Kaitake Farm is a small, bio-intensive market garden located in Ōākura, Taranaki, nestled at the foothills of the Kaitake Ranges in a sheltered micro-climate. Established from a desire for local food resilience and environmentally responsible growing, the farm focuses on producing fresh, seasonal vegetables for its surrounding community using no-dig, chemical-free methods.
The 1/2-acre site was previously a certified organic kiwifruit orchard and is now being given a new stage of life as a diverse, productive food garden. Kaitake Farm grows all of its produce on site and follows organic principles throughout, despite not holding formal certification due to cost and administration barriers. No pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilisers, or GMOs are used at any stage of production.
Soil health sits at the centre of the farm’s approach. Using bio-intensive and no-dig methods, the team builds fertility through mulching, living ground covers, home-made compost (Kaicycle compost), and farm-made inputs such as seaweed tea. Living mulches and diverse plantings support beneficial insects and biodiversity, while collected rainwater is used to irrigate the greenhouse, reducing reliance on external resources.
Kaitake Farm was founded with a strong community focus — to shorten food supply chains, reduce food miles, and help people reconnect with where their food comes from. This ethos is reflected in their innovative, trust-based sales model. Produce is available via a self-serve honesty box system, including the use of the My Honesty Box app, allowing customers to buy directly from the farm’s roadside stall.
The farm grows a wide range of seasonal vegetables and salad greens, adapting plantings to the natural rhythms of the Taranaki climate. Winter harvests have included beetroot, turnips, silverbeet, kale, spinach, and carrots, while summer crops feature tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, and zucchini. Fresh salad greens are a staple offering throughout the year.
Collaboration is a key part of Kaitake Farm’s model. Their produce is available through trusted local partners including Beach Road Milk Co, Down to Earth Organics, Ōākura Four Square, and Moturoa Four Square, as well as being supplied to local cafés and eateries. Together, these relationships form a resilient local food network rooted in transparency, trust, and shared values.