The Emoyeni Story

What began as 10 acres of bare land divided into 2 paddocks in 1992 has developed into the productive unit it is today.

Initially we wanted somewhere in the country for the kids to run free and to produce our own meat and veges so we knew what sprays had been used and they were safe for us all to eat. In 1993 we had our house built to the lock-up shell stage (this gave us the most floor space for the money we had) and then took the next 10 years to finish off. The kids thought it was great the day they got doors on their bedrooms instead of curtains!

In 1994 we invested in a hydroponic tunnel house. Originally the house grew sandersonia flowers for export, then later grew calla tubers from tissue culture for export (we still have many of the calla tubers growing out in the paddock and sell the flowers at the market over summer.)

We decided that if we wanted to make a living off our land and give up our full-time jobs we needed a crop for the house that was going to be more of a "staple" than flowers to be the backbone of our income. After researching options we decided to grow lettuce in the house.

We used to market most of our lettuces through a marketing company in Palmerston North but currently only sell directly to customers at the local Farmer’s markets . To compliment our lettuces we grow a range of microgreens and heirloom vegetables which we also bring in fresh each week as well as supplying local restaurants and cafes.

In April 2017 we both stopped working full-time off the property. We only use natural fertilisers and sprays out in the garden and in the tunnel house.

We make a range of Chutneys/sauces/jams/salts/chilli powders etc from our chillies, fruit and vegetables.

In 2018 following a cusomers suggestion we entered the Mr Chilli Awards in Australia for the first time. We have had products placed every year so far. The Mr Chilli Awards are open to registered commercial producers of chilli products in Australia & New Zealand, over 100 different firms take part in these annual awards.

Mid 2021 we became registered to produce dried products from our chillies, herbs, fruit & veg. Now our range includes:- chilli powder, flavoured salts & seasoning mixes.

July 26 2024 sees us finish producing salads, the work for the financial return no longer adds up so we will kind of semi retire and for a while concentrate on the chilli products and having a life.

We both enjoy creating and working with natural products. So to unwind at the end of the day we make a range of products using wood, wire, stone, shells, other natural items we collect and resin. This includes wood turning, wood & resin platters, and pendants utilising wood, stone (collected over the past 30 years from around New Zealand), wire wrapping, resin, shells, lichen, leaves etc. You can check out what we have been creating at local markets.

The name Emoyeni is a Zulu word meaning place of wind and or spirit and soul. When we first moved out here, before the hedges and shelter grew we certainly got plenty of wind. So when the name came up in a Wilbur Smith book and Steve said that sounds like this place - the name stuck.

The March 2020 issue of New Zealand Lifestyle Block featured an article about us with a part 2 online at https://thisnzlife.co.nz/how-tese-red-hot-chilli-growers-turned-their-horowhenua-block-into-a-small-scale-market-garden/ . Check it out to see a bit more about what we do.

In December 2020 we featured in a Country Calendar episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1_ZAhEFBPY

Sauce review August 2021

https://www.facebook.com/breeanna.rek/videos/166322262273831