Methven

Methven is nestled at the base of the Southern Alps just over an hour inland from Christchurch.

We stayed with Bernie's relatives on a crop farm on Rakaia River Road, about 5kms out of Methven. 

All the crops on the farm are grown for seed, such as potatoes, radish, peas and kale.

Hopeful seagulls following the tractor.

Agriculture is an important industry for Methven. Initially the area was used for sheep and grain growing but due to irrigation the way the land is used has changed. Diary farming and specialised crops are now part of the industry.

The view of the Southern Alps from the rig.

Methven settlers set up large sheep farms on the plains to produce wool (which was in demand in England). 

The introduction of rural railroads and  planting shelter belts resulted in more intensive farming. Small farming was made profitable with new crop options, such as, peas, potatoes and fodder crops.

Methven's average rainfall is adequate for farming but nor'westers make the rate of evaporation high, especially for the shallow, gravelly soils. Irrigation trials started in 1880 but the large scale irrigation didn't begin until well into the 1930s.

In 1935 work began on constructing a large channel to take water from the Rangitata River. The channel was 67 km long and in 1945 the Rangitata Diversion Race was completed.

Paddocks of Rapeseed are striking growing beside areas of green crops and pine shelter belts. 

Rapeseed is grown for it's oil rich seed. The seeds are cleaned and cold pressed using a mechanical screw press to extract oil form the seed. It's important that temperature doesn't exceed 40 degrees to ensure flavour, aroma and nutrients within the oil are retained.

A paddock of flowering oilseed radish used for a cover crop, to provide animal feed or grown to maintain soil fertility.

The dogs enjoyed having a whole paddock beside the rig of knee length grass to play in.

The fluffy white bits in the grass are the top of Boo's head and her tail.

It was worth getting up early to watch the sun rising behind a shelter belt of pine trees.

Rising ground mist appeared orange with the sunrise rays.