Tuesday 2 April
On the Tuesday evening we had a presentation in Thames with shared food and
some interesting discussion.
Wednesday 3 April
The Wednesday saw us in the Kauaeranga valley visiting the farm of Erik and
Nancy.
Firstly we looked at Nancy and Trish’s seedling venture Mrs Green Jeans which
was started with the help of a local loan trust for women. They have a polytunnel
and shadehouse where they grow most of the young plants as well as a hardening
off area. The seedlings are sold at the market, used at the farm to plant for the
CSA venture and any extra go to the community gardens, the womens refuge and
school gardens. Using organic compost, deep trays and a weekly feed of worm
juice, seaweed and fish; Trish and Nancy give the plants a great start. Erik & Rowan
work the ‘Got the plot’ CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) venture. They ask
for 8 weeks payment up front and deliver vegetables and fruit in season to an ever
increasing number of customers around their region throughout the summer months.
The payment in advance helps them to buy plants and other supplies as well as
spreading the risk.
Erik and Nancy now have Rowan and his partner living permanently on the farm and
sharing involvement in the venture as well as taking wwoofers to help. Erik loves
building with earth and their house is a testament to this, an incredibly beautiful
building he also gave his skills to the community garden helping them build raised
beds.
After a delicious morning tea at Erik and Nancy’s we proceeded over the river to
Jeanette and Harry’s place where we found them hard at work with their team
collecting up the latest fall of chestnuts. These they then grade, the biggest go for
market, the second largest for crumb and the smallest are fed to the cow whilst
she is being milked and the other animals especially the sheep. They spend a
couple of nights peeling the chestnuts ready to roast in olive oil with a sprinkling
of salt for tasty snacks at the Saturday market, they also sell the crumb which is
processed away from the farm, some of which they grind into flour in their flour mill
and package. Chestnuts are a difficult nut to store for any length of time so making
them into crumb and flour ensures they are fully utilised. Harry and Jeanette also sell
organic apples from the farm both at market and the organic shop.
On the way to Coromandel we called in at Sabine and Mischa’s place. Mischa
has built a plastic covered geodesic dome which house tropical fruits, pineapples,
papayas and bananas amongst the plant varieties he is growing and Sabine grows
seedlings and veges. Her seedlings mostly go to the retreat centre next door to
supply their garden with tasty organic vegetables. Her home garden is large and a
place of community cooperation with many locals enjoying working there together in
the open air once a week with a communal lunch after. They find it is a good way of
building community and enjoyment.
On the Tuesday evening we had a presentation in Thames with shared food and
some interesting discussion.
Wednesday 3 April
The Wednesday saw us in the Kauaeranga valley visiting the farm of Erik and
Nancy.
Firstly we looked at Nancy and Trish’s seedling venture Mrs Green Jeans which
was started with the help of a local loan trust for women. They have a polytunnel
and shadehouse where they grow most of the young plants as well as a hardening
off area. The seedlings are sold at the market, used at the farm to plant for the
CSA venture and any extra go to the community gardens, the womens refuge and
school gardens. Using organic compost, deep trays and a weekly feed of worm
juice, seaweed and fish; Trish and Nancy give the plants a great start. Erik & Rowan
work the ‘Got the plot’ CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) venture. They ask
for 8 weeks payment up front and deliver vegetables and fruit in season to an ever
increasing number of customers around their region throughout the summer months.
The payment in advance helps them to buy plants and other supplies as well as
spreading the risk.
Erik and Nancy now have Rowan and his partner living permanently on the farm and
sharing involvement in the venture as well as taking wwoofers to help. Erik loves
building with earth and their house is a testament to this, an incredibly beautiful
building he also gave his skills to the community garden helping them build raised
beds.
After a delicious morning tea at Erik and Nancy’s we proceeded over the river to
Jeanette and Harry’s place where we found them hard at work with their team
collecting up the latest fall of chestnuts. These they then grade, the biggest go for
market, the second largest for crumb and the smallest are fed to the cow whilst
she is being milked and the other animals especially the sheep. They spend a
couple of nights peeling the chestnuts ready to roast in olive oil with a sprinkling
of salt for tasty snacks at the Saturday market, they also sell the crumb which is
processed away from the farm, some of which they grind into flour in their flour mill
and package. Chestnuts are a difficult nut to store for any length of time so making
them into crumb and flour ensures they are fully utilised. Harry and Jeanette also sell
organic apples from the farm both at market and the organic shop.
On the way to Coromandel we called in at Sabine and Mischa’s place. Mischa
has built a plastic covered geodesic dome which house tropical fruits, pineapples,
papayas and bananas amongst the plant varieties he is growing and Sabine grows
seedlings and veges. Her seedlings mostly go to the retreat centre next door to
supply their garden with tasty organic vegetables. Her home garden is large and a
place of community cooperation with many locals enjoying working there together in
the open air once a week with a communal lunch after. They find it is a good way of
building community and enjoyment.