YOUR INDUSTRY
ORGANIC MARKET GARDEN EVOLVED FROM QUEST TO IMPROVE ENGLISH SKILLS
Words by Elaine Fisher
Silvio Maffra, who came to New Zealand from Brazil to improve his English language skills, now owns the organic market gardening business Abundant Backyard
Thirteen years ago, Silvio Maffra came to New Zealand from Brazil to improve his English language skills. He did that and more; so much more in fact that he now owns an organic market gardening business in the Bay of Plenty. Abundant Backyard is based on 0.40ha (one acre) of land at Whakamarama, south of Tauranga, where 50 different varieties of organic vegetables are grown in 125 beds. These include some in a covered shade house, others under two open-ended tunnel houses and the majority in open beds on the north-facing sheltered, gently sloping site. The land belongs to Catherine and Neville DuntonMcLeod who in 2014 founded Plenty Permaculture, teaching permaculture techniques. It was while serving as an intern with Catherine and Neville towards the end of a Level 3 organic course, that Silvio discovered the opportunity to begin his own business on the land.
20 NZGROWER : JULY 2021
Catherine and Neville had other commitments and were happy to form a partnership with Silvio, investing in the start-up business Abundant Backyard to develop the land as an organic market garden. After one year Silvio bought out the couple’s share of the business and now leases the land. Farmers’ markets were initially the main outlet for his vegetables but now Abundant Backyard is also supplying cafés, restaurants, organic food shops and has a home-delivery service. Every Saturday Silvio goes to the Tauranga Farmers’ Market and on Sunday a staff member manages the Abundant Backyard stall at the ReDefined Farmers’ Market at Papamoa. “I think it is important for me to be at the markets to talk to customers, and anyone who works there with me is also experienced in growing the vegetables. Customers want to ask questions and we must be able to tell them about our vegetables, and how to use them.” It took three years for Silvio to gain organic registration through Organic Farm New Zealand. Certification is conditional on on-going audits of all inputs and of soil and water tests.
