Water Conservation - Levin and Ōhau, Foxton & Foxton Beach

Water Conservation Level 2 is in place for Levin and Ōhau from Friday 23 February 2024 until further notice. Water Restrictions have been lifted for Foxton and Foxton Beach effective Monday 29 April 2024. Thank you for conserving water.

Find out more on our Water Conservation & Restrictions page

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Temporary Overnight Water Supply Shutdown - Shannon

We're upgrading the Shannon Wastewater Treatment Plant's pipework, and part of this work requires a temporary overnight water shutdown on Wednesday 1 May 2024. The shutdown hours are from 9pm to 6am and will affect all properties connected to the town water supply in Shannon. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as this project is completed.

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Gardening with Simon - Sharing the Joy of Gardening with Friends

Published on October 30, 2023

Gardening with Simon Gardening with Friends.

Gardening brings people together. Whether it’s planting a commemorative tree with a group of people, passing on gardening tips to the younger generation, sharing a meal in a garden setting, or sharing kai grown in your backyard, gardening helps us all connect.

Gardening is one of life’s simple pleasures and it can be enjoyed by anyone of any age. Even those without a green thumb can turn gardening into a fun and social activity by inviting others to join in to add fun and laughter as you spruce up your outdoor area. Or maybe you could go walking with your friends around the neighbourhood to admire other people’s gardens?

Sharing food you have grown is a heart-felt way of showing someone you care, especially to those without the ability or time to nurture an edible garden.

It could even connect you with others in the neighbourhood who might be interested in swapping crops – or you could host a dinner party to bring people together. Home grown salads always taste best!

Versatile potatoes are always great to have on hand for your next potluck. In New Zealand, potato planting time is between September and December.

To get the best from my potato crop, I dig a deepish trench, add a layer of homemade compost, a layer of Chicken & Sheep pellets mixed with potato fertiliser, followed by a layer of topsoil.
Place certified seed potatoes on top at a distance of nine to twelve inches apart. Carefully put some of the dugout soil on top, being careful not to break the shoots.
In a few months you’ll be enjoying delicious homemade fries, mashed potatoes, potato salad and more!

Sweetcorn is another treat for the warmer months. Best planted after the frost of spring has gone, plant sweetcorn in the warmest spot in your garden in a block as it is wind pollinated.

Be extra vigilant if you’re planting tomatoes – when they start to grow you will notice little shoots developing between the main stem and the off stems. These are called laterals. You’ll need to remove these or you will have a massive plant not achieving a lot. If you do let a few grow, you can plant them in the ground for an added tomato plant.

What to plant in spring: