sunshine Running on

A market garden that leads by example to inspire others.

Abig congratulations goes to the Pakaraka Permaculture Organic Market Garden, who recently reached their crowdfunding target of $20,000, a huge step in their bid to be a ‘market garden of the future’ running completely on solar power.

Already the Kauaeranga Valley garden grows more than 8,000kg of organic produce a season without using any tractors or heavy machinery, all on a quarter acre of land.

But Niva and Yotam Kay have dreams of being even more sustainable, and in turn inspire Kiwi gardeners and foodies by using the energy of the sun to grow produce, chill it and get it to the market.

“We are passionate about sustainable living and about a revolution in food production, making it better for people, local economy and the environment,” says Niva. Their crowdfunding money will see them purchase a solar system that will run their cool room and electric delivery car.

“A cool room allows us to keep our produce at a premium quality, and eliminate waste. We want to do this without fossil fuels which are causing climate change so we have chosen clean, renewable solar energy. By charging an electric delivery car, our vegetables will be delivered in the same way that they are grown – with care for the earth, sunshine and love,” she says.

Front End Solar Technologies is using the Pakaraka farm as a model of off-grid sustainability and will be monitoring their system which will be the first of its kind in NZ.