Reposted by Douglas HorrellRachael King @rachaelking70.bsky.social · 22/09/2026So a really important New Zealand book is published today. No, not that one. This one! The fourth and final Violet and the Velvets! 27626
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 09/08/2026(Some day I'll do the numbers on putting a solar panel lid on the box of my cargo ebike. I suspect that would stack up much more favourably.) 121
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 09/08/2026BUT, cars spend 90-something % of their time stationary. Maybe we just need more solar panels on carparks? 120
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Current EVs are remodeled ICE cars. Heavy (and getting heavier) because car bloat is our current paradigm. Will be interesting to see if one day cars get smaller and lighter to maximise the efficiency of moving the human payload. Solar contribution might be more viable then? 110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Love Custard Square Bookshop! Not in the least because Tony chased me down the road with an envelope containing £80 that we'd left tucked inside a book I'd just donated. 040
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 05/08/2026True. It's about the gap size. The rollers are knurled/textured and will grab the grain, but the mill needs to be set only fractionally smaller than the grain's widest point to crack the husk. I wonder if the pyramidal shape might be a bigger problem? 000
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 05/08/2026I wonder if a two roller mill for brewing grain might work? The gap is adjustable and though it's made for cracking the grain I've successfully separated barley whole from its husk. I might give it a go on some buckwheat from the garden this summer... 220
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Love it. Sear it in wedges on a cast iron pan with generous olive oil and flaky salt. Cover, so the liquid pulled out by the salt gives a bit of steam. 210
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Agreed. The comment showed total ignorance of the bigger picture, but I'd argue that many people in NZ don't understand how much land use dictates biodiversity, and how different land use practices could really improve it. 110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026And that can be through an idealogical framework of dominance and control, or one of responsibility, kaitiakitanga and being in relationship, even if that's not always comfortable in what it requires of us. 8/8 191
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026Here, farming and suburban sprawl defines the space left for other life. In this sense our most successfully "invasive" species are ryegrass and concrete. So I guess what I'm getting to is that ecology is a relationship. And we're able to choose how we live with native and introduced species. 7/8 180
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026Ōtautahi, and the wider region is astonishingly devoid of native plants. The historic clearances of the plains for grazing and arable crops, not to mention draining of wetlands created a dramatically altered landscape. From memory around 95%+ of the total vegetation in Canterbury is exotic. 6/8 180
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026I'm genuinely proud of the increase I'm already seeing in our local birdlife and skinks from trapping possums, rats and hedgehogs. I think an even greater responsibility though, is to provide much more food and habitat for native species to be able to flourish rather than just survive. 5/8 190
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026And by the way - it's okay to appreciate rats - they're clever, social, adaptable animals. Not unlike us. They're also very destructive to Aotearoa's unique fauna and flora. Trapping them gives me greater respect for them through close observation and trying to understand how they think. 4/8 180
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026I'm also not fond of the discourse of "war" and "invaders". Many of these animals were intentionally/unintentionally introduced by my forebears - managing them and their effects on our unique ecology is our responsibility now. 3/8 170
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026Framing matters. FWIW I don't think you need to abandon your empathy to be involved in predator control. I don't enjoy the killing but it's something I take pride in trying to do effectively and humanely. 2/8 270
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026A rant: This topic fascinates me. I trap pest species on our acre of hillside and I'm actively working with neighbours to create an effective local predator control network. But there's more to this than the cute mammals/invasive predator binary that dominates discussion. 🧵1/8 160
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 25/07/2026How interesting! Their choices of gardens sometimes felt quite arbitrary. Monty deeply irked the historian in me by making no attempt to connect the gardens to their cultural, historical or philosophical context. He seems to be more of an enthusiast/personality than a scholar though. 100
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 25/07/2026Probably not an asshole, BUT I confess that I found Monty deeply frustrating on the 2008 doco series Around The World In 80 Gardens. He's lovely but completely misses the point of some of the fabulous places he visits - wanting them to be more like his beloved potagers. It is worth a watch though. 110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Strong Darth Vader unmasked energy in this image. 000
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Here's an adzuki bean soup that we often make this time of year: www.101cookbooks.com/archives/adz...101cookbooks.comAdzuki Butternut Squash SoupA hearty adzuki and butternut squash soup recipe adapted from Jae Steele's Get It Ripe cookbook. The soup has a bit of chipotle flavor and is made even better with a drizzle of cilantro olive oil prio... 020
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Where to start?! Ful medames is perfect comfort food: www.theguardian.com/food/2023/no... Also, try adding 1/2 tsp of baking soda per 3 cups chickpeas during cooking for the smoothest hummus imaginable.theguardian.comHow to make the perfect ful medames – recipe | Felicity Cloake's How to make the perfect...The Middle East’s favourite bean stew is a simple yet celebrated affair, and known, variably, as ‘the rich man’s breakfast’, ‘the shopkeeper’s lunch’ and ‘the pauper’s supper’ – but what’s the definit... 110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Sure, sometimes I value People Perspective, but other times I appreciate the calm clarity of Menu Item 4. 031
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Radish, silverbeet or mustard/kale, endive or lettuce, flat leaf parsley and dill, carrots, and something for pollinators like a flowering herb e.g. anise hyssop. I sow quite thinly. Radishes are up first and the parsley and hyssop are the last ones to do their thing. 110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Like our national obsession with constantly tended lawns there's a performative component to overproduction. I only grow carrots mixed into another planting to occupy some vacant space underground. When I sow a row it might have 6 different veg and herbs in it to harvest for 18 months or so. 130
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Currently reading Charlie Nardozzi's The Continuous Vegetable Garden which advocates for growing small amounts of lots of different fruit and veg to extend the season and prevent the need to preserve vast quantities of one thing. Very thought provoking. christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S3...christchurch.bibliocommons.comThe Continuous Vegetable Garden — Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o ŌtautahiThe Continuous Vegetable Garden — Nardozzi, Charlie — Do you want a fruitful vegetable garden with less work and less time? Try this revolutionary method for a continuous garden that practically grows... 2121
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Blackcurrants are really underrated. They like part shade unlike most fruit trees, small enough to find a spot in most gardens, and birds don't seem to eat them. Also easy to propagate now by sticking a branch in a 15cm deep hole poked in the ground. 5110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 16/07/2026So sorry Abbie. We lost our old girl recently and it's always deeply sad no matter how it happens. Much aroha to you both. 010
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 15/07/2026They were commissioned from a local artist, possibly by the residents association. The formidable Peggy Kelly was a factor! 010
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 05/07/2026I propose a Mendelian system for categorising cycling weather: rainy, windy, Rainy wind, Windy rain, Windy Wind etc. it's currently little "r" rainy in Ōtautahi so I'm grudgingly wrapping up to bike to work. 020
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 30/06/2026I'm so sorry for Timmy, I hope that it goes gently for him this morning. It's been a bad couple of weeks for the best hounds. Xx 040
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 28/06/2026Curious to see if this changes. I heard an ecologist describe the pace of climate change as if your location is traveling northwards at 20km per year. It's a simplification and obviously non-linear but would mean Ōtautahi now has the climate Blenheim had 16 years ago. It feels much warmer here now. 170
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Thanks Cyn. Yes, real sad but gradually better. We're talking about rehoming another soon. 120
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 25/06/2026So familiar! The GH X I had before Luna was famously strong willed. After nearly 2 days inside during a downpour I shoved her out the patio door so she couldn't avoid going outside for a wee. In one deft movement she leapt on a bench under the eaves, turned, and pissed on the bench glowering at me. 110
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Thanks Cyn, we'd planned on coming on that ride too. 010
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Thanks.So sorry to hear that. Osteosarcoma is rough. ❤️ 010
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Aw, She's gorgeous. I do love the elderly hounds. 000
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Lovely. All my dogs have been rescues, and I think I'll stick to greyhounds so long as they need a home. It's the least you can do and they have such a wonderful expansion of their world after racing. I'll never forget the first time Luna saw the sea. 010
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Very mutual! I think a lot about this - fitting, tuning, attunement. Companion animals are like gardens. You can live in a state of command and control over the other, OR live together curiously and respectfully. Attuning yourself to mutual benefit and letting some wildness creep in here and there. 040
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Thank you 🙂. It totally felt the other way around! 100
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Context for people overseas seeing this. NZ has finally banned greyhound racing and there are 1700+ dogs that currently need a home! Luna was an ex-racer who we had for a wonderful 7 years. 2552
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026She's very missed already. The house feels so empty without her though she seldom made a sound. We'll definitely be adopting another greyhound soon, not to replace such a unicorn but because they're all wonderful, and if you're going to be miserable and sad you may as well rescue another dog.🧵/ends 6913
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026And how to work a room! Not interested in food at all she sought out people talking to her above anything. She seemed to be able to draw conversation out of anyone... and being told she was a good girl (which she demonstrably was). 4/5 1532
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Luna learned to ride a bike, to cope with loud noise in the city, to come back when I asked her (no small thing) and almost mastered stairs. (She would famously refuse to descend if she thought they weren't solid enough - much laughter and a few fireman's carries from that one.) 3/5 5603
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but that's clearly bullshit. Greyhounds go from basically being livestock to learning how to live with people in a house. 2/5 1491
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Yesterday unexpectedly broke my heart. Luna our magnificent greyhound died unexpectedly at 12. Our family and those who knew her are bereft. Such a charming, lovely dog who touched many. If you've ever thought about welcoming a greyhound into your life please do it. Now is the time. A🧵 1/5 7675735
Douglas Horrell @cleftcraft.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Obviously as someone who makes things I'm biased, but we have more handmade stuff than most households because we know lots of neat, talented people and appreciate their work. 130