly and feel it rise as you breathe in, and then lower as you breathe out. • Do less. Choose the important things. • Spend less time on electronic gadgets, such as laptops, phones and tablets.

5. SLEEp wELL

Spring is a time when many people get a surge of motivation to be healthier and more active. Blossoms are out, the sun is shining and the days start to get a little warmer. Here are some great ideas to help increase your energy levels so you can harness this motivation to optimise your health.

1. EAT wELL The largest portion of a healthy nutritional regime should consist of a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. These foods are extremely high in the widest and most dense variety of nutrients, so more than any other foods they will provide what your body requires to function well and keep you energised. Combined with good fats (e.g. eggs, nuts, seeds) and protein (e.g. meat, eggs, legumes) you’ll be on your way to an energy-rich nutritional regime.

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leisure Home & Leisure | 14

BE THE BALL: What better way to get the endorphins pumping than by bouncing off the walls, and into people, in blow-up bubbles.

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BREAKING AURAJET 15 | Home & Leisure

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