Garden
Māra: our vegetable garden now has its own agent
I built Māra, a garden system my AI agent runs on my own server: weekly plans, spray records, a seed bank, live sensors, and a dashboard the kids can use.
12 October 2026
Welcome to HiTech Hippies
We created HiTech Hippies to share our journey of using technology to live a more sustainable life.
Our storyLearn how to use technology to make sustainable living easier.
We've done the research so you don't have to. From solar to syntropic gardens, home automation to rainwater harvesting, we share what's working on our Northland property.
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Latest stories
Outdoor Living
GateShare: the honesty box has gone digital
A Kiwi app puts New Zealand's roadside stalls on one map. I've set up our gate stall, and the community side matters as much as the money.
5 October 2026
Lawnmower
Mammotion removed multipoint turns. Home Assistant gave them back
Mammotion removed multipoint turns from its app, but the mower protocol kept them. Home Assistant gave my Luba AWD 5000, and my lawn, the feature back.
9 August 2026
Energy
Salt, spiders and solar: our annual coastal wash-down
Our annual coastal wash protects the barn, roofs and solar panels from salt, spiders and the maintenance cost of living near the sea.
7 August 2026
Garden
Our first monthly aerial portrait of Āhuru Mōwai
We photographed every square metre of Āhuru Mōwai from the air. August 2026 is frame one in a monthly record of the land and everything growing on it.
3 August 2026
Outdoor Living
Building Luna a dog kennel for Northland weather
A weather-resistant dog kennel for a full-grown golden retriever needs the right proportions, treated timber, roof fall, and a low-waste cutting plan.
14 July 2026