Country Life Cote d’Azur gardens tour

n exclusive Country Life tour around the gardens of the Cote d’Azur, hosted by David Wheeler, is taking place this autumn

Country Life, in association with Boxwood Tours, is delighted to announce an exclusive tour, from September 24 to 29, enjoying the gastronomy and gardens of this fortunate, sun-drenched region. Hosted by perennial Country Life contributor David Wheeler, a congenial and seasoned traveller to the treasures of the Côte d'Azur, our tailormade tour explores horticultural gems both old and new.

Timed for late September, when the air is still warm and redolent with the herbal fragrances released by the Mediterranean sun, highlights include Les Cedres at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, designed a century ago for the king of Belgium by Harold Peto; the enchanting garden of Joanna Millar, ‘the grande dame of Riviera gardening'; the stylish terraces of La Casella, made by Klaus Scheinert and the late Tom Parr; Villa Boccanegra, first made famous by Ellen Willmott; and Fort France, subject of a 1930s bestseller by Winifred Fortescue and now gardened by artist Valérie de Courcel. We will also explore classic favourites of the region, including William Waterfield's Clos du Peyronnet, Lawrence Johnston's Serre de la Madone and the wondrous Hanbury gardens

Moving To The Country In South Canterbury

The city might seem full of opportunities and freedom, but after you've lived in an urban centre for a few years you'll start to see the limits and restrictions that dictate how you live your life. Cramped housing and a high cost of living make New Zealand's main centres a poor choice for families, many of whom are looking for new places to settle down. Escaping to live in the country or semi-rural areas outside of the main centres is an option that has been growing in popularity.

Moving to South Canterbury

With its prime location in the South Island, a stable and affordable property market and plenty of space to raise a family, Timaru is a great place to move to. The city itself is absolutely gorgeous with all the amenities that you could want while the lifestyle blocks and rural homes for sale in Timaru and nearby areas offer exactly what you are looking for.

It's relaxed with low crime rates, less traffic and none of the stress that comes with living in a main centre.

Property Prices

Timaru and the surrounding, smaller towns like Temuka, Geraldine and Fairlie all have stable and consistent property markets that have proven to be more resilient to trends than other parts of the country. During the 2008 property market burst that affected most regions, South Canterbury remained stable, seeing less of a hit than anywhere else in New Zealand.

Current property prices for a standard, 3-bedroom home start at 200,000 - 300,000NZD while a lifestyle block of 10 acres can be bought for as little as 450,000NZD. Owning such a large piece of land to call your own for that price is nearly impossible to find anywhere else!

Jobs and Opportunities

Something that worries a lot of people who are looking to relocate somewhere with a smaller population is the number of jobs and opportunities that will be waiting for them. You'll be happy to know that Timaru and South Canterbury is experiencing positive growth, especially after the earthquakes in Christchurch of 2010/2011.

The region's blossoming population presents more opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs to get their start without the risk of investing in an oversaturated main centre. We're also seeing more jobs and employment options to coincide with a growing population. With such short commute times to Timaru from much of the surrounding area, country living coexisting with modern working has never been so viable.

Don't stay 'simmering' where you are any longer - take control of your life and make the move to South Canterbury. Enjoy more freedom, more space and a better future for you and your family in Timaru.

Country Comfort Food

Friends in Chicago are astonished I don't like corn. "But you're from the South," they cry, referring to north Missouri and the Kansas City area. Everybody in Chicago thinks I'm from the South and that my slight twang is deep southern. And since my kinfolk originally come from Kentucky, which really is the South, not liking corn is especially an abomination.

So I had to come up with a variation I could like. Cornbread is okay, and maybe soup with about ten percent corn. I don't like grits because they're runny and the only acceptable runny dish for me is oatmeal. I decided to bake the grits--and doll it up with some extras. Here are grits anyone can like!

Bear & Animal Country - Food Handling & Storage

It's up to you, me, and us, to protect the animals from our food. Once animals become a nuisance-doing what is natural in scavenging for food-to park visitors, they are taken away and shot. Even when the animal is rightly there first, the National Park Service and Lang management agencies feel this is the only way to protect the (in whole) Animals. However, there is no uniform policy in protecting the animals. That's up to individual parties and state agencies and namely up to you and me and us.

What To Do With Food

o Don't leave food in your pack anytime, ever.
o If it has a smell-toothpaste, powder or even used utensils-must be stored in proper overnight containers.
o Store food downwind. Store your food container(s) from 100 to 200 feet from your campsite.
o Leave compartments and such unzipped and unbuttoned. The critters will only snoop and not shred.

What To Do in Bear Country

o Use a bear container or box or other methods (see below) for proper food storage.
o Use freeze-dried or dehydrated meals. Less simmer means less scents.
o Use cooking clothes to cook in. Store them with your food items overnight.
o Use double Ziploc bags to store used food items.
o Use soap and toothpaste away from your sleeping area.
o Store cooking cutlery and wrappers and trash with your food.
o If you wash in the river, keep the rinse water away from your campsite. The smells and especially the salts will attract all kinds of rodents and other dallying woodland creatures.
o Don't leave behind any trace of food.
o Don't give the fluffy little chipmunk any food, no matter how cute he is.
o If the bear takes it, it's his. Trust this. Don't chase a bear.
o Either run or stop and roll up into a ball if a bear comes at you. Ask rangers before entering the woods.

How to Store Food

Bear Box: Keep your food in a bear container if you're hiking backcountry. If you're camping within campgrounds, do not store food in your car. Store all perishables in Bear food lockers. These are large, latchable containers (like a walk in freezer) where you can store food.

Bear Poles: These are poles stored at backcountry camp spots used for placing food bags up in trees. You'll hang your bag up on a hook in a tree, high off the ground.

Bear Wires: These are wires used for counterbalancing food bags up in trees. These are nice to have pre-installed, as you don't have to search for the perfect bear resistant tree (a branch 15-20 or more feet high, 15 or so feet from the trunk, not strong enough to hold up a cub [mama bear will push baby cub into trees]).

Country Life Natural Foods

Country Life Natural Foods, situated in Pullman, Michigan, is a retail and wholesale distributor of natural and organic food, as well as an active promoter of physical and spiritual health. Aside from supplying their produce to the local area, the company also delivers it to 18 neighboring states using transport (and the rest of the nation using the United States Postal Service). The goods they sell are extensive, and include beans, grains, seasonings, pastas, granola, jams, spices, meat substitutes, juices, soy cheese, yoghurt, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and over a thousand other items.

Mission Statement

Like many other natural food suppliers in the United States, the mission of Country Life is to encourage others to live wholesome and healthy lives by eating the food that nature intended for us. However, unlike most other suppliers, it is also a Christian organization (in fact, it is connected to the Oak Haven ministry, which is also located in central Michigan), and so, whilst not overly evangelistic, the company does approach its mission from a religious angle.

Seminars and Classes

Although Country Life's mission is similar to those of other natural food companies, it takes its message one step further by actively organizing and hosting seminars and classes that are relevant to its interests. Perhaps the most popular and well-known class organized by the Country Life is its vegetarian cooking class, although it hosts many other classes including: Recovering from depression, controlling diabetes, and even wilderness survival (the latter partly occurs outdoors).

Information About Ordering

If you would like to order goods from Country Life, then you can either visit their physical health food store located east of Pullman, Michigan (open 9-5 EST Sunday to Wednesday, 9-7 Thursday, 9-1 Friday, and closed on Saturday), or order online using their online shop. The online shop is the most effective option, especially if you live outside of Michigan, but remember that you will have to pay for the postage costs.

Country Life Experiences Can Enrich a Child's Life

It's hard to be a kid these days. When I was a child growing up in small-town Texas, we would head out the door each morning of our summer vacation and be outside all day. Even then, when we were called in at the end of the day, we reluctantly went inside. Kids these days sit slack-jawed and glassy-eyed in front of the television, playing video or computer games and messing around with their smart phones. I've seen them as young as 10 years of age fiddling around with their very own smart phones. The other day I asked an acquaintance what she got her 5-year-old for Christmas. She said, "You're gonna think I'm crazy, but I got him a smart phone; he can play games on it"... SERIOUSLY!!!?. And, yes, I do think she's crazy.