Farm
Yuan Tze and Melissa with Farmers Steve Lee and Jackie Blunt and members of Steering Group on a Farm Tour in March 2024
In 2020, Ren Xue Australasia Charitable Trust agreed to purchase the Farm, and in 2022, it was gifted land in Onekakā Golden Bay/Mohua to develop the Ren Xue Centre Australasia and Farm.
What is a Ren Xue Farm?
In March 2024 Yuan Tze drafted a document to assist the transformation from a traditional New Zealand Dairy Farm into a Ren Xue Farm. Read about Ren Xue agriculture here.
In March 2024 Yuan Tze drafted a document to assist the transformation from a traditional New Zealand Dairy Farm into a Ren Xue Farm. Read about Ren Xue agriculture here.
Set on a 186-hectare former dairy farm, the Farm is now practicing sustainable regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles. The project includes diverse orchards, food forests, and extensive native planting, with a strong focus on soil health and biodiversity.
Planting of Fruit Trees in front of the farmhouse with farmyard buildings and native tree nursery shade house in the background. Noting the people on the roof of the shed are replacing lead-headed nails with steel screws, an initiative to prevent kea, a native bird, from poison. A community project led by The Kea Conservation Trust.
There are 5 waterways and a tidal estuary on the farm, so water quality is important. Using the māori philosophy of "ki uta ki tai" (mountains to sea), water is managed in an integrated way that considers the effects of the use and development of land on a whole-of-catchment basis, including the effects on receiving environments. This protects our beautiful rivers and ocean and the myriad of life it supports.
Community Planting Day September 2024 along the Onekakā River
Regular environmental monitoring and partnerships with local organizations and universities support the Farm. Links with the local and wider community are also important, this includes the development of social enterprises and a planned community garden and cycleway.
The Farm has a working research relationship with Lincoln University, which started with some soil sampling work in April 2022.
The Farm has a working research relationship with Lincoln University, which started with some soil sampling work in April 2022.
Lincoln University student Lulu Jordan describes the soil sampling work in the video below
The Farm has a social enterprise OK Grow Nursery operating from the land and the now retired milking shed.
What has been achieved to date:
Success stories:
Our Farm Manager Steve Lee gives us an up-close introduction to the soil and its wriggly residents here: Video Link.
If you would like a tour of the farm or would like to know more please contact Steve Lee at [email protected]
- Planting of 1100 fruit and nut trees, with plans for 300 more
- Planting of 4,000 native plants to date and 5-6,000 next year
- ·Water quality monitoring at 6 sites every 3 months
- ·186 hectares of land transitioning to more sustainable use
- More than 2 km of expanded riparian margins fenced.
Success stories:
- Collaboration with Lincoln University for pasture trials
- Recognition of the Otere/Onekaka River's high native fish biodiversity
- Support from Tasman Bay Guardian and Tasman District Council for waterways management
- Identification of a population of the nationally declining fern bird on a part of the Farm that has been retired from Grazing.
- The project demonstrates a significant positive impact through its land restoration efforts, sustainable farming practices, and plans for a wellness retreat centre.
Our Farm Manager Steve Lee gives us an up-close introduction to the soil and its wriggly residents here: Video Link.
If you would like a tour of the farm or would like to know more please contact Steve Lee at [email protected]
The Villa
An old Villa was inherited with the Farm. A project to renovate the Villa has been ongoing since 2022 with much input from wonderful volunteers.
It is envisioned that the Villa will provide a space for Ren Xue Activities such as small classes and meetings along with providing guest accommodation.
The Villa should be operational in early 2025.
If you are interested in the Villa and want to know more, please contact the Centre Manager Rosie [email protected]
An old Villa was inherited with the Farm. A project to renovate the Villa has been ongoing since 2022 with much input from wonderful volunteers.
It is envisioned that the Villa will provide a space for Ren Xue Activities such as small classes and meetings along with providing guest accommodation.
The Villa should be operational in early 2025.
If you are interested in the Villa and want to know more, please contact the Centre Manager Rosie [email protected]
