The Family Farm at Mangarara Station

Greg and Rachel Hart have embarked on a process of transforming their farm and environment according sustainable and biological systems – with the goal of producing healthy food from healthy soil. 

Greg and Rachel Hart run a sheep and beef operation, called The Family Farm, on about 610 hectares. The farm used to belong to Greg’ parents. They chose to use the name “The Family Farm” because they say they are focused on traditional family values of stewardship of the land. Greg says their philosophy is that they’re guardians of the land and borrowing it from their children rather than inheriting it from their ancestors. 

As well as sheep and beef they have free-range pork which are fed milk from cows that are milked on the property.

Greg believe there is a need to make changes to how we’re living – how we’re farming, how we’re consuming, how we’re interacting with each other and the planet. He says they are using this farm to be a tool for change, and one of the things that he loves about it is gathering people together for a common cause – to regenerate the planet.

“What I want is to have people really buy into the farm – and their food production, to be part of it, to experience it, to fall in love with it. I want to give people the opportunity to come out here and spend the day with us, spend a week, learn about what we do and learn about the changes they can make”, says Greg.

He is constantly on the lookout for ways to improve what they’re doing. “I want what we do here on the farm to be a model for other people, to be something people can look to for inspiration and practical tips. So every opportunity I have to gather people on our farm, in our paddocks, in the Eco Lodge, or in our Friends of the Farm collective, I take it – that’s the stuff that keeps me awake at night, brimming with possibility.”

The farm is part of a group called RegenAG which is focused on building soils, restoring watercourses and encouraging biodiversity – and at the same time trying to reduce outside inputs and improve livestock health etc. 

The property was also the first benefactor of the Air NZ Environmental Trust back in 2008. They’ve planted 96,000 trees. Air NZ sent employees from their ‘ green team’ out to plant to help off set their emissions and the general public can also choose to offset their flying by buying trees to plant on the farm. 

A lot of planting in recent years has been done around the farm as well as a large lake. The lake is used for a children’s triathlon each year. It has become a very popular community event. They also host Woofers – even though they aren’t officially organic. 

The farm is also part of the Million Metres of Streams project – a crowd funding venture - to plant around their lake. 

Animals farmed on the property are processed in Havelock North and offered to customers as Meat Box. Each box contains pork, beef and lamb. There’s also a Family Farm Meat Club - where customers can sign up for regularly deliveries. 

The idea is that something that is grown with care and attention is going to taste better. Consumers are connected directly to the food source – they are supporting the people in their community growing the food and they are supporting diversity – and additionally, there’s clear traceability. 

The lodge on the property offers private stays, corporate events and even weddings – although Rachel says there haven’t been too many of those. The lodge is set in front of a lake on the property and was built as part of a larger idea to share their vision for a more sustainable future. The building is constructed from two former classrooms from the local high school and can sleep up to 17 people.