Good People
It’s a family affair at Commonsense Organics
In 1975 a group of families, including husband and wife team Marion Wood and Jim Kebbell, bought Common Property, a rural section in Te Horo on the Kapiti Coast. It became the 15th farm in New Zealand to gain BioGro organic certification. Fast forward to today and the farm still supplies fresh organic produce for Commonsense Organics' six stores, and daughter Lucy Kebbell has joined the business too.
Commonsense Organics is celebrating 25 years. How did you get started?
With unbounded optimism and more than a little naivety. We thought retail would be quite straightforward. We lost a mega amount of money in the first years as we learned that it wasn’t. Jim always refused to sell produce that wasn’t really fresh, so crates of vegetables used to end up at the soup
kitchen. At Christmas, the nuns gave him three jars of piccalilli as a thank you present for all the donated veggies.
Why organics?
Organic farming is about living in balance: growing delicious, nutritious food in a way that sustains – and restores – the health of the environment. This means building up the soil so we replace what was taken and not introducing toxic substances to our soil and our waterways. For us, organic principles are about respecting the connection between the earth, our growers and our customers – it’s just common sense.
You've built an inspiring and inclusive business. What is your brand philosophy?
The world needs a different economic paradigm that’s based on people’s needs rather than corporate wealth. Authenticity is very important to us so that we’re not just talking about values but living them and being prepared to change when challenged. We all have a part in modelling what this looks like. Every month our managers meet to decide which new products we’ll accept according to buying policies which they’ve helped create. Our policies and procedures are challenged and improved by our staff. Everyone contributes to make the business successful.
You're passionate about fair trade...
We stock as many fair trade products as we can find... for us, fair trade isn’t just about expecting people in other countries to treat their workers fairly; it has to be about how we treat our workers, our customers and our suppliers right here in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
How do you see the future of organics?
Our future depends on growing sustainable food, phasing out fossil fuels and learning to live within the constraints of the finite – yet plentiful – resources we have to use. Organic farming is a key part of this; it ensures that the resources we use are left in a better state than what we started with. We also believe that organic food is not food for the elite; it needs to be affordable and accessible to all, grown in an environment where everyone can swim in the rivers and drink the water.
Lucy, you recently joined the family business. Why, and what drives you?
This business is really like no other I’ve been part of. The traditional model of business generally tends to equate success with financial profit but that’s not the sole driver for our business. My dad has always hammered into us that we do the “good stuff” regardless of our financial situation because it’s just the right way to be in the world. Our business is intimately connected with our environment, community, people and when these things are in harmony, this is what success looks like for us. It’s also vital that we’re part of the solution to climate change, by supporting organic farming and offsetting our greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a wonderful feeling to go to work and not leave your values at the door.
How will you be celebrating your 25th?
The Wellington Chocolate Factory have developed a special anniversary chocolate bar for our customers and Garage Project Brewery have something special in the pipeline too. We’re trying to involve as many of our suppliers as we can as we’re all so integral to each other. And we’ll be having a big party for our staff.
“We do the 'good stuff ' regardless of our financial situation because it's just the right way to be in the world.”