Permaculture Approach at the Mangaroa Market Garden

You might notice our garden is looking a bit more wild than it used to, and we’re pretty stoked about that. Our Mangaroa Market Garden is making a shift towards a permaculture approach, where every bit of "mess" is actually part of a natural cycle – turning waste into resources. This enables us to work more efficiently, while feeding the soil and increasing the nutritional quality of the kai we grow.

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We’ve been returning mulch to the soil, which breaks down and adds valuable nutrients. This mulch includes silage—cut grass from local farms—which helps keep the soil healthy, feeding the worms and microbes that create a thriving ecosystem. It also protects the soil from erosion, compaction, and the elements, all while helping us step away from using plastic ground cover.

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We’re also introducing more flowers to the gardens, bringing in biodiversity and encouraging companion planting. With more flowers come more pollinators and predatory insects to help control pests naturally, creating a harmonious balance.

This approach makes it easier on our garden team and keeps us in sync with nature—feeding the soil, supporting the plants, and letting everything thrive as it was meant to.