This week Country Life meets some pioneer egg producers and a farmer growing and harvesting an ancient grain.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

In this episode:

• 0:38 - Answering the roar - hunting venison for people in need
• 6:34 - Rural News Wrap
• 13:19 - Four farmers, one forgotten grain and the pasta-maker bringing it to the plate
• 28:57 - Poultry 'pioneers': Three generations of Bennik's behind an egg empire

With thanks to:

• Lisa Daunton
• Monty Petrie and Mick Williams, Wairarapa Grains Collective
• Nick, Harry, Rhonda and Courtney Bennik, Bennik's Eggs

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From moving to cage-free farming in the 90's, becoming SPCA animal welfare accredited and launching a liquid egg processing plant - the Bennik family has never been afraid to try something new and ruffle a few feathers.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

You can learn more about Bennik's Eggs, here, or the NZ Egg Group, here.

With thanks to:

• Nick, Harry, Rhonda and Courtney Bennik

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Amid a growing eat local movement, durum wheat is being grown and turned into pasta by an artisan food producer and a group of Wairarapa farmers.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

Find out more about the Wairarapa Grains Collective here

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A round-up of the week's rural news.

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For a few years now Lisa Daunton has been stocking food banks in Te Tai Rāwhiti with wild venison which she harvests with fellow hunters.

With thanks to Lisa Daunton

For more on the story, click here

To find out more about Kaiwhakangau and Kai Connect, click here

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Country Life meets a family using bullock-power instead of diesel to grow their own food, and gets a taste of the tomatoes grown by some of Wellington's Italian community.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

In this episode:

• 0:47 - Conditions wrap
• 7:04- Standing up for migrant farmers
• 14:45 - Roots that run deep - Capri tomatoes
• 26:24 - Off-grid, thriving and feeding whānau without fossil fuels

With thanks to:

• Kristine Asuncion
• Nina and Teresa Cuccurullo
• Marissa Dowling
• The Land family

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Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz

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Bullocks and horses power the Land's farm in the Hokianga where three generations live off-grid, growing practically all their own food without the need for fossil fuels. Country Life spent a morning with the families whose way of life echoes more traditional modes of farming last century.

With thanks to:

• The Land family

Head here for photos and more information

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From Italy to Wellington's south coast, growing and eating great food is central to the Cuccurullo family maintaining its cultural heritage. For the past 60 years, they've kept the tradition of growing tomatoes from seeds first sourced in Capri in the 1960s.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

With thanks to:

• Nina and Teresa Cuccurullo

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details