Our maara kai was born out of the desire of an older generation to share their knowledge of organic market gardening. We acquired 4 acres on the edge of Ahuriri Napier in 2020 and immediately our lime supplier Brigid Ormond of True Earth Organics showed up with a stack of cloche frames and the information we needed to order more. Peter Alexander, founder of Chantals Organics and Poppa Pete's Juice then showed up with a mountain of compost which he said was a present for our new garden. Chris Hull, lifelong biodynamic gardener at Hohepa came around to help us stir our first 500 prep and Grace Ormond, Parakore champion, arrived with kumara tipu.

We are very grateful to Chris Hull for his ongoing support in building the infrastructure of the gardens. Chris helps us to pick out tunnel house frames from Clyde Potter's Epicurian Gardens before he sold and has been erecting these for seed raising houses and extended growing areas. 

Our maara kai currently produces the abundance of greens and herbs used at Hapi as well as vegetables for our juices and cabbage for our kim chi.

We also have a selection of Kai Māori including gifted kumara, 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.