There is just over 1 acre, non cert organic, flat land that will be surrounded by natives by next winter. There is a new artesian water bore for irrigation and it will be fenced off with wind break fencing for some bunny/hare deterrent. It has been farmed by only two market gardeners in the past 10 years and the soil is pretty good, well draining loam. We have an intentional clover/lucern mix with some annoying old twitch thrown in for good measure. We have bee hives on the property. There are no sheds yet but we're happy to have shipping containers / movable sheds on the land when needed. Pictures attached of clover and how beautifully frosty it can get here! We work onsite - me in a yurt and my hubby Duncan in his shed. He's creating electric tractors.
Please contact us at villageagrarians@gmail.com to connect with this land lister.
Location: Tai Tapu, Selwyn
Total land size in Acres: 1.3 ish
Wooded Area/Cultivable Area: 1.3 ish
Zoning: rural
Current Use: paddock for lucern hay. Been a market garden twice in last 10 years
Current Practices: non cert organic - we don't spray on the land. We are planting a food forest on 3 acres next to our house.
State of the surface of the cultivable area: Good
Description and historical use of land available for farming: Been a market garden twice in last 10 years. Before we moved onto the land it was grazed by cattle.
Road Access: excellent. We're off the SH75
Electricity: Doable - we'll need to run a cable.
Cell Service: not great mobile service but ok
Short-term goal or vision for land: We want to support organic market gardeners to get good quality, locally grown food out there.
Long-term goal or vision for land: Same.
Known environmental hazards: Doesn't flood but can get pretty wet in wet winters - good drainage - we're near the Halswell River.
Current residents living on property: Yup - there are 4 family units living on site
Availability of farm buildings: Happy to have shipping container/moveable sheds plonked on the land as needed. Just bare paddock at the moment
Land is fenced: Will be soon.
Availability of farm machinery and tools: None atm - happy to loan you our new electric tractor when it's built.
Water Source: artesian bore.
Water rights to these sources: yup
On-site Housing: Yes and no - we might be able to accept another off grid tiny house now we have unlimited water... negotiable.
Is there restricted access of visitors: yes
Preferred Agriculture Products: Open to anything organically grown
Practices Preferred: Organic permaculture
Soil Details: Canterbury loam. bit of everything in there. We did just do a soil test in our food forest and it's better than the soil in the paddock. Some fert's might be needed - we can give you copies of the soil test done in 2014.
Preferred Arrangement: Lease for cash or trade perfect.
Would you be willing to mentor or advise the entering farmer(s)?: We wont - but we know someone close by who might. We're not trained in market gardening
Do you require references from the land seeker(s)?: Ideally.
Agreement duration: As long as can be
Please contact us at villageagrarians@gmail.com to connect with this land lister.
