Roots
Sustainable living, NZ style
Heartland | Wilderland | Seven Springs
The Heart Transition Project
Pasture and mature fruit trees: click for more pics
Over the past month we have been moving onto a 40-acre farm known as Heartland – 40 minutes south of Auckland CBD.
Heartland is a bird sanctuary and horse-breeding farm with a 25 year-old organic orchards. Its water comes from a spring on the land, and has been found to be some of the highest quality drinking water in New Zealand.
The land here has been organically managed for over twenty years. There are a diverse range of plant species, rich healthy soils, established vegetable gardening areas and the potential for concentrated food-farming. Heartland has been planted with thousands of trees, native and exotic over the years and has many mature fruit and nut trees.
Our long term vision is to grow a network of self-sustainable farms and work towards a resource-based economy (TZM). By using a team-based systems approach, we aim to develop existing sites and construct new farms practicing permaculture values. Heartland’s orchards are a living example of an abundance of organic food. We’d like to see this happening on more land in New Zealand and across the world. The potential commercial opportunities on the land through the trustee David’s water business and the organic produce can help tenants work towards financial self-sufficiency working and living on the land.
We’d love you to come to visit and get a feel for the land and the project if you are interested in joining us … hearttransitionproject@gmail.
Seven Springs CSA
Seven Springs is a 10-acre farm located just a few kilometres west of Waitakere, West Auckland. The land is north-facing, well watered (hence the name) and easily accessible. At present less than a quarter of the property is in production, all organically managed.
They have become experts in growing and seed-raising quite a wide variety of vegetables, exploring the local palette.
New Zealand’s First CSA
In 2011 they added a CSA component to their marketing operation. This concept has been slow to catch on in NZ but is flourishing in other supermarket-dominated food economies around the world. At this stage their subscribers must pickup produce at the farm itself. Larger CSAs usually do home deliveries.
These guys are keen to spread the word and enjoy having visitors who are interested in growing food organically to come and look over their operation.
Get in touch: sevenspringsfarm.co.nz/contact-form
For more about the advantages of CSA see LocalHarvest.
Wilderland
Wilderland is owned and operated by Wilderland Trust (a charitable trust of New Zealand) and actively pursues the Objectives set-out in the Wilderland Trust Deed.
Key Aims:
Education, Sustainability, and Community
Wilderland is sited amongst valleyed hillsides of regrowth native bush. It comprises a community of resident volunteers working together to create an inspiring environment and guiding visitors through various rewarding experiences to explore, learn, share, and develop themselves.
With a diverse range of organic orchards, gardens and grain crops it showcases a variety of sustainable horticultural practices, such as Permaculture and Biodynamics. The crops provide healthy organic food for both the Wilderland community and the local community, and is is a popular venue and host for educational workshops, seminars, youth events, retreats, and more.
Many crafts are studied and practiced at Wilderland: woodwork, metalwork, mechanics, pottery, building, cooking, and healing.
Visit – stay a few days
- An amazing opportunity to experience, teach, learn, and develop Organic Horticulture, Land Stewardship, an array of Trades and Crafts, Community Development, Cooperative Organisation, and Local Economy.
- A way of making a personal contribution towards a sustainable future.
Enquiries about visiting: wilderland.org.nz/visit/
