Caretaker Farm NZ

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Caretaker Farm was named by Dorothy and Audrey Sharp in 1990. The name was chosen because we both believed that we are just caretaking the land while we are here and as caretakers we have responsibility to look after the land well. Maori would call this Kaitiakitanga, a type of guardianship.

I was surprised to find that the same name used in the USA for a farm property doing similar things as us so to stop any confusion we need to refer to this farm as Caretaker Farm NZ.

When I entered into a contract to buy the farm in December 1988 I was given 12 months to get the money together-I worked 6 jobs and by the end of the year had enough money by the end of 1989 to own the farm out-right. 

The property was very run down and largely a grass desert common throughout most of New Zealand and particularly here as it had been a milking goat farm for 15 years-goats eat everything from trees, grass and weeds. 
As it had been conventionally farmed since the 1880s the land was not really happy, the buildings were old and run-down and full of animal shit or rubbish. There was already the stamp design of others onto the property and for many years I did not have the money to knock down all the old buildings which were largely animal houses or for storing feed and milking. 

I converted many of these buildings, after cleaning them up, into places for humans to use. The 25 stand goat shed became a home for me, then for my volunteer helpers and finally is now a place for doing indoor craft or play when the weather is bad or just a place to sit by the fire. The Dairy building which was where goats were milked is now a kitchen used by those staying on the property. One of the Goat sheds became a tool shed and the barn where all the feed was stored is now used as an office and library with a fire for heating. 

 





Dorothy moved on the farm property in September 1990 and contributed money to build her house which she lived in until 2016. The house currently is home to my daughter, her partner and their three  children.







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