Garden Name: Graeme Kettle

Address: Oromahoe

Property Description: Over the last 4 years at Oromahoe, Graeme, his partner Debbie and her mother Jackie, have created organic edible landscapes where their young children free range, where wildlife is welcome, and where the Mauri (life energy) flourishes.

They have developed diverse productive food forests and sustainable garden systems that can thrive through a drought without the use of irrigation or town water supply. They grow practically all their own fruit and vegetables and their food forests sustained the family of 5 within just 1 year. They are passionate seed savers, particularly of heritage varieties, and have helped build up strong community gift economy networks such as crop swaps.

“The integrated orchard and vegetable gardens at Oromahoe were enlightening... Graeme has been experimenting with permaculture, biodynamics and hua parakore (Maori organics) for over 15 years. The success of which was evident.” – Vaughan Gunson, Northern Advocate, Feb. 19 2022

There is a lot to learn from their gardens, set amongst some lovely rock walls, and this year there is a new experimental syntropic agroforestry garden.

Talks/Demonstrations: 

Food Forests and Edible Landscapes: Sunday 11am  -  12 noon 

Food Forests and Edible Landscapes: Sunday 3pm – 4pm 

Opening Days and Times: 

Sun 19th Feb 9am - 4pm 

Garden Name: Down to Earth NZ

Address: Kerikeri

Property Description: Regenerated farmland Ecologically enhanced over 8 years of planting and infrastructure with a spring fed gravity water system, native forest restoration, and wetlands built. This beautiful property has productive gardens including water cress areas, and just so many creative projects on the go!

Accommodation is available.  Search Facebook for Down to Earth NZ or use the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/downtoearthnz/

Opening Days and Times: 

Sun 19th Feb 9am - 4pm 

Garden Name: Vicky and Ian Barrett - 

Address: Kerikeri 

Property Description: Vicky and Ian settled in Kerikeri  Feb 2019  setting up the kitchen and herb garden near the house and preparing the ground for the orchard with herbal leys. 1 year later a second vege garden was established using companion planting in guilds. There’s a mix of subtropical, native and Mediterranean planting still evolving. Vicky has a background of 15 years in landscape Design and 5 yrs renovating and facilitating a Community Garden for a charitable trust with 80 volunteers weekly in Auckland. 

 Our Kerikeri garden is an expression of fun and creativity, our retirement dream from which I'm passionate about holding workshops, sharing organic food growing skills. Ian is developing his humorous succulent garden and uses our garage as a art studio to play with paint. Our berm on Sheperd Rd has become an experience for walkers as veges, emerge amongst a dry Mediterranean planting plus fruit in years to come for picking as one passes by.

Opening Days and Times: 

Sun 19th Feb 9am - 4pm