Kahikatea Farm

About

Certified organic nursery in Hawke's Bay: microgreens, perennial vege seedlings, food forest plants, permaculture, food forest and organic gardening courses, consultancy.

Story

Kahikatea Farm is a 16 acre farm designed on ‘permaculture’ principles. At Kahikatea Farm we are growing our soils, growing a forest garden, and growing our children and their future. We are growing our knowledge, and growing our community.
In our nursery we grow a huge range of certified organic plants - over 200 varieties of vegetable seedlings, edible and medicinal herbs, companion plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. We focus on perennials and self-sowing annuals which are multi functional, hardy, and contribute to a diverse and resilient garden,farm or food forest which provides fertility and pest control from within, and which can provide a forage system of food, medicine, fuel, dyes, craft and construction material for you and future generations as well as a place of beauty and biodiversity. Our plants are available from Cornucopia in Hastings, Hohepa in Clive, Otane market (every Sunday), plus direct from the farm by prior arrangement only.
We also supply micro-greens to local cafes and restaurants, and run permaculture and gardening courses and workshops, as well as offering consultancy. We currently provide consultancy and plants to organisations such as Craggy Range Winery and Te Aranga Marae Community Gardens.

Mission

Kahikatea Farm – Our Aims and Vision

• To create a healthy, integrated, harmonious farm based on the “whole farm” principle of self-sufficiency, nutrient cycling, minimal external inputs and zero waste. To nurture the soil as the key foundation for the farm’s wellbeing.

• To be as self-sufficient as possible in food, and resources for our physical needs (e.g. water, energy, building materials). To also provide nutritious food for our extended family, friends and the local community.

• To provide for our spiritual needs and those of others by creating a beautiful retreat where we can reconnect with the earth, where all our senses are stimulated, and where we can feel in awe of nature, finding our true place alongside the plants, animals, birds, insects and other creatures.

• To use native plants wherever possible to help restore biodiversity in the ecosystem, and to help provide a ‘sense of place’. To use exotics only where they have no adverse impact on the environment and fulfill a specific function, or preferably, several functions.

• To constantly learn from the examples of other people, other cultures, and Mother Nature. By implementing this knowledge we aim to become an example of best practice in small scale sustainable agriculture.

• To recycle this knowledge by providing an education resource for others, to share our experiences and to foster a mentality of sharing and openness for the benefit of all. To teach by doing, and show others that sustainable living is both desirable and achievable. In particular, we aim to demonstrate the importance of locally produced food for the future survival both of humans and plant varieties, which are inextricably linked, and to protect genetic plant diversity.

• To provide ourselves with right livelihoods: the opportunity to perform work which is environmentally, spiritually and economically sustainable. Ideally to be able to provide right livelihoods for others too.

• To support the local environment, community and economy in whatever ways we can.

Jo & Aaron Duff August 2005

Products

certified organic plants, permaculture and gardening courses and workshops, consultancy