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How to Choose a Self-Sufficient Lifestyle Property in New Zealand (And Avoid a Costly Mistake)

“We bought a castle.”

This is what an American family told me 12 years ago when they contacted me to help them set up a self-sufficient property they’d just bought… on a mountainside… in Slovenia.

It had a small castle they were planning to restore, breathtaking views, and a pipe-dream of living sustainably there.

They were weeks away from relocating their family from the States.

What I told them made them wish they’d called me before they signed the papers.

Strait of Hormuz: What It Means for Food Prices in New Zealand

The Strait of Hormuz handles about 20% of the world’s oil supply. It’s under siege and the effects have already landed on New Zealand shores.

As shocking as this is, I can’t say it comes as a surprise to me. In a moment, you’ll understand why.

I run Bliss Box, a local organic food delivery business in New Zealand. Here’s what I’m seeing on the ground right now.

Bill Mollison warned me about this…

Four years before he died, after his second stroke, Mollison whispered to me: ‘Don’t waste your breath trying to convert conventional growers or consumers to organic.’

‘Why?’, I asked naively.

‘Only a crisis can do that,’ he responded with a raspy cough, fist hitting the arm of his wheelchair.

If your ham and bacon isn’t nitrate-free, it’s a Group 1 carcinogen

The World Health Organization classified processed meats containing nitrites as Group 1 carcinogens back in 2015. That’s the same category as tobacco, asbestos, and arsenic. Yet most New Zealanders are still putting this stuff in their kids’ lunchboxes every day without knowing it.

We’re talking about your everyday deli ham, bacon, salami, prosciutto, chorizo, and yes, even that expensive organic free-range stuff from the fancy butcher. If it’s got Preservative 250 (sodium nitrite) in the ingredients list, it’s classified as a known carcinogen.

Why We’re Changing Our Name

Today, Ooooby becomes Bliss.

It’s a big change. And a personal one. Bliss is our family name, and it also captures our mission: to make healthy eating joyful, simple, and deeply human. We’re still the same team with the same values, but we’re entering a new chapter. And we wanted a name that reflects where we’re going, not just where we’ve been.

Navigating the Hunger Gap: Your Guide to Local Food in Spring

As we shake off the chill of winter and welcome the fresh blooms of spring, many of us look forward to the vibrant produce that will soon grace our farmers’ markets.

However, there’s a little-known phenomenon that can put a damper on our local food enthusiasm during this transitional season: the hunger gap.

Let’s dive into what this means for you as a consumer and how you can navigate it with ease!

How to eat tangelos

Organic tangelos are a delicious and refreshing alternative to oranges, perfect for adding variety to your fruit intake.

They’re naturally sweet, with a juicy, easy-to-peel skin that makes them ideal for snacking on the go.

When sliced, tangelos are simple to eat, making them a fantastic option for kids’ lunches or a quick energy boost during sports. Packed with vitamin C and fiber, they support a healthy immune system and digestive health.

Here’s how:

Safe and effective? EPA allows banned sprays, FSANZ fast-tracks GMOs

On 22 August 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in New Zealand issued an alert about the herbicide DCPA. They’ve formed a working group to investigate concerns about its effects on unborn children.

This follows a recent emergency ban by their US counterpart stating that it can cause irreversible damage to fetuses, even at very low exposure levels. In the EU, it has been banned since 2009!

Meanwhile, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) appears to be fast-tracking legislation to reverse a decades-long ban on genetic modification of food (GMOs) in New Zealand. And to do so without consumer labeling requirements.

This seems reckless and counterintuitive. Below I summarise these issues and suggest what you can do to keep toxic sprays and potential frankenfoods out of your kitchen.

How to buy healthy food if the internet goes down

In July 2024, we witnessed the largest IT outage in history. It’s a wake-up call about how much we rely on technology, even for the local organic food on our dinner tables.

I live off-grid, give food security courses and I have a background in IT. I think about this a lot.

How can we buy high-quality, organic food – even when the shiitake hits the fan?

I will go over some basics and tell you how to get an Ooooby box even if we’re without internet and electricity.

How we make homemade granola

It’s kinda ‘nuts’ paying up to $20 for a bag of healthy breakfast cereal.

Especially when this is such a fun (and educational) thing to do with the kids at home.

It’s not hard and doesn’t take long either.

So here’s how to make organic homemade granola at home. The amount of variations are limitless, so have fun with it!