Blue River Orchard, Waipapa, Far North, New Zealand
Reposted from June 1, 2016
Winter in the “Winterless North” of NZ
It’s June first. First day of winter. Winter in Northland, New Zealand. That means it will likely rain a bit, followed by sun, then rain, then sun, then rain, with a rainbow or two tossed in and a high temperature around 65 degrees. Bummer. Just kidding; it’s awesome!
Today, I drove 15 minutes from my place in Kerikeri to an orchard just outside of Waipapa. The drive is a little less winding, hilly and beautiful than most drives around here but still darn enjoyable. Here’s my drive and interview went:
I turn onto Koropewa Road and realize I don’t have an address for the orchard beyond the street name, so I hope there will be a sign. Down the gravel road, around a bend, past a dozen cows (some slowly turn their heavy heads to watch me pass), part way up a hill, and with relief, I spot a sign for “Blue River Orchard.” Turning left onto the narrow grey-gravel driveway, I slowly bumble along, contemplating how to begin our discussion today.
Pink Caravan
I first heard of this orchard by way of a pink 1950s caravan (trailer) at the local farmer’s market that drew my family all summer like a magnet. From the caravan, we sampled cones topped with fresh blueberry ice cream made in real time by an innovative contraption designed and built by the orchard co-owner himself. I was curious about the whole thing and even more curious when I heard that he and his partner had had successful careers in Auckland and Wellington before deciding to move to the rural north and begin anew with some savings, good intentions and a few acres of land.
Embarrassed to Grateful
Spying a fork in the driveway, I turn my attention to the next big decision prompted by two small signs: do I turn toward “Shop” or toward “Private?” Remembering the invitation from the orchard owners to “pull up to the house,” I turn right toward “Private,” hoping that means “house.” I pass young blueberry bushes tucked under bird netting and around a bend, the house comes into view. Suddenly I feel a little silly, knowing how much work it is to farm and how privileged I am to even be in this country, let alone asking hard-working people to take time out of their day to talk with me about their version of a good life. I decide to set that aside and find my way back to how grateful I am that Justin and Buffy have made time for me and how pleased I am to be here.
Warmth with Woofers
Car parked to the left (Stay left! Is the mantra when driving in New Zealand), I walk to the house and am greeted by the sound of a barking dog who comes careening around the corner, all of 12 inches high and covered in long white hair, some wet and stringy from running through the the bush. I bend to give him a pat just as the front door opens and Justin welcomes me into their home and ushers me to the kitchen. The scene is cozy with three adults sitting at a table, the reflective light of a wood burning stove casting warmth. Justin’s partner Buffy is on morning break with two “Woofers” from Germany who are helping with the orchard (through the WWOOF program – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). Sharing coffee around the kitchen table, we easefully glide into conversation and the young pair take leave to get back to work.
The Lord of the Rings and the Film Widow
Thirteen years ago, Justin and Buffy lived in Wellington, NZ and didn’t see much of each other. They were committed to each other, living in the same house and raising two young sons, but time together was hard to find. Buffy called herself a “film widow.” Justin was a cameraman shooting The Lord of the Rings. The work wasn’t as glitzy as we movie-goers like to think; the hours were long, the work often frustrating, political and “wasteful” of time and resources. Buffy took care of home and their young kids, taking a break from her work as an Occupational Therapist to do so. The pair grew frustrated with the situation and, at the end of the film-making, realized they were at a cross-roads. Both were worn out and open to options.
Put on a Dreamy Hat
Many years earlier, Buffy had worked in a work rehabilitation unit which included a market garden. She remembered loving the gardens and now at a cross-roads, she decided to “put on my dreamy hat” and started to wonder about gardening and an old love – ceramics – as a way of life. Justin, who had almost always lived “in the bush” or at least with plenty of nature, space and privacy, agreed to explore the idea. He wanted to have more time with the kids and to work from home if possible. They started to look around at land and were inspired by the potential.
Taking a Risk for their Dream
Though it was “hugely risky,” they purchased 15 acres in Waipapa, in the far north of NZ. They left job security and career success in favor of what they could build for themselves. Their intention was to create a more wholesome family life, where there was time to nurture their kids and expose them to possibilities beyond “ordinary life.” The dream was to live into the question: “Can we live off the land?” Buffy worked 3 days a week in the area’s community mental health service to generate income as they began to explore this possibility.
Making the Choice, Doing the Work
After researching their options and making plans for an orchard, they began planting blueberries. It was a load of work to get started and aim to be profitable, taking 6 or 7 years before Buffy could “take the plunge” and leave her day job to join Justin full time on the orchard. Since then, in the past few years, the orchard has seen much growth and diversification.
Struggles along the way
The orchard has gone through many phases of growth, and one was particularly challenging. There was a period of time when it felt that the orchard had consumed them and the family, taking the time that they had envisioned having with their kids. The orchard started “taking over” and time with the kids became short again. Buffy and Justin still work 7 days a week in the summer, making it impossible to enjoy vacation time with family.
Still, looking back over the years, they see that they indeed enjoyed the wholesome family time they had envisioned, building tree houses, fixing motor bikes and having adventures with the kids. Even during the “consumed” phase, they had the flexibility to be there for their kids and their events.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else”
Ten years after planting their first blueberries, they can answer their question: Yes, we can live off the land. It’s had its challenges, but they say that it’s been worth it. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else” says Buffy, “I love the change. It’s a weight off my shoulders to not be in my job anymore and to be helping our business grow.” Though she works hard as the primary grower, she finds the orchard therapeutic and a place to practice mindfulness and enjoy the moments.
Satisfacation
Justin says he wakes up on Monday morning and there are things to do – some he wants to do and some he doesn’t but they are all about their project and he feels good about that. Walking through the land, seeing what they’ve accomplished and what needs tending, he feels satisfied. He also enjoys great satisfaction from learning so many skills along the way. They couldn’t afford to hire out the building and repairs to be done, so Justin has learned to do it all himself.
Satisfaction. A simple sounding word and experience but undoubtedly central to A Good Life. It leaves us grateful, pleased, ready to see and answer what’s next in life. It lets us be “good enough” and have enough. This “enough-ness” makes A Good Life possible for others as we consume less. My least satisfying days are those that are spent frenetically trying to do too much and spending too much time disembodied – i.e. up in my head and/or on a computer with little contact with nature. How about you? What kind of day is satisfying to you? How do you know when you are satisfied?
Satisfaction seems in short supply these days. And so are Buffy and Justin’s blueberries, compared to the ever-increasing demand for them.
Talking with Justin and Buffy, I get a real sense of the risks and challenges they’ve faced and yet there is still a love relationship with the dream and the orchard itself.
Stick-ability
How have they worked through the fears, worries and challenges along the way?
Justin says “very carefully” and Buffy reports that they have “stick ability.” They run their business carefully and thoughtfully and stay focused and committed.
Organic growth and Staying real.
What’s emerging now for them? Justin built the ice cream-making machine and carries it in style in the pink caravan to several markets a week plus festivals, concerts and weddings. They opened a shop on site and people come for take-out coffee and ice cream, invited to enjoy them on the grass in front. It’s becoming a destination and they even get requests to host weddings. People love it because it’s real. It’s not a big parking lot and a show; it’s a real working orchard with a few cows and chickens. Their philosophy is to “Stay real, stay an orchard AND be open to those who want an experience of the real thing.” On the horizon is making jams, selling frozen blueberries and keeping up with the demand.
Living authentically
As we talk, I can hear that job security, money beyond “enough,” and even a bit of fame were less important to them than family time, living an authentic and independent life that included spacious nature and the realness of the garden.
Advice from Buffy and Justin
For those who are looking to make a change and create their own enterprise, consider:
- Financial ground. Can you afford to live with very little income during the first 2-3 years in business?
- What’s true for you? What is important to you in life; what are your values?
- If you have kids, when is the open window for a big move or change? (Their kids were 4 and 7 at the time.)
- What fulfills you in life? What’s of interest to and fulfilling for your kids?
Bonus advice for those interested in farm-related pursuits:
- Become a mechanic.
- Make sure you have good soil, good shelter and good water. All three.
Vision
As we conclude, I ask them about their vision for their business and life. For Justin it’s “less time on lawn mowers and tractors” and more time demonstrating and selling machines he has invented along the way – including the ice cream machine. For Buffy, it’s “tighten up the business and manage its new growth,” hire the right people and be able to take time off in the summer. And get back to ceramics. It’s finally time.