We need to lead the way

By Noel Josephson, CEO of Ceres Organics 

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The growth of the organic market is significant such that within a relatively few years every major food retailer has felt compelled to have an organic offering even though organics is still a very small percentage of the total food market.
Organics is a consumer-driven market, which caught many major food companies off guard, in that it didn’t fit their model and vision of the market as driven primarily by price. Consumers were more future facing towards their health and the environment, and organics rightly captures that through farming that works with nature rather than conventional farming that tries to control nature.

What’s more the organic movement embodies principles of fairness and trust, and holds some of the answers to climate change, working with social issues, economic development and community development. All of this resonates with the shift of conscious towards realising that capitalism, technology and science are not perfect and don’t have many of the answers we need to reverse the damage we are doing to the earth and humankind.
For these reasons the swing of awareness towards organics has passed the threshold where it has now become of interest to the government and the push to legislate for a national standard is overdue. But if we in the organic sector sit back we risk letting this opportunity slip away at the very time when we should be doubling our efforts.  

Speaking with one voice  

This is precisely the time to encourage good leadership in our sector organisations to unite the movement to speak with one voice to government, and create a comprehensive plan for organics that the sector fully supports.
Any division in the movement opens the door to others taking the lead and government downplaying our voice. We need to speak with one voice representing the domestic market, the export market, growers, processors, certifiers and consumers. We need one voice representing the larger commercial interests in organics and the innovators and leaders of the organic movement who carry its ideals and values. We need one voice to ensure the standards that sit behind the legislation are primarily held within the organic movement and reflect the common interests of those directly involved in organics.
What is our vision of organics and how can we inform government of what is required? We should be approaching multiple government departments talking about the benefits of organics and what is needed.  

Funding organics for success 

We should orchestrate multiple channels of funding towards sectors of organics that need support, such as financial support and encouragement of farmers to transition to organics, education and advisory services to farmers, research to establish best practice and quantify data to underpin those practices, consumer awareness of organics and its benefits. These all need funding if organics is to succeed.
We can’t just think when legislation passes it will all happen – that is too late. Do we know what will come our way in terms of financial support? Is this something we have contributed to or are we just accepting what’s given to us by a government that’s just starting to understand organics, let alone know what it needs? A whole plan, together with the funding channels, needs to be on the table now.  

The many solutions organics offers 

Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) as the peak body of the organic sector is in the best position to canvass the organic sector, build a comprehensive picture of what is required, and place this before government.
It is in the interests of the government to listen to ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, getting a greater return from agriculture as one of the major pillars of the economy without further intensification of agriculture from existing land.
It is in their interest to understand how we can move towards less polluted land and more productive soils, cleaner waterways and air quality, greater biodiversity as well as how to spend some of their $3 billion on regional development for a good return. 
Some of the most pressing problems the government is looking for answers to are exactly the ones organics can bring substance to, and this places us in a strong position to engage and bargain with the government.  

We cannot leave the door ajar 

We should be keenly aware of the experience of organic movements in other countries at the stage we are at, where they didn’t ask up front for their needs and it goes on to the back burner as an issue to be dealt with in the future. Meanwhile the organic movement struggles and never fully develops its potential.
We should also think of the agendas of those interests that will lose out from a strong organic movement and in any vacuum we create, they will quickly fill it with their vision of how to proceed. 
The pressure created by consumer demand for organics growing far faster than farmers and land are converting to organics already creates a tension that could undermine the organic movement. Demand will push commercial interests to meet it, and if the supply is not there the temptation to lower the standards to up supply will work its way into the organic movement. Therefore a strong push from the outset with government support to convert more farmers to organics will help keep the standards strong.  

Our public image will make or break us  

In the minds of many we are still fringe. The more we enter public consciousness the more we need to be leading the story. 
Legislation will up our visibility and unless we are telling the story of the benefits of organics, interests that lose out (and who are more financial than us) will tell their story about Luddites and how we block ‘science’. You need only to see the bias in the Listener editorial at the end of April (on the purported benefits of GE ryegrass in decreasing methane emissions to alleviate climate change, and how science needed to trump the ideology of people who were opposed), to understand it doesn’t take much to paint us into a corner of being backward and blocking so-called progress. Once a public perception gains traction it takes a lot to change it.
This is the time we need leadership from our peak sector body, OANZ, to bring a renewed energy into our movement, together with a vision that encompasses the movement and stretches us to reach forward knowing that we are a strong partner for the government to work with.
The AGM for OANZ is yet to be announced but it is normally held in August. Through your membership organisation of OANZ encourage them to speak at the AGM with the purpose of activating organics in New Zealand. 

OANZ 

Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) is the national voice of the New Zealand organic sector. Its member organisations include organic producers, processors, consumers, exporters and domestic traders. Soil & Health, the publisher of Organic NZ, is a member of OANZ. 

We hope you enjoy this free article from OrganicNZ. Join us for access to exclusive members-only content.

I’ve seen many small family-run market gardens in my time but none aspiring to an annual turnover of $100,000. I remained skeptical until I visited Niva and Yotam Kay from Pakaraka Permaculture.
In their first season, the annual turnover was $20,000. The second season brought in $50,000 and last year it was $90,000. They also teach workshops so beginner market gardeners can skip the mistakes they made and start at the $50,000 annual turnover point.
Niva and Yotam are originally from Israel and, after travelling the world to explore sustainable living best practices, they founded Pakaraka Permaculture in the Coromandel’s Kauaeranga Valley. Now parents of two children, they share land with organic visionaries Jeanette Fitzsimons and Harry Parke from Pakaraka Farm.

Making the most of it

“It’s not the best site [for growing vegetables], but we want to show what is possible,” says Yotam. “Perfect sites are rare anyway, most of them being under dairy at the moment,” says Niva.
Limitations they’re working with include slope (they learned very fast that it’s impossible to sow directly on sloping ground), difficult access (for bringing materials on site), a high wind zone, and shade from nearby mature bush, mostly from an ancient kahikatea tree. Some garden beds are off-limits for sun-loving vegetables as a result.
At the beginning Niva and Yotam were working 12–14 hours a day. This was never going to be sustainable, especially with young children in the mix. They got smart about what systems worked for them and invested in key infrastructure like the cool room and good quality tools that made a huge difference in the way they structured their work days.
Currently only 2–3 hours a month are spent weeding. One of their workshop attendees wrote in their feedback: “I would have liked to try using the hoe, but there were no weeds!”

Certified organic

Pakaraka Permaculture market garden is part of a group of organic growers in the valley who are certified with OrganicFarmNZ (OFNZ).
“We love the pod system because as a pod we learn from each other, and share resources, such as bulk orders. There is a lot of paperwork and tracking to be done, but our certification manager is very helpful with any questions we have,” Niva explains.
“Our wholesale clients appreciate it that we are certified organic, and it also helped establish our difference at the markets and give us an edge,” says Niva.
Pakaraka Farm as a whole has been certified organic for over twenty years; Harry and Jeanette grow chestnuts, olives, pecans and raise livestock.

Go forth and multiply

With just under sixty garden beds, Niva and Yotam standardised the beds at 15 metres long, 80 cm wide with 30 cm paths. This makes planning, reusing weed mats and moving cloches easier.
“We used to calculate plantings meticulously, but we don’t plan where we plant now. It’s wherever there is available space,” says Yotam. “We try to put different botanical families in next but there are exceptions. All that is within our main crop rotations.”
The aim is to earn $100 per square metre with 4–7 crops per bed per season. To increase diversity and to supplement the homestead’s larder Niva, Yotam and the girls have planted a food forest around the market garden area.
Most plants are under cloches at the start and end of the season. It’s taken perseverance to find the right combination of seed variety, plant care and the best garden beds to grow certain plants. Yotam and Niva had a superb bed of spinach growing when I visited in late October but that was hard won, the result of a few seasons experimenting.
“We don’t want to just do salad because that’s very boring. We want people to be able to make a whole meal from our market stall,” says Niva. As the area is prone to high winds and rainstorms, tomatoes are grown only in the large polytunnel, which is also bursting with a colourful array of microgreens.

Stewardship of the soil

With such intensive production I was curious about soil fertility management. “The key is to give back. We used three tonnes of solid fertiliser– rock dust and 50 cubic metres of compost – over the last three seasons. All certified organic,” says Yotam. Potting mix is brought in too.
A recent soil test came back with a note from the technician saying: ‘Wow, we don’t really see such healthy, well mineralised soil’. The pride at this proof of holistic land stewardship is evident. And with good reason – these folks work hard.

Secrets of success

What about that amazing turnover of $90,000 of produce from a quarter acre? I asked them what the secret was. In short, SYSTEMS! See the sidebar for their recommendations.
The whole set-up looks very organised. There is a covered work area that acts as garden HQ, with a whiteboard illustrating garden bed planning, propagation calendar and charts on clipboards. It’s a business. A well-thought-out one always striving to do better.
“We’re improving our systems all the time; keeps it exciting. There is always something new to try. We encourage people to get comfortable with using current technologies in ways that allows growing food to take care of the earth and live a good life,” says Yotam.

Connecting with customers

Pakaraka Permaculture sell their produce to the organic shop in Thames, and to five cafés and restaurants year-round. They also sell at two markets for 6–7 months of the year: Thames market on Saturdays and Clevedon in southeast Auckland on Sundays. Niva’s face lights up when she talks about meeting their customers at the stall. It’s a transaction that is much more than money.
The focus is on retail sales rather than wholesale to maximise income and connection with people. Niva talks about buying from small growers being about the relationship; each customer becomes part of the Pakaraka story. “Everyone is yearning for connection.” When they started, three-quarters of their produce went to cafés and restaurants, with a quarter going to markets. Now it’s the reverse, and their public profile and earnings reflect the wisdom of that decision.

Earth care, people care, fair share

Yotam and Niva’s interest in permaculture is broader than gardening. “Our philosophy is to give more than we take,” says Niva.
She outlines permaculture ethics: earth care, people care, fair share. Niva and Yotam apply that to all aspects of their lives, especially their gardens and workshops. This holistic approach to permaculture as life is exemplified by the farm as a whole, which they say is carbon negative. The no-dig system is not just about less work for them, it’s valued for capturing the carbon in the ground. Market runs are done in their electric vehicle (a Nissan Leaf) and tools are run off the solar panels.

Passing on the knowledge

Their education work, including gardening and homesteading workshops, makes up 20–30% of their total income. Niva and Yotam are passionate about teaching what they’ve learnt and about contributing toward a more sustainable world. “We don’t want to be just the model, that’s not the point,” says Niva.
When I asked if they were afraid of breeding competition, Yotam replied no without hesitation. “We know there is much more demand than we can produce and if we want to push this mass movement, we need thousands more gardens like this. It will bring healthy food to the people, healing to the land, totally win-win.” Yotam adds that they absolutely see that small-scale farming can feed New Zealand.
“We’re proof that there is a different way of growing. We don’t have supernatural powers. We work hard. We’re persistent,” says Yotam.
Business skills had to grow alongside the market garden. Cashflow was hard when they were starting out. The usual twentieth of the month invoice payout was challenging for a small business. They’ve learnt to stipulate that invoices are to be paid within seven days.

A joyous life

In the winter Niva and Yotam’s combined working hours can go down to 40 hours a week. In the summer this goes up to 70–80 hours combined. Much of the profit goes back into the market garden and farm. There is no daily commuting, they can be available for their children, and they’re part of a global call for sustainable living.
Factor in the flexibility, the joy of doing what you love, being able to grow and share good food together daily and you have the ingredients of a very rich lifestyle as well as a successful market garden.

Pakaraka Permaculture at a glance

• Location: Kauaeranga Valley, just outside Thames in the Coromande
• Land area: quarter-acre+ market garden, within 215 acres of land co-owned with
  Pakaraka Farm
• Soil type: Waihi ash, clay sub-soil
• Crops: Range of greens, strawberries, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes and more
• Annual turnover: $90k from market garden – not including education work www.pakarakafarm.co.nz

Tips for budding market gardeners

Pakaraka Permaculture share their recommendations.

1. Weed management system. Eliminate perennial weeds before starting and use weedmats. Then you’ll have a blank slate to begin with. Keep on top of weeds using the right tools – take the weeds down to ground level with a sharp tool.
2. No-dig cultivation system. Use appropriate tools for bed prep and maintenance. Niva and Yotam use a broadfork or forksta to aerate the soil, hoes and a bed rake.
3. Cloche system. It’s important to use good quality cloches to protect crops and extend the season at either end. Niva and Yotam are on their fifth year of using the same cloches.

Anissa Ljanta is a writer, not-for-profit professional, seamstress, blogger and online content specialist and keen gardener currently doing battle with snails on the wild west coast near Auckland. growmama.blogspot.com