A Carterton gardener growing veges and raising chickens says she is living the good life - despite living right on the main road.
Sandy Hewitt grows a huge variety of fruit of vegetables on her High St South property, much more than she can eat, she says.
"At the moment there's lots
of veges, lots of peppers and eggplants and zucchini, onions, and then there's peas and corn and and lots of berries - I specialise in berries."
She said despite the fact the house was on the main road, its location only added to the food growing experience.
"I have met so many people who come to the gate and want to chat and want to have a look round.
"There's that social side to it and we lose that ... in the supermarket."
Ms Hewitt also keeps bantam hens for their eggs, and has just bought seven purebred Pekin bantams.
The chickens are all free range, roaming the garden where they scratch and peck.
She said the poultry were always a favourite with passersby.
"People stop and have a look. I don't mind when I'm out there but sometimes people come and knock on the door and I'm in my pyjamas and it's not so good."
The mother-of-three said gardening had always been a passion of hers, and was happy to give gardening advice to those who came by.
"It's not the ideal place for something like this I know ... but it's so public and central and people come and see it.
"They say it's inspiring and I just tell them it's simple, really."
