growing avocados

**Hitcher** · 29th June 2005, 12:58

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Also, I think there is an Avocado board or grower's association around somewhere? I recall we downloaded a bunch of useful stuff.

Try www.nzavocado.co.nz

**MikeL** · 29th June 2005, 14:11

Originally Posted by Odin

...and I'm guessing they are from "supermarket" stoneds ? they are no good as they are from hybrids and if they fruigt it will be a while (12 years...or more) and not nececarily very good fruigt....sorry to spoil the party. but they might be useful for grafting a branch from a "real" advocado tree on to.

I've got 3 avocado trees in my suburban Auckland section. All were grown from seeds thrown out inot the garden between 8 - 10 years ago. The oldest one has produced a small crop of fruit for the last couple of years and one of the others had a couple on it last season. Hard to say what the quality is because the accessible fruit has been stolen by people walking past the boundary, and the rest has been either badly pecked by birds as soon as it started to ripen or so high up that I can't get at it. I have also been told frequently that you need grafted trees if you are serious about getting a good crop.

**vifferman** · 29th June 2005, 14:14

Originally Posted by Fart

Awesome !

I am thinking of buying a lifestyle block of around 3-10 acres. Is it alot of work to maintain the large piece of land?

No, not a lot of work at all. Just buy a few pygmy goats, and lotsa beers. Sit round in your deckchair, swilling beer, reading novels, eating fine cheeses and listening to the goats farting, while you grow comfortably fat and rich.

Originally Posted by Farty

Is there anything I should be aware of before I make a decision to purchase?

Yes.
The Beer will have to be bought, brewed or stolen. Beer doesn't grow on trees.

**Fart** · 29th June 2005, 14:49

That is what I am doing right now. Hanging around the Auckland house drinking beer and doing nothing while watching myself fart.

I am thinking of getting out of the rat race (Auckland) and getting myself a nice lifstyle block and watch the goats fart instead. The only problem is that I am allegic to hard work. So was wondering if there is alot fo work owning a lifestyle block.

**vifferman** · 29th June 2005, 14:55

Originally Posted by Fart

So was wondering if there is alot fo work owning a lifestyle block.

Yeah, you said that already.
Not a lot of work in owning one - it's in maintaining one, and that depends on what you're doing with it. My sister has a 9.x acre block, and they may as well be living in town. Apart from growing a few fruit trees and some flowers around the house, they do nothing to it themselves, and the neighbouring farmers use it for grazing, haymaking, etc.

If you're serious about growing stuff, then there'll be some work involved, in mowing (even if you have animules), weeding/weedspraying, tending to the crops, maintaining fences, checking IDs of the contract dope growers, prowling around with a shotgun growling, "Git Off Mah Lay-ind!!", etc.

**Fart** · 29th June 2005, 14:59

Best place to buy a lifestyle block without paying stupid prices?

**vifferman** · 29th June 2005, 15:01

Originally Posted by Fart

Best place to buy a lifestyle block without paying stupid prices?

Siberia, or mebbe somewhere like Ruatoria.
I dunno, actually. But you guessed that, didn't choo?

**WINJA** · 29th June 2005, 18:46

Originally Posted by Fart

Best place to buy a lifestyle block without paying stupid prices?

BUY BETWEEN HAMILTON AND AUCK BUT BE FAST PEOPLE ARE CATCHING ON QUICK, TAUPARI, NGARUAWAHIA AND HUNTLY GIVE YOU A STAB AT 2 JOB MARKETS AND THE AREA WILL HAVE A PRISON SOON . I ONLY GOT 2 ACRES OR LESS BUT THATS ALL I NEED ITS MORE WORK THAN YOU THINK , AT THE MOMENT IM FARMING GORSE

**Fart** · 29th June 2005, 18:49

How much for a 2-4 acre block in that area?

**WINJA** · 29th June 2005, 19:01

Originally Posted by Fart

How much for a 2-4 acre block in that area?

$250,000 FOR 1 ACRE AND A HOUSE DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WANT IT AND WHAT CONDITION .
I BOUGHT 2 ACRES WITH 2 HOUSES A DOUBLE GARAGE AND A SLEEPOUT IM TURNING THE SLEEPOUT INTO THE BIKE WORKSHOP FROM HELL.
ONE OF THE HOUSES IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD THE VILLA I LIVE IN IS ROUGH FUCK
ITS A LOT OF WORK ITLL BE WORTH IT THOUGH , ALL I NEED IS A CASH CROP

**Sutage** · 29th June 2005, 19:09

Originally Posted by WINJA

ALL I NEED IS A CASH CROP

grow some dope:P what else do huntly teenagers have to do? apart from killing cats of course

**Fart** · 29th June 2005, 19:20

Originally Posted by WINJA

$250,000 FOR 1 ACRE AND A HOUSE DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WANT IT AND WHAT CONDITION .
I BOUGHT 2 ACRES WITH 2 HOUSES A DOUBLE GARAGE AND A SLEEPOUT IM TURNING THE SLEEPOUT INTO THE BIKE WORKSHOP FROM HELL.
ONE OF THE HOUSES IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD THE VILLA I LIVE IN IS ROUGH FUCK
ITS A LOT OF WORK ITLL BE WORTH IT THOUGH , ALL I NEED IS A CASH CROP

Thats a pretty good price. Have to give me a bell when you have finished your workshop from hell, I will drop by for a visit. Thanks for the advice and will look to purchase a lifestyle block maybe next year.

**WINJA** · 29th June 2005, 19:27

Originally Posted by Fart

Thats a pretty good price. Have to give me a bell when you have finished your workshop from hell, I will drop by for a visit. Thanks for the advice and will look to purchase a lifestyle block maybe next year.

YOU CAN PM FOR THE ADDRESS WHEN YOU WANT TO HAVE A LOOK I HAVE A COFFEE MACHINE , ILL KEEP AN EYE OPEN FOR BARGAINS IF YOU WANT

**750Y** · 29th June 2005, 19:53

Originally Posted by Fart

I am thinking of getting out of the rat race (Auckland) and getting myself a nice lifstyle block and watch the goats fart instead. The only problem is that I am allegic to hard work. So was wondering if there is alot fo work owning a lifestyle block.

It really depends on what You're wanting out of it.
If You're lazy I wouldn't recommend it unless You can afford all the toys to make the jobs easier but You'll still have a never ending job on your hands, it's never 'finished'.
Also be prepared to spend plenty of time/money maintaining it.
I have a 15 acre lifestyle block in Hunua & I need plenty of gear to maintain/work it.(tractor,quad,mowers,sprayers,chainsaw,scrubcut ter bla bla)
I also work fulltime in town so i find it keeps me busy.
If You wanna actually make money from it You will have to do some research.
I have Scottish Highland Cattle(shaggy cows with massive horns) which I'm breeding & sheep(which I kill when the freezer starts looking sad).
i had a citrus grove(oranges, grapefruit,lemons,tangelos etc) which i cut back from about 200 trees to 60 odd because of the maintenance aspect in relation to the return.
I would recommend buying something setup ready to go if You can afford it, that's the only way You're gonna get to kick back & relax more.
On the plus side It's good to escape the bustle at the end of the day & the countryside is a pleasant environment if you're into it. Also for the kids, they ride the quad & feed the cows,sheep & chickens & get to see animals being born. they run around in the paddock in their gumboots & there's no road to get run over on & the worst thing they have to look out for is the electric fence. I love it.