Roots & Renewal - May Newsletter 2026
The valley is cooling. Sunshine has lingered, but the frosts have arrived, the trees stand bare, and the team has settled into a quieter, hibernating rhythm as we prepare for the cold.
It's a season of turning over. Planting season is about to begin again - some of our trees are now 5+ years old and really starting to thrive - and all the hard work on our new butchery is beginning to come to fruition.
There's plenty more to be excited about. We're trialling our new Winter Residency program, welcoming 10 keen participants from across Aotearoa and around the world to work alongside us through the season.
And we're in good company - Ma Earth has just launched something special for nature projects worldwide, and we're proud to stand amoung them.
More on that below - along with a collection of updates and events happening around the farm.
Ngā mihi aroha,
Your friends and farmers at Mangaroa Farms
Our friends at Ma Earth have recently launched a platform offering $500k in matching grants for 100 grassroots nature projects worldwide.
Projects are invited to apply through Ma Earth's new collective funding platform, purpose built for community-led regeneration. The more people support a project, the more funds it unlocks from a $500K matching pool.
Mangaroa Farms is proud to sit alongside Ma Earth in our wider global community. We have our projects listed here, and will be submitting an application in the upcoming funding round.
Learn more at https://maearth.com
Recent Updates
Tree planting season is on the horizon. Some of our plantings are now 5+ years old and thriving, others still finding their roots. Watch our 2021 planting review here.
Market Gardens are sowing the last winter cover crop. Keeping soil covered with living plants feeds the microbiome, supporting nutrient access, root growth and soil structure.
Pick-Your-Own has closed for the season and we look forward to kicking things off again in October.
The Mangaroa Coffee Cart has also closed up for the winter, with our local brews returning in Spring.
Mangaroa Farms Butchery is opening soon. We're taking expressions of interest for bulk orders - a whole lamb or side of beef.Register
Raw Milk at the Farm Shop / Kete Kai by Three Oaks Organic has closed up for the season, they'll be back in spring/summer.
Our last team meeting took us into the forests with Groundtruth's Peter Handford to learn more about different predator management strategies and ecological measurement techniques being used across the farm. More
Our Winter Residency Program is full of some amazing people we will be welcoming on to the farm over the next few weeks. More
Welcoming new staff in the Farm Shop as founding manager Kari Shadwell takes a break - we're excited to welcome Sarah Quinlan as our new Farm Shop Manager, and Tracy Simms on a casual basis.
We're saying farewell to artistGraedon Parker, Wildfolk herbalist Tamsin Kaufman and son Zephyr as they transition out of the valley. After 5 years here, we'll miss them.
Earth School Aotearoa is providing place-based learning in nature. Explore their offerings here.
Fruit & Forage is a vision to plant out the farm loop trail with edible plants. Each year: larger trees, deeper shade, more birdsong, more kai, more stories. Stay tuned for more.
Host your event with us - We offer premium event spaces & accomodation options for those looking for a bespoke venue, grounded in nature. More
Stay at Mangaroa Farms in one of our beautiful spaces - offering a peaceful escape in nature for you and the family. Check out our accommodation options here.
Interested in living at Mangaroa Farms? Leave your details on our expression of interest form here.
What's New in the Farm Shop
🌿 The Mangaroa Fresh Garden Collection includes Pumpkin, Potatoes, Red & Brown Onions, salad greens, Carrots (orange and rainbow), Parsnips, Turnips, Rhubarb, Red Beetroot, Baby Beetroot, Chillies, Rosemary, Parsley, Coriander, Cabbages, Broccoli, Kale, Garlic and Celery.
🥝 Aotearoa produce from around the country includes kumara, cauliflower, apples, pears, green and gold kiwifruit, mandarins, lemons, local quince, feijoas and bananas. All of our produce is organic and spray-free wherever possible.
👨🏽🎨 New artwork in the shop by Graedon Parker (above). More
🍊 Turbo Tonic - great for winter immunity, featuring cold pressed turmeric, ginger, NZ lime, raw honey, Vitamin C and black pepper. Available as 1L or 125ml.
Saint Isidore Charred Sweetcorn Salsa 150ml - a limited edition Apostle x Duncans Brewing collab with $1 per bottle supporting community farms.
Ginger Zest Organic Granola 350g - organic oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, raspberries and NZ plums, lifted with ginger and cinnamon.
Naturalea Organic Milk - 1L non-homogenised, in store now as the Three Oaks girls head into their winter break.
New in for the season - green and gold kiwifruit, mandarins, granny smith apples and Taylors Gold pears.
Beef & Lamb - a fresh delivery of cuts is available from the in-store freezer or online.
Organic Castor Oil 100ml from Green Trading - BioGro certified, raw and cold pressed.
Share your thoughts - We love chatting to our customers about all things food. If you have some feedback, or if there’s something you’d like to see in the shop, please email us at shop@mangaroa.org.
VISIT US
Tuesday - Friday 11am-5pm
Saturdays 9am-5pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
📍 98 Whitemans Valley Road, Upper Hutt.
+64 27 369 4758 | shop@mangaroa.org
Upcoming Events
Orchard Design Workshop
Sat 30 May
11am - 1am
Learn the art of orchard planning with Heritage Nurseries, specialists in heritage and disease-resistant fruit trees. Learn to design your perfect orchard, whether you're working with a rural property or a small urban space.
Mangaroa Men's Circle
Tue 2 June
7pm - 8:30pm
Men's circles are an entry point to authentic brotherhood. Sitting around the fire like we have done for thousands of years. To listen, speak, and be together Casual, easygoing conversation about what's real in our lives.
Foraging with Earth School Aotearoa | Pestos & Salads
Sat 6th June | 11:30AM - 12:30PM
Come as one, or come as many and come for a wild forage walk looking at the late autumn/winter foraging, discovering plants to make wild pesto with and to add to your salads. The walk is pram friendly, and will be about 1 hour.
Sourdough Breadbaking Workshop
Sat 13 June
10am - 1pm
Spend time in our wharekai learning how to mix, knead, plait and bake alongside Doris. Discover how to keep a starter alive, read a dough by touch, and make the small decisions—temperature, time, aroha—that transform simple ingredients into a beautiful loaf.
Winter Pruning Workshop
Sun 14 June
11am - 1pm
Join us for a hands-on, practical fruit tree workshop designed to give you the knowledge and skills to grow thriving, productive trees. Whether you're planting your first sapling or looking to fine-tune your pruning technique, this mahi will set you up for success.
Mangaroa Men's Circle
Tue 30 June
7pm - 8:30pm
Men's circles are an entry point to authentic brotherhood. Sitting around the fire like we have done for thousands of years. To listen, speak, and be together Casual, easygoing conversation about what's real in our lives.
Foraging with Earth School Aotearoa | Roots
Sat 4th July | 11:30AM - 12:30PM
Come as one, or come as many and come for a wild forage walk looking at winter foraging, discovering what lies underground and harvesting roots. The walk is pram friendly, and will be about 1 hour.
Winter Propagation
Sat 18th July | 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Winter is a great time for propagating hardwood cuttings and root division of plants. You'll get hands-on with cuttings from various fruiting and non-fruiting species, including theory. We'll also dive into root divisions, so you can see how it's done and have a go yourself.
Foraging with Earth School Aotearoa | Waking up from Winter
Sat 1st August | 11:30AM - 12:30PM
Winter is a great time for propagating hardwood cuttings and root division of plants. You'll get hands-on with cuttings from various fruiting and non-fruiting species, including theory. We'll also dive into root divisions, so you can see how it's done and have a go yourself.
Mangaroa Farms Spring Festival
Sat 31 October
10am - 3pm
We're back again for our biggest day of the year. Come and welcome the return of the sun with a day of farm charm - live music, garden tours, kids activities, delicious kai and more.
More details
Thanks for being a part of this regenerative movement.
With gratitude,
Mangaroa Farms
