Certified organic share farming / partnership / management opportunity
Bring your own venture to an established organic farm in Canterbury!
Farm owners: Maurice and Neroli Hellewell. To learn more about Maurice and Neroli take a look at this great video showcasing their farm and practices.
We would like you to add another dimension to the farm so if you have a dream skills and energy this could fit in to our vision. We want to be flexible so it depended on what you bring to the table. You don’t have to bring another enterprise into the mix, you may just have skills that could lift what we are already doing. Very fertile flat land with irrigation, situated in a central South Island location. Mixed farm with primary production currently eggs followed by crops and livestock. Well established certified organic markets and distribution in place. Good climate and a very pretty place to live.
Contact: If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Maurice with some information about yourself and what venture you would be interested to bring to the land. His email is Office@arnstead.co.nz.
General Description of Land: Very fertile flat land with irrigation, situated in a central South Island location. Mixed farm primary production currently eggs followed by crops and livestock . Well established certified organic markets and distribution in place . Good climate and a very pretty place to live
Location: Ikawai
Total land size in Acres: 158acres Wooded Area/Cultivable Area: 99% cultivable
Expansion Potential (Acres): limited at present Zoning: Agricultural
Current Use: 10ha cropping 50ha pasture Current Practices: certified organic
Description and historical use of land available for farming: We practice crop rotations with up to 8years in a perennial / annual mixes to restore fertility for growing the next crops . Livestock are rotationally grazed being shifted every day for optimum pasture growth and carbon sequestration .
Road Access: From SH82 we have a stall for selling produce on the road side
Electricity: Single phase power to all buildings
Cell Service: 99% from all providers
Short-term goal or vision for land: Stay as certified organic and the current mix of live stock/crop.
Reduce work load so that we can work on the business with all of the compliance required to meet market requirements .
Create more scale so all people can take time off
Long-term goal or vision for land: We have been practicing organic production for many years and have certified USDA /NOP organic for 17years. In that time we have dabbled with Biodynamic and have been practicing most of the regenerative principals .
Currently looking at validating those practices with gaining the Silver or Gold regenerative standard. We are looking at adding more native planting for diversity and carbon sequestering to gain carbon positive status. We would like you to add another dimension to the farm so if you have a dream skills and energy this could fit in to our vision. We want to be flexible so it depended on what you bring to the table. You don’t have to bring another enterprise into the mix, you may just have skills that could lift what we are already doing. The key thing is that you need to create their own revenue by bringing something to the mix. Organic Vegetable growing could be an enterprise that you could bring. We have good soil and water with established markets and we have grown vegetables before. The incoming person would have to have full control of the growing. I could do the land preparation and provide the irrigation . There is also an opportunity to create a farm shop in addition to supplying our current markets.
Known environmental hazards: Very rare flooding and normal summer dry periods .
Both these hazards are managed and in fact eliminated
Current residents living on property: Our family that runs the business however we do have access to other accommodation for ourselves
Availability of farm buildings: Maybe House, workshop, storage shed, machinery sheds . Small processing shed for eggs production only
Land is fenced: 22 paddocks with electric fencing
Availability of farm machinery and tools: Full range of machinery for cropping and harvesting .
Water Source: Potable water for domestic and processing . Irrigation water for crops
Water rights to these sources: All consented
On-site Housing: Short term this is a limiting factor . Work in progress
Is there restricted access of visitors: All visitors have to abide by the health and safety rules in place on the farm
Preferred Agriculture Products: This property suits livestock and with good management grows very good arable crops. We have grown vegetables in the past with very good success . Pumpkins, brassicas, beetroot, potatoes all do well and celery can also be grown very well. The opportunities can be created if you have the expertise to bring a new venture to the business . However what ever you bring needs carful planing to fit in with the current system and work load.
Primarily we are looking for someone that could share the day to day workload of the poultry and current farming practices including streamlining compliance with an add on to what you want to bring .
We have very good markets and distribution to all Organic shops in the south island .
Practices Preferred: Any except chemicals
Soil Details: The property is very well balanced with heavy Temuka soils and very light lismore soils .
Preferred Arrangement: No land ownership but beyond that we are flexible. What ever their will be written documents put in place to protect both parties.
Would you be willing to mentor or advise the entering farmer(s)?: 100% this i feel would be required as this is a very diverse property and transition alway takes time. Their is more to be gained by working together
Do you require references from the land seeker(s)?: yes if you can get them.
Agreement duration: Flexible possibly a 2 plus 3 renewable agreement
