When you’ve been working at something for over a decade, success should not come as a surprise. Yet as a wet spring gives way to a warm start to summer I am amazed at the shear abundance on the farm. It seems every aspect of the farm is absolutely thriving! The permaculture and regenerative approaches we’ve been applying for 10+ years are paying massive dividends.

The loquat trees have matured and this is the first year they are covered in fruit.

Likewise with the passion fruit. I have never been able to grow passion fruit but have finally found the right spot for these vines to thrive!

As usual, there is great fruit set on the plums this year and we look forward to a big harvest.

Likewise, the avocado orchard is absolutely pumping.

We’ve harvested the garlic and hung it in the sheds – super happy with the crop this year!

Looking forward to summer in the vegetable garden with corgettes, tomatoes and basil.

The beans are up and running!

Not to be outdone by the plants, the animals are likewise thriving. After having twins in June, Abby had a doe kid in late November.

Frenchy followed shortly afterward with twins of her own.

The hens have been equally fertile, producing four clutches of chicks this month.

And never to be outdone, the kune kune pigs have all had a second litter of the year.

We’ve got a great diversity of colours and patterns.

Using permaculture and regenerative approaches to agriculture we integrate animals into our plant based systems to achieve synergistic results. In a world where we see so many downward spirals at the moment it’s so refreshing to see our farm spiralling upward!

Kia Kaha!

Estwing