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.

As of April 2017 we both have stopped working full-time off the property. We still harvest our fresh produce the day before a market. We only use natural fertilisers and sprays out in the garden and in the tunnel house we only use neem oil to control pests.

We strongly believe that the nutritional value plus the taste is far better from naturally grown produce so we also grow our microgreens under natural conditions. We are currently planting more heirloom fruit and nut trees so we can bring a bigger range of produce into the market over time. We are also expanding the amount of ginger and turmeric we are growing under cover. We are constantly on the lookout for more vegetables to grow, especially the heirloom varieties.

We make a range of Chutneys/sauces/jams from our fruit and vegetables. In 2018 our Ghostly Plum Sauce was placed 2nd in the extra hot with flavour section at the Mr Chilli Awards and our Chilli Plum Sauce was place 3rd in the Fruit Sauce section. In 2019 our Ghostly Plum Sauce was placed 2nd in the Open Hot Sauce section at the Global Hot Sauce Awards (10 countries competed).

Also in 2019 at the Mr Chilli awards in Sydney, Australia (81 commercial business from across Australia & New Zealand competed) our Chilli Plum Sauce was placed 2nd in the Fruit Sauce section and our Horowhenua Heat Chutney was placed 2nd in the Chutney section.

2020 Mr Chilli Awards in Sydney, Australia (over 100 commercial business from across Australia & New Zealand competed) our Ghostly Plum Sauce was placed 2nd in the extra heat with flavour section and Horowhenua Heat was placed 2nd in the chutney - mild heat section. At the first Mr Chilli in New Zealand Awards held in conjunction with the NZ Hot Sauce Festival our Silent Assassin Chilli Sauce got placed 3rd in the XXX fruit sauce section.

2021 Mr Chilli Awards in Australia (over 100 commercial business from across Australia & New Zealand competed) we decided to only enter products that had not been previously placed. Our Chilli Chocolate Plum Jam came 1st in the chilli jam section.

Mid 2021 we became registered to produce dried products from our chillies, herbs, fruit & veg. We are now developing a range of chilli powder, flavoured salts & seasoning mixes.

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.

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