Growing for people
What started as a backyard project, supplying a friend’s restaurant and selling produce at farmers’ markets, has now grown into a 50-plus acre organic farm without a drop of synthetic spray or fertiliser in sight.
Founded by Dominique Schacherer and Logan Kerr, Streamside Organics specialises in organic vegetable home deliveries, fresh from the farm.
General Manager Seamus Burgess said this part of the business grew substantially during and following the Covid-19 lockdowns and a subsequent drive from customers caring more about the origin of their food.
“For us, it’s always been about going from farm to table, growing directly for people. We’ve seen over the last few years that that is what customers want. That’s a big part of our story. You order a box from us; those vegetables are still growing at the time you place your order, and then we pick it and deliver it straight to you.”
Seamus also views their boxes as a chance for education.
“Our customers are learning what grows in the region and at what time of the year.”
The Streamside Organics website has a blog that is full of recipes and guides for how to store, cook, and use the produce properly.
Seamus Burgess says that growing great vegetables organically is not as complicated as you might think, with just a bit of care and smart land use required.
“We’re on quite a large area, so we have different types of soils, from sandy loam to heavy clay, and we put on organic fertilisers and compost – seaweed and fishmeal. But the big thing in growing organics is how you manage what you’re growing and where you’re growing it.”
This means that the farm has a bed rotation policy so that they don’t grow the same crop in the same place twice.
“What that does, and by virtue of growing a diverse range of crops, they all work together in a way to keep the nutrients in the soil. It’s all about working with nature.
“The different crops do different things underground. You might plant beans, which are nitrogen-fixing. They fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Then, after that, you might grow something like broccoli or brassica, which need a lot of nitrogen.”
They also actively let the land rest and regenerate by planting cover crops when it’s not in use and having the capacity not to have all land in production all the time.
Seamus says that the taste and quality are dramatically different from what people might have experienced with conventionally grown vegetables from the supermarket.
“The colours are vibrant. Everything tastes much more alive. Carrots are sweet and crunchy. Everything just pops a bit more. I think most people are surprised because, sadly, they haven’t tasted how things are supposed to be.”
And this flavour is super accessible for people who want to be eating more organics, as they deliver vegetable boxes to homes throughout Canterbury, as far north as Kaikōura, and even Queenstown.
Their vegetable boxes are chock full of good food. Customers can pick from small, medium, and big boxes but also create custom ones, choosing from seasonal produce and a box that brings in bread from Bellbird Bakery and fruit from Ashley River Organics.
Alongside their online store, you can also find their produce back where it began at the Christchurch Farmers’ Market and South Christchurch Farmers’ Market.