Sunday 21st August 2022

this penguin has claimed this newly located house.

​Hello friends and family
The days are rolling into each other as winter ticks along, but Tuesday was a standout – the first fence post was erected to protect the coastal strip between here and the Moeraki colony. This has been anticipated for a long time and will double the safe places for penguins in this area. 

the next step forward

​With a wet winter we will be able to begin planting and for the first year the plan is simple. We will plant flaxes, Cabbage trees and Ngaio. These plantings will provide micro-climates for the less robust species that will come later. Dave has come over and pulled out two flax clumps for us that will give us about 100 plants.

a damp winter morning

​On Wednesday I went to town to hand the keys into the rental agent and left one set behind. I had hoped to get my second COVID booster but there were none available in Oamaru for a month. Sigh.

clouds - no land here!

​I started the job with a realistic plan of 10 flax heels a day. Robbie had lent me his grinder to cut through the hard stems and it all seemed sensible.

harvested flax

By yesterday, my shoulders ached whenever I went near the place! Talk about muscle memory! Drastic measures were called for and so I got out the chainsaw. Magic. If I keep the leaves away from the chain, I can cut through the stumps and pull off the heels. They will sit in water, grow some roots and then colonize the coastline.
Have a great week!
Rosalie