Organic Journey
It began with a simple desire — to grow native botanicals from our own land. We wanted soil under our nails, not chemicals in our fields. From the beginning, organic certification felt like the right choice.
2018 — Planting Mānuka
Our first seedling and plantation was mānuka.
We planted the seeds by hand, tray by tray. Hours bent over soil, pressing tiny seeds into trays. Waiting for the first sign of life to appear. We breathed a sigh of relief when life in the seed trays began to show.
We managed to grow at about 20,000 seedlings. When the seedlings were ready, all 20,000 were planted into the ground by hand. Long rows stretching across bare land. Planting took a long time, some days were very hot, this made planting out even more difficult.
No Pesticides. No Shortcuts.
The weeds came quickly.
We trialled an approved organic spray — it failed. So we returned to hand weeding. Slow, physical work. Clearing row by row. Refusing to compromise and continue the path of organics.
As the mānuka trees established and grew into lush bushes, we shifted to mowing between rows. The plantation strengthened. The land settled and things became easier.
A Living Ecosystem
Over time, the air began to carry mānuka's fresh invigorating aroma. This was more evident after rain fall. Signs of life began to emerge with weka visiting, scratching the soil in search of bugs and worms.
Then kawakawa seedlings emerged beneath the mānuka — totally unplanned and self-sown. The environment had shifted. A new ecosystem was forming.
We transplanted those kawakawa seedlings into certified organic kawakawa stands, allowing the land to guide its own expansion.
Growing Forward
We have gradually added rows of kumarahou, horopito, kānuka and further kawakawa plantings.
2025 — Improvement
In 2025, we focused on improving harvesting processes and harvest timing. Smaller, more intentional batches. Strength over scale.
2026 — Maintenance
In 2026, our attention turns to extending plantation size — strengthening what we have in place and extending it.
Timeline
- In 2023 we became fully certified with BioGro.
- In 2024 we achieved international organic certification.
- In 2025 our kūmarahou and kawakawa begin to establish and grow abundantly.
- For 2026 planting will increase and our botanicals will travel beyond New Zealand.
We decided not to opt for fast agriculture instead we went for thoughtful cultivation.
We believe that we plant today will shape what we produce for years to come