I grew up in Opotiki where the family farm turned into a family orchard with Kiwifruit, Boysenberries, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, apples, pears, citrus and asparagus

I started my time with agriculture by milking cows through a walk-through shed, feeding calves and pigs. Things changed when in 1968 my parents’ planted kiwifruit, being told that it was not the right place to be did not stop them, with the kiwifruit still there today. Through the early years of the orcharding a lot of learning and change happened by all to end up to where we are today.

Just as we learnt during all those years we can continue to learn and that is what has kept me interested in horticulture and agriculture. Being introduced to and learning Albrecht soil balancing and what it can do for the plants that grow in the soil, changes the way you look at plants to think of what is possible, not just what you have in front of you now.

I have been to many courses put on by Neal Kinsey since 2010 in NZ and Australia. 

Everything starts from the soil, if you cannot change your dirt to soil then you are not producing the quality of food that we all need to eat.