Helensville: Growing your own

If being busy producing your own fruit, veges, flowers and wine is for you, check out this manageable country home near Helensville. By CEDRIC GRAY.

There aren't enough hours in the day for retired RNZAF officer Erol Schroder to spend on his neat 1.74ha property about 3km south of Helensville.

If he had a daily work diary it would make interesting reading. It would show that he spends a couple of hours a day tending flowers and vegetables in a cluster of glasshouses that cover around 1200sq m, time harvesting flowers from the rambling gardens that surround his home in Te Pua School Rd, and another few hours working in an orchard of about 60 fruit trees.

If time permits, he turns to his workshop and wood-turning skills. Erol has a small flock of ewes and lambs grazing in four paddocks, he grows veges for weekend market days and he has a small winery where he makes wine using the produce he harvests.

"Sure," he says with a smile, "there are times when I could use another arm."

Erol and his wife, Katheryn, bought the property seven years ago. The glasshouses were producing carnations and the rest was "just one big paddock", says Erol.

The glasshouses are now growing beans, beetroot, peppers, lettuce and snow peas.

The gardens are full of colour and variety, with perennials and annuals jostling for space among heirloom and heritage roses, flowering shrubs and herbs. Ample water is available from five large water tanks.

The Schroders occupied a small unit - now the workshop and winery - until their comfortable three-bedroom house was built five years ago. It occupies a site in the middle of the gardens and orchard, the main living area flowing to an outdoor entertaining area where an archway of roses enhances the setting. Space has been set aside for a swimming pool and tennis court.

The sun-filled kitchen features attractive Tasmanian oak cabinetry and opens to a comfortable family dining area and formal lounge. Two bedrooms, a central bathroom and a separate laundry are also on the ground floor.

The master bedroom - with an en suite, walk-in wardrobe and private balcony - is on the first floor, which features cathedral douglas fir ceilings.

Also on this level is a mezzanine lounge, which doubles as a fourth bedroom or children's playroom.

The Schroders are moving to the South Island to be near their family. The property, with a GV of $410,000, is being marketed by Norwest Real Estate, Helensville. Contact John Ruzich on 025 929 552 for details.