Airing time: Monday at 9am
Hit the Trail is a seasonal community radio show dedicated to showcasing the annual Taranaki Arts Trail, Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, and Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail which, in 2024, takes place from Friday 1st November to Sunday 10th November.
In the lead-up to these events, Rebecca Beyer, Gabrielle Fawkner, Virginia Winder, and Sophie Walker interview artists, gardeners, and community members of all ages about their passion, their inspiration and the hard work that goes into making it a joyful and interesting experience for visitors. Listen to artists and gardeners talk about their art and the practical and inventive solutions they’ve found to common and vexing problems.
Check the Archives pages for Hit the Trail episodes from previous years
Check out their websites and 2024 event programmes at:
https://www.sustainablebackyards.org.nz
Podcasts
To download the latest episode: Click the kiwifruit to go to the Hit the Trail show page on the accessmedia.nz site:
Click on the title of an episode to listen
Beechwoods, and Gabrielle Fawkner
Inside the fence is an enchanting garden embracing past and present. The old Magnolia Campbellii and huge-trunked Rhododendron Arboreum Tomentosum are part of Sir Victor Davies’ original plan. The old garden has been rejuvenated as a woodland, while the new leads to a figure-of-eight path around a stream and features ornamental specimens and natives. Beechwoods is named after two ancient native beech trees, uncommon in Taranaki, and Adrian McLeod is the former owner of Fairfield Garden Centre. 2313 Mountain Road, RD 10, Tariki (Centuira Taranaki Garden Festival #41) Gabrielle Fawkner's drive to integrate different art mediums comes from a desire for creative expression, and to challenge traditional boundaries. An experienced art teacher and recent art graduate, Gabrielle she sees the potential in combining mediums to create unique textures and visual effects. By using locally sourced materials, she deepens her connection to the environment, enriching the meaning of the work. Her inspiration blends curiosity, innovation, and a deep bond with her materials and surroundings. 33 Devon Street West CBD (Taranaki Arts Trail #32)
Duration: 1:00:49 | Date: 28 October, 2024
Nine Stream Farms, Over the Rainbow
First up, Matt and Vanessa of Nine Stream Farm discuss their experience with regenerative farming on this 100 hectare property. Then meet Rhys & Tim, in their stunning suburban garden, Over the Rainbow.
Duration: 56:17 | Date: 21 October, 2024
Holly Smith & Ahu Ahu Rammed Earth Build
Holly Smith ia a mixed media artist originally from England and based in Hawera, South Taranaki. Inspired by bright bold colour, florals and pattern. Holly loves creating abstract joyful paintings and screen prints. Some pieces are inspired by British Gardens ,and growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Some are purely experimental and imaginative.
19 Gover Street CBD (Taranaki Arts Trail #15)
A conversation with Jane Bowden-Dobson and Jane Dunlop about building a home with rammed earth and co-purchasing land with friends. Learn about what inspired these decisions, the processes involved, and what’s in store for their participation in this year’s Sustainable Builds Trail.
303 Lower Ahu Ahu Rd, Kaitake (Sustainable Builds Trail)
Duration: 58:54 | Date: 14 October, 2024
Te Kāinga Marire & Tasha Waterson
Te Kāinga Marire is the only private native garden sanctuary in New Zealand to be rated as a Garden of International Significance. Te Kāinga Marire’s (translated ‘peaceful encampment’) point of difference lies in the natural plant associations that evoke a feeling of the real New Zealand. This native plant paradise was developed in 1972 from clay wasteland. Keen outdoor adventurers, the owners wanted a bird-friendly garden designed around the ecological groups they had observed in the wild. New Zealand native grasses, climbers, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees have been carefully nurtured around rustic fences, a wetland, a colonial bush hut and cool fern-filled whare. Shy tui now regularly fly into the garden to feed.
15 Spencer Place, New Plymouth (Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival #10)
Tasha Waterson is a Taranaki artist based in New Plymouth. Tasha’s artwork takes inspiration from the human form and her sculptures are line drawings that blur boundaries between two dimensional and three dimensional drawings The shadows cast by the sculptures give the artwork more depth and confuses the viewer into thinking that the shadows are part of the drawing.
33 Devon Street West CBD (Taranaki Arts Trail #34)
Duration: 00:58:02 | Date: 7 October, 2024
The Medicine Place, Eudaimonia, Blue Petal & Christiansen Garden
Sophie chats with naturopath Cat Neale, at her off-grid 2 acre property at the end of Mangorei Road. Learn about Cat’s journey toward creating a regenerative food forest and medicine garden with medicinal herbs and plants. Sophie then meets with Martina Murray from Blue Petal and Caroline Gottfert from Eudaimonia and they talk about their properties, what they’re growing, sustainable practices they use and why. Specifically planting for wellness and regenerative purposes.
The Medicine Place #10 - 1766 Mangorei Rd, Mangorei
Eudaimonia #9 - 274 Korito Rd, Korito
Blue Petal Botanicals #8 - 335 Maude Rd, Korito
(Sustainable Backyards Trail)
On the outskirts of Hāwera, Steve and Kerry Christiansen have created a semi-formal garden with manicured lawns and shapely hedging of many varieties. This one-acre garden, less than five years old, is dotted with rustic garden art, including Kerry’s birdhouses made from recycled materials. You’ll also see an avenue of espaliered fruit trees, a quaint black-and-white craft shed and greenhouse. Christmas crafts and garden art for sale.
200 Ketemarae Road, Hāwera (Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival #36)
Duration: 59:39 | Date: 30 September, 2024
Portia Roper & Mountain Road Estate, St Mary’s Community Garden
Portia is a multi-media artist interested in the interplay between collage materials, stitching and books, Portia searches op shops for treasures, particularly illustrated animal books. Op shops inspire new works and provide materials.
Based at 851 South Road Omata (Taranaki Arts Trail #81)
A conversation with Kylie Zinsli from Mountain Road Estate about their decision to develop their 3 acre property from paddocks into spaces for growing organic lavender, sage, truffles, hazelnuts and more! All with the goal of health and wellness in mind for all. Learn about their products and what they have planned for this year’s Sustainable Trails.
Mountain Road Estate based at 5881 Mountain Rd, Normanby and St Mary’s Community Garden based at 101 Collins St, Hāwera (Sustainable Backyards Trail #18)
Duration: 59:53 | Date: 23 September, 2024
Saxton Sanctuary & Katrina Cosgrove
This 40-year-old woodland garden, legacy of a renowned Taranaki plantsman, has provided historical content for current owners Kim and Owen. The 0.6ha holds an extensive array of evergreen and deciduous, native and exotics along with rare and unique plants. Vast colour is provided by rhododendrons, azaleas, astilbes and irises. Hostas flourish at the pond alongside burgundy and red maples.
48 Saxton Rd, New Plymouth (Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival #25)
Katrina is a New Zealand artist based in New Plymouth. She creates the most beautiful and detailed botanical, floral and landscape art. Her artwork has been described as expressionistic, and each piece is a reflection of her imagination and real-life observations. Katrina connects her artistic inspiration to New Zealand’s stunning landscapes, especially its lush native bush, ocean vistas and abundance of plant life. With a background in various mediums, she has honed her unique artistic techniques, creating colorful, vibrant and detailed pieces that reflect her passion for nature. Through each piece, she aims not just to showcase her perspective, but to evoke feelings and inspire viewers based on their own interpretations.
Based at 20 Heaphy Street, Westown (Taranaki Arts Trail #44)
Duration: 0:59:55 | Date: 16 September, 2024
Kahu Glen Hemp Build, Organic Feijoa Farm & Over the Rainbow
A conversation with Matt Low about building a hempcrete home, the inspiration behind that decision, and the process involved. Learn about their decision to be part of both the Sustainable Builds and Sustainable Farms trails, what it takes to run an organic feijoa orchard, and the workshops planned for this year's trails. 175 Paraite Road, Bell Block (Sustainable Builds and Farms)
At the end of this cul-de-sac lies a hidden garden. From structured planting at the front, explore the slopes of perennials, tree ferns and bromeliads before stepping down to a secluded native bush walk. A distinctive house, designed by Roger Walker in 1979, looks out over this curated, eclectic garden, which is completed by selected ethnic artworks. Garden featured in NZ House & Garden March 2022 issue. 26 Mayfair Place, New Plymouth (Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival #24)
Duration: 0:59:49 | Date: 9 September, 2024
Katrin Lemcke & Bayly Terraces
Artist Katrin Lemcke came to Taranaki 20 years ago as an exchange student at Waitara High School. After returning to Germany to finish high school there, she also completed an apprenticeship as a traditional goldsmith. Only recently, after working independently, Katrin has taken great delight in experimenting with ancient and modern techniques of jewellery making, like lost-mould casting, handweaving of chains, gemstone setting, hand engraving, and oxidisation of metals. Inspiration is often taken from archaeological findings of the European bronze age, architecture and nature. The materials used are mainly silver, gold and copper. These often come from old jewellery, or from silver cutlery that gets molten down to have a low impact on the environment.
560 Devon Street East, Fitzroy (Taranaki Arts Trail #10)
A conversation with Chanelle Carrick at her urban New Plymouth property, Bayly Tarraces. A 1100m2, work-in-progress, permaculture garden. Chanelle talks about the property’s unique features, being part of the Sustainable Backyards Trail. We also cover new additions to the garden, and events and workshops planned for the backyards trails this year.
94b Bayly Rd, Blagdon (Sustainable Backyards Trail #2)
Duration: 1:00:02 | Date: 2 September, 2024