Stories from the 2023 archive: Cosmo's at a high country station in the far south, Leah checks in on a toy treasure trove in Te Puke and Sally's off grid with a former Wellington mayor.

In this summer series, the Country Life team is taking you back to some of the places we've been to over the past year.

Listen to this week's summer series of Country Life

Ambitious farming sisters develop fashion and food hub

The shearers' quarters at Davaar Station are a popular stop-off for locals and tourists on the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway.

Inside, Anna Macdonald tickles their taste buds with sweets while her older sister Kate fits them with luxury jerseys made from wool grown on the family farm.

Read more about the Macdonald sisters, here.

Finding joy in retirement: Knocking toys into shape

On a small quiet street in Te Puke a sign on the curb and again on the driveway will lead you to Knocker's basement.

Inside lies a treasure trove of wooden toys, timber and tools.

You'll also find Knocker Harris in there most mornings sanding or sawing a new creation to add to his extensive catalogue of interactive toys for children.

Read more about Knocker's treasure trove of toys here.

Off-grid and farming carbon

Dangling a pair of dead rats over a dam to feed the eels is what you might find Celia Wade-Brown doing these days.

For five years, the former Wellington mayor has lived in a tiny off-grid cottage on the edge of the Tararua Range in Wairarapa.

Read more about Celia Wade-Brown's off-grid adventures here.

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