A Natural Year

Wendyl's story of living the simple life in the country: gardening, foraging, fishing and the freedom she has found in ageing. Beautifully illustrated and including 100 new and delicious recipes.


'An absolute cracker of a guide to feeling content by living more naturally.' Lynda Hallinan


'The book that saved me from peak Covid-19 anxiety. It felt like a portal. I'd open at a random page and lose myself in a timeless green swoon.' Catherine Woulfe, The Spinoff


A Natural Year follows writer Wendyl Nissen’s life in the peaceful New Zealand countryside over one year. 


It's the story of what happens in her garden, her kitchen and her life over twelve months, and the thoughts inspired by each passing season. 


She writes about the freedom that she has found in ageing and the joy that comes along with it. She addresses her depression, anxiety and the mental well-being she's gained from her back-to-basics lifestyle and the practical things she does to live in a sustainable, natural way. 


With photographs taken at her home in Northland, Wendyl shares 100 new recipes, including how to make yeast from grapes, yoghurt using chilli stalks and many others she has discovered.


In a world which can be full of stress and confusion, A Natural Year is a guide to a simpler, less complicated life.