Sage Hearth Homestead

Spring has well and truly arrived at Sage Hearth, and it hasn’t come quietly. The mix of warmth and rain has sent everything racing skyward — grasses stretching fast, weeds bolting almost overnight, green pressing in from every direction. The land doesn’t ease into spring; it surges, and suddenly there’s a lot to keep up with. The past few weeks have been spent answering that growth with steady, practical work. Ben has been out cutting paths through stubborn wireweed at the edge of the hay paddock, reclaiming the orchard tree by tree, and topping the goats’ paddock so the grass stays fresh, sweet, and good for them. It’s hard, dusty work — the kind that leaves arms aching and boots coated in green — but there’s deep satisfaction in watching order slowly return. It always amuses me how Ben seems to inherit the heaviest tasks. Entirely coincidental, of course. Spring has a way of revealing who’s needed where, and out here, everyone plays their part. This is the rhythm of the...

Little DIY Joys and Goat Acrobatics Another wee project ticked off… though every time Ben finishes one thing, I somehow add three more to his list 😅 This time, we crafted a couple of little goat seesaws from old tyres and pallet wood. The babies—Guinevere (Gwen) and Norbert (named by our lovely neighbour)—were equal parts curious and cautious, ready to put them to the ultimate test. All the pieces ready for assembly before heading out to the goat paddock. Ben carefully putting the components together, making sure the seesaws are safe and sturdy for the first test. Mum Ghana had to inspect the seesaw too, making sure it was suitable for her mischievous brood. Norbert cautiously sizing up his very first leap on the seesaw. Baby steps, but big excitement! The second seesaw, even thinner and tippier, proved to be a favourite of both goat kids. Approval granted! Both goat kids gave the ...

🐐 Escape Artists on Patrol 🐐 Sometimes, the smallest adventurers make the biggest mornings. Just when you think the homestead is fully goat-proofed… the tiny masterminds strike! 🙃🐐 Earlier this spring, our two miniature Houdinis discovered the one stretch of old wire that we haddnt gotten to in thier paddock. Off they trotted to the patio to deliver a very surprising hello to the cat—who, naturally, was less than thrilled. Into the soft spring drizzle stepped Ben, leather hat perched on his head, boots squelching in the wet grass, hands ready to tame the rebellious wires. The goats, of course, claimed their favorite viewing spot a few meters back, tails flicking, ears twitching, clearly judging every move. Ben wrestling with the corner, leather hat on, watched closely by our most critical audience. Tightening wires with precision—and goats approving from afar. Life on the homestead often feels like a playful, whimsical dance between plans and...

Making the Most of Tractor Day There are some days on the homestead that feel like magic simply because the right tool shows up at the right time. And when that tool is a tractor… well, you make absolutely the most of it before it heads home. 🚜✨ Before Dad took the tractor back, the three of us — Dad, Ben, and I — squeezed every last minute out of the sunny day, tackling all those little-but-important jobs that just need a bit of mechanical muscle. The kind of jobs that somehow seem endless until you have the right machinery on hand. We dug out hidden stumps lurking in the lawn (the mower will thank us later), levelled a stubborn dip in the front yard, smoothed and added soil to the orchard edges, and pulled a couple of stray fence posts that had been hanging around with no fence attached. Branches from recent trims found their way to the burn pile, and finally, we shifted a heavy concrete trough from the driveway entrance up to the future paddock — ready and waiting for when it’s ...

A Quiet Reminder Beneath the Trees Some moments on the homestead don’t announce themselves — they don’t arrive with newborn squeaks or a clatter at the gate or any kind of urgency. Instead, they slip in softly, usually when we’re rushing, and tap us lightly on the shoulder as if to say, slow down… look here. We were only meant to be moving the sheep. A simple job, one of those quick errands you tuck between bigger tasks, especially in late spring when the days stretch long and the to-do list somehow stretches even longer. But as we cut through the bush, the world changed pace around us. The light fell in warm, dappled patches — those golden pockets that only appear this time of year, when the sun sits just right and the undergrowth shakes off the last of winter’s heaviness. Moss draped from branches like soft green lace, the air smelled faintly sweet, and everything felt unhurried in a way I hadn’t realised I needed. And then — tucked low in the grass, quiet but impos...

A Double Dose of Tiny Hooves at Sage Hearth Spring always feels like a deep exhale here on the homestead—long light, soft air, and the sense that everything is waking up at once. But nothing marks the season quite like the arrival of new life in the paddocks. Early November brought that magic twice over, and now that the whirlwind of spring kidding has settled, we can finally share the newest little souls to join our herd. Guinevere was the first to make her appearance, bright-eyed and brimming with personality before she’d even mastered her balance. Small but absolutely certain of herself, she took to the world with a determined little skip, testing her springy legs and inspecting every corner as though she were conducting an official survey. There’s something endlessly entertaining about a kid who already behaves like she has important places to be. A few days later came Ghana’s wee boy, who arrived quickly one afternoon while we were busy paving the front entrance. As Ben and ...

Reviving the Cottage Entrance: A Pathway Worthy of the Hearth One of the greatest challenges at the front of the cottage was the entrance itself—boggy in winter, shaded year-round, and honestly… it didn’t exactly invite anyone to use the front door. It felt forgotten, a little swampy threshold that didn’t match the heart of the home behind it. But the Hearth deserved better. So we rolled up our sleeves and set out to create a clear, dry, welcoming path—a true approach to the cottage rather than an obstacle course. What followed was a project powered by grit, determination, and the kind of family support that makes the hardest jobs feel possible. We dug deep—literally—moving soil by hand, carving out a giant foundation for the new entranceway. Then came the careful layering: pumice for drainage, crusher dust for levelling, each step meticulously shaped and compacted. Dad arrived with the tractor, speeding up what would’ve taken us weeks. And the pavers? Recycled, gifted, a...

The Third Pillar of Sage Hearth: Welcoming The Forge Some parts of a homestead grow from the soil, and others rise from fire and steel. We’ve shared the Hearth—the heart of home—and the Sage—the quiet devotion to natural wellness. Now it’s time to introduce the third pillar of our life here: The Forge. At its core, blacksmithing is the purest form of hands-on creation—fire, metal, rhythm, and intention. It’s where raw steel becomes tools, hardware, and art that will serve this land for decades. And here at Sage Hearth, The Forge is becoming a place where practicality meets craft, and old skills find new purpose. That anvil resting on the stump? It’s a story all on its own. Shortly after we moved in, a powerful storm swept across the property and brought down a large branch from an ancient totara. Instead of letting it go to waste, we cut a clean round from the fallen wood and gave it ...

The Story of Sage: Care by KC’s Journey Home to the Hearth Most of you already know the Hearth—the work-worn hands, the slow rhythm, the living pulse of this little farm we’re coaxing back to life one day at a time. But today, I want to share the Sage—the quiet, fragrant thread that has been travelling with me long before Sage Hearth had a name. Before there were fence posts to set or gardens to plan, there was Care by KC : my gentle devotion to nature-focused wellness. A small collection of intentional skincare, herbal remedies, and handmade gifts crafted for those who seek simplicity, softness, and slow living. These photos are a look back at our summer market stalls, when the brand was still wandering—hopeful, but unrooted—waiting for a place it could belong. Now, at last, it has come home. Here at Sage Hearth, Care by KC is settling into the soil that has always inspired it. We may not be able to grow every ingredient—New Zealand...

Homestead Lesson: The Hidden Stay—Staying One Step Ahead of the Goats Some lessons on the homestead aren’t learned from books—they reveal themselves the moment you watch an animal assess your hard work and immediately begin plotting a way around it. Our Nigerian Dwarf goats may be small, but they are endlessly curious, and we’re learning quickly that fencing at Sage Hearth requires as much strategy as it does strength. While many animals test a fence by pushing or leaning, goats have an entirely different approach. Give them an above-ground stay or brace, and they’ll turn it into a perfect climbing platform, transforming secure fencing into an opportunity for adventure. So when we began building a new corner post, we were incredibly grateful for my dad’s help. He showed us how to create a “hidden stay”—a buried timber that reinforces the corner without providing any tempting footholds. It’s a simple, effective technique, the kind that prevents escapes, reduces costs, and saves...

Building Homestead Foundations at Dusk: Our First Fencing on Sage Hearth Building Homestead Foundations at Dusk: Our First Fencing on Sage Hearth Some days on the homestead feel simple and steady, and others quietly mark the beginning of something bigger. This evening in August 2025 was one of those moments. Ben was out on the land as the light slipped away, finishing the very first stretch of internal fencing Sage Hearth has seen in a long time. A previous owner had removed almost all of the fence lines, so we will have to rebuild everything from scratch—slowly, as the budget allows. This little section wasn’t grand or sweeping, but it was important: it was the one piece we needed to finally bring our Nigerian Dwarf goats home. There was nothing fancy about the work. Just posts, wire, staples, and determination. But standing there, watching the last of the day settle over the paddock, it felt like a turning point all the same. Thi...

When the Project Managers Arrive on Tiny Hooves Life at Sage Hearth has a way of reminding us that even the simplest job can turn into a moment worth pausing for. Ben headed out with nothing more on his mind than digging a neat hole to relocate a young tree into the goat paddock. But before he’d even found his rhythm, two familiar faces wandered over—the same lambs we rescued during that wild storm earlier in the season. Now happy, sturdy, and full of confidence, they seem convinced they're qualified to oversee every outdoor task. And supervise they did—each shovel of dirt carefully observed, each movement quietly monitored. Ben’s work pace… gently adjusted. But truly, these are the interruptions we treasure. Watching them roam freely, curious and full of life, is one of the quiet rewards of homesteading. Moments like this—the soft bleats, the gentle nudges, the unexpected company—are the heartbeat of slow living here at Sage Hearth. ...

Welcoming New Life to Sage Hearth Spring beginnings on the homestead Spring arrived with a rush at Sage Hearth, and with it came one of the most rewarding—and humbling—parts of homestead life: welcoming our sheep to their new home. They arrived at the beginning of September, with just enough time to settle into the land before lambing began. Homesteading is deeply fulfilling, but it certainly doesn’t shy away from testing your grit. When two little lambs chose a bitterly cold, stormy day to make their entrance, we knew we had to move quickly. They were too cold and weak to stand and drink, and their mum needed a bit of support too. My drystock farming upbringing kicked in immediately, and family offered steady, familiar guidance. But the moment that truly anchored the day was our neighbours stepping in without hesitation. Together, we caught Mumma sheep and moved her into the stables with her babies, giving them th...