Our maara kai was born out of the first lockdown when we realised that this was the perfect opportunity to engage rangatahi in vegetable gardening.

In realising our maara we have been hugely supported by our mentors: Peter Alexander founder of Norton Road Organics, Chantals Organics and Poppa Pete's Juice; Brigid Ormond of True Earth Organics; Chris Hull, lifelong biodynamic gardener at Hohepa and Grace Ormond mana whenua producer and Parakore champion.  These mentors have shared, knowledge, resources, time and labour and we are deeply indebted to them.

We are growing all the greens, herbs and lettuces used in the cafe and juicery and we have planted the vegetables we use in our juices and ferments, namely daikon, beetroot, wong bok, cabbage, lettuce and florence fennel. We also have a selection of Kai Māori including gifted kumara tipu, hue and kamokamo.

Our maara is currently under organic conversion with Organic Farm NZ and and is an enrolled Tipu Ranga Maara within the Hua Parakore verification system.