Organic Dairy and Pastoral Group Field Day – Maurice & Neroli
Hellewell’s farm, Waimate, 5 May 2009
Report by Mary Ralston
The ODPG (Organic Dairy and Pastoral Group) held a very successful
field day at Maurice and Neroli Hellewell’s farm, near Waimate on 5
May. About 55 people attended.
The Hellewell’s farm is 65 ha of heavy fertile soils where they fatten
cattle and lambs and have a small breeding flock. In the 1980s
Maurice “tried and failed” with organics, then carried on with
conventional farming. He worked off-farm for many years, then he and Neroli decided to try organics again, as they were both interested in the idea. They wanted to produce healthy, high quality, nutrient-dense food, and be involved in the marketing, rather than merely selling commodities. With only 64 ha, it had to be high value, and with organic premiums available they thought that they could have an economic unit.
For a full report of this field day please click here
