Mantell's Orchard

Mantell's Orchard is part of our 20 acre property in the Tuki Tuki Valley. Bought 25 years ago as overgrazed bare land. The land is rolling contour and is elevated on the eastern side of the Tuki Tuki Valley. The bay is to the east of us less than 3 kilometres as the crow flies. The climate is temperate but harsh.

My aim was to establish an orchard, vegetable and berry plantings, arboretum and large flower borders that flow along the access driveways around the garden with productive fruit trees included in the design. A working garden and nursery - the focus being on heritage varieties of fruit, vegetables (for the nutrient density) and flowers. The aim to have a shop selling the plants, produce and food and other lines that are hard to find in Hawke's Bay.
It has taken years to sculpt the land and plant it. When we started there was no topsoil left as the land had been overgrazed and eroded. There is over 30cm of topsoil in some places now and we build it all the time with mulch and leaving large areas fallow, then killing the grass and letting the worms do the work. We will open to the public within 12 months and maps, aerial photographs and detailed photos of what we have here will be posted on this site. We are building a website and when finished links will be placed here as well.