Vince and Kirstyn Renall
Solo mother Kirstyn Renall has three children, a certificate in welding, and the ability to turn an old refrigerator into a book shelf.
The Napier woman loves the idea of transforming things, so you can see them in a whole new light. But on Ultimate Garden, Kirstyn will face a different kind of transformation: she and her brother Vince have just ten weekends to turn a bare patch of grass into the perfect garden.
Kirstyn, 33, and her brother Vince Renall, 32, are the sole brother and sister team competing on Ultimate Garden. If the two fail to take the top prize, there is always the possibility they could try working as a brother and sister comedy duo. Asked how important humour will be to their mission, Kirstyn replies with a smile "the only thing I'm serious about, is they're paying for everything."
"She'll be in charge of the ideas," says Vince, and "I'll be in charge of doing it." Sensing some disagreement from his sister, he quickly changes his story. "When it comes to planting and building fences, well she'll do a fair bit of that as well."
Fresh from a degree in visual arts and design in Napier - where she learnt to weld - Kirstyn prides herself on being able to do most things, from fence-building to unblocking the sink. "If I can't figure out how to do something around the house, I make sure to find out how. As a single parent I like to be self-sufficient."
Kirstyn is exploring the idea of opening a store to sell her own recycled furniture, furniture she hopes will be both unusual and affordable. Friends and relatives often approach her for design inspiration, whether it be creating a hopscotch court or designing wedding invitations.
Though a keen gardener, in recent years Kirstyn has had problems with an annoying backyard pest, namely the family dog. "I love gardening, and I love my dog, but he eats trees faster than I can put them in there," laughs Kirstyn. "Pungas are the only things he hasn't had a go at."
Vince, the quieter of the brother and sister pair, is also something of a jack of all trades. Over the years he has done stints as builder, barman, and gardener. Recently he began acting as a buddy to a special needs person, "the most rewarding job I've ever had". Vince has hopes in future of working in suicide prevention, possibly through his church.
The Renalls, who have three children each, are keen to build a garden that is child friendly, using scented flowers and covered areas for rainy days. "We're looking at something safe and inviting for a kid to play in."
