A place to find Dee's Articles, Information and Opinion.
The food pyramid - A model for obesity
Being overweight is not a disease; it is a symptom that things are wrong with your diet. Did you ever imagine that a young woman could kill herself by drinking coke? Join the growing band of Food Nannies, the parents that care about children's health...
Being overweight is not a disease; it is a symptom that things are wrong with your diet. Is it any wonder that in today's fast food culture when flour in biscuits, tomatoes in tomato sauce, and potatoes in chips contribute to grain, fruit and vegetable servings that many people are becoming aware that the USDA 'food pyramid' is an unsuitable model for promoting health? ... Read more
Great Ideas Grow Better
A green-fingered author and educator is helping people help themselves - and make the planet a better place ... Read more
Backyard Chooks
Chickens have been the flavour of the month for a couple of years now, but North Shore City Council regulations restrict the number of chickens I can keep in my urban garden to six, although once when I had four broody hens arranged in small runs on the back lawn ... Read more
Predator–prey cycles in the home garden
To help your plants survive insect pests, Dee Pigneguy shows the importance of getting to know the predators and prey in your garden, and understanding their life cycles ... Read more
Aitutaki Cyclone
Dee and Mike used to manage Tauono's Organic café, each year (2002-2008) for a month or so when Sonja and Tauono were overseas having a well earned holiday. Tauono died from a stroke while visiting Auckland in December 2009. Sonja and her cat Banff experienced the full force of Cyclone Pat in February 2010 and the following is part of an email she sent to us ... Read more
Snack Attack
Snack Food accounts for one-quarter of children's calories, so pervasive are these non-foods that moves are afoot in the United States, where February is their National Snack Food Month, to have snack food seen as a major food group ... Read more
Feed Me Right Courses
Dee is known for her inspirational edible gardening and "feed me right courses" says Jackie Russel of the Howick and Pakuranga Times ... Read more
Natures Techno Tricks in Action
Our 4 year old children used the information they "read" to learn about wasp nests. They then made their own nest using the shape and 'stamped' the interlocking shapes. They then cut around their nest and displayed their work on the wall.
This all fits with the Early childhood Curriculum Te Whariki Communication & Exploration Goal. Finding information and using it to build their knowledge and understanding of the natural world.
Cathy
Introducing Arocatus rusticus The Swan Plant Seed Bug
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and while examining a swan plant that had reached 2 metres, tiny flashes of red caught my eye.
On closer examination I saw the tightly clustered swan plant seeds were crawling with tiny red insects that I had never seen before. Photographs being the best method of identification, Mike was
quickly on hand to photograph the evidence.
After capturing the insects and placing them in a large jar, complete with foliage and seeds, I rang Landcare Research. An email complete with photographs was sent to Leonie Clunie.
Her reply:
"These insects are the immature stage of Arocatus rusticus, an Australian bug. Common name is swan plant seed bug, as that is where it's usually found. Also found on a NZ plant Parsonsia and Tweedia. Hibernates under bark and under old leaves of cabbage trees. These nymphs don't have fully developed wings yet. In adults, grey wings cover the red body and you only see a red flash as they launch into flight."
I will be watching with interest to see if we can photograph the adults when they develop. But if any of you have seen this insect and would like to share some of your photos, just send me an email.
Dee
Sonja's Kitchen
With my expertise in cooking and growing food organically and Mike's ability to repair and fix things we were the perfect couple to manage Tauono's Organic garden Cafe between 2001-2008 on Aitutaki, the quintessential tropical island.
Experimenting with new recipes, gathering food from the plantations, tending the cafe garden and cooking with island food was an absolute delight. Visitors loved the abundant tropical produce and the unique island-based cuisine which offered healthier alternatives to the highly refined and imported processed food. I knew that Aitutaki and Sonja's cuisine needed to be shared with people unable to sit in the garden and savour the food, the flavours, the colours and the warm tropical air.
So I teamed up with Sonja to bring these delicious island flavours to your kitchen. Now, let Sonja's Kitchen inspire you to create many delectable dishes that visitors have enjoyed at Tauono's Organic Garden Cafe on Aitutaki.
Now available.
Click to have a sneak peek
Click to order your copy
Storylines Auckland Family Day - August 2011
The Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Writers and Illustrators has been a highlight of many families' calendars since 1993.
The festival – particularly the Free Family Days around the country – give children (and adults!) a chance to meet their literary heroes - authors, illustrators, storytellers or book characters.
While visiting Dee at Factopia, and using the masks many children discovered some of nature’s clever technology and experienced the world of insect eyes..
If you would like Dee to bring her insect heads to your school to show you just how insects see please contact her.
Fruit Tree Pruning with Rob Velseboer
Why Prune?
We prune to prevent disease, damage and manage size.
Robs Fruit Tree Tips
• Buy Fruit Trees from a reputable source
• You want a 'pickable' height for your section. This may be dwarf root stock.
• Prune for mowing and for air movement in and around the tree.
Learn more about pruning
Stephanie Bowman
Kia ora koutou, Many of you will have met Stephanie Bowman when she was in New Zealand and helped make the wonderful eel tapestry. Velvet is now on the move check out her blog to see when will it be coming to your location.
Stephanie Bowman's Blog
Croydon West Primary School
While in Melbourne recently, Dee visited the Croydon West Primary School. Ruth Bode, the Sustainable Future's Teacher and her pupils showed Dee around their amazing school garden.
Catch the action on Ruth's blog.
The food pyramid - A model for obesity
Being overweight is not a disease; it is a symptom that things are wrong with your diet. Did you ever imagine that a young woman could kill herself by drinking coke? Join the growing band of Food Nannies, the parents that care about children's health...Being overweight is not a disease; it is a symptom that things are wrong with your diet. Is it any wonder that in today's fast food culture when flour in biscuits, tomatoes in tomato sauce, and potatoes in chips contribute to grain, fruit and vegetable servings that many people are becoming aware that the USDA 'food pyramid' is an unsuitable model for promoting health? ... Read more
A green-fingered author and educator is helping people help themselves - and make the planet a better place ... Read more
Chickens have been the flavour of the month for a couple of years now, but North Shore City Council regulations restrict the number of chickens I can keep in my urban garden to six, although once when I had four broody hens arranged in small runs on the back lawn ... Read more
To help your plants survive insect pests, Dee Pigneguy shows the importance of getting to know the predators and prey in your garden, and understanding their life cycles ... Read more
Dee and Mike used to manage Tauono's Organic café, each year (2002-2008) for a month or so when Sonja and Tauono were overseas having a well earned holiday. Tauono died from a stroke while visiting Auckland in December 2009. Sonja and her cat Banff experienced the full force of Cyclone Pat in February 2010 and the following is part of an email she sent to us ... Read more
Snack Food accounts for one-quarter of children's calories, so pervasive are these non-foods that moves are afoot in the United States, where February is their National Snack Food Month, to have snack food seen as a major food group ... Read more
Dee is known for her inspirational edible gardening and "feed me right courses" says Jackie Russel of the Howick and Pakuranga Times ... Read more
Our 4 year old children used the information they "read" to learn about wasp nests. They then made their own nest using the shape and 'stamped' the interlocking shapes. They then cut around their nest and displayed their work on the wall.
This all fits with the Early childhood Curriculum Te Whariki Communication & Exploration Goal. Finding information and using it to build their knowledge and understanding of the natural world.
Cathy
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and while examining a swan plant that had reached 2 metres, tiny flashes of red caught my eye.
On closer examination I saw the tightly clustered swan plant seeds were crawling with tiny red insects that I had never seen before. Photographs being the best method of identification, Mike was
quickly on hand to photograph the evidence.After capturing the insects and placing them in a large jar, complete with foliage and seeds, I rang Landcare Research. An email complete with photographs was sent to Leonie Clunie.
Her reply:
"These insects are the immature stage of Arocatus rusticus, an Australian bug. Common name is swan plant seed bug, as that is where it's usually found. Also found on a NZ plant Parsonsia and Tweedia. Hibernates under bark and under old leaves of cabbage trees. These nymphs don't have fully developed wings yet. In adults, grey wings cover the red body and you only see a red flash as they launch into flight."
I will be watching with interest to see if we can photograph the adults when they develop. But if any of you have seen this insect and would like to share some of your photos, just send me an email.
Dee
 |
 |
 |
 |
Experimenting with new recipes, gathering food from the plantations, tending the cafe garden and cooking with island food was an absolute delight. Visitors loved the abundant tropical produce and the unique island-based cuisine which offered healthier alternatives to the highly refined and imported processed food. I knew that Aitutaki and Sonja's cuisine needed to be shared with people unable to sit in the garden and savour the food, the flavours, the colours and the warm tropical air.
So I teamed up with Sonja to bring these delicious island flavours to your kitchen. Now, let Sonja's Kitchen inspire you to create many delectable dishes that visitors have enjoyed at Tauono's Organic Garden Cafe on Aitutaki.
Now available.
Click to have a sneak peek
Click to order your copy
 |
 |
The festival – particularly the Free Family Days around the country – give children (and adults!) a chance to meet their literary heroes - authors, illustrators, storytellers or book characters.
While visiting Dee at Factopia, and using the masks many children discovered some of nature’s clever technology and experienced the world of insect eyes..
If you would like Dee to bring her insect heads to your school to show you just how insects see please contact her.
Why Prune?
We prune to prevent disease, damage and manage size.
Robs Fruit Tree Tips
• Buy Fruit Trees from a reputable source
• You want a 'pickable' height for your section. This may be dwarf root stock.
• Prune for mowing and for air movement in and around the tree.
Learn more about pruning
Kia ora koutou, Many of you will have met Stephanie Bowman when she was in New Zealand and helped make the wonderful eel tapestry. Velvet is now on the move check out her blog to see when will it be coming to your location.
Stephanie Bowman's Blog
While in Melbourne recently, Dee visited the Croydon West Primary School. Ruth Bode, the Sustainable Future's Teacher and her pupils showed Dee around their amazing school garden.
Catch the action on Ruth's blog.
Dee Pignéguy Organic Garden Workshops, Author, Freelance Writer, Speaker |
|
Her sessions leave people with the understanding that making a garden is easy, doesn't have to be expensive and is not a hassle. |
|
The soil food web breaks down the garden waste in the compost heap. |
|
Marigolds provide a splash of colour in the vegetable garden. |
|
There are many varieties of climbing beans suitable for the home garden. |
|
Fennel seeds are edible and can be used for salads and baking. The Day Lily flowers are edible and used for salads. |
|
Free range fertile eggs are available so your brood hen can raise her own chicks. |
|
Amaranth, a nutritious protein rich grain. |
|
Gathering enzyme rich salad greens fresh from the home garden. |
|
Rhubard does not like to be disturbed. It needs plenty of compost. |
|
Dee uses cloches to extend the growing season. |
|
Stevia, 200 times sweeter than sugar. Can be grown, dried, powdered and used as a sugar substitute. |
|
Growing squash on fences saves space. |
|
The unusual Buddha's hand citron can be used to make candied peel. |
|
