Organic dairying: A LABOUR OF LOVE
Energy, passion and hard work have enabled Waikato farmers Jesiah and Ellen Alexander to convert 50 hectares of formerly conventional dairy land near Cambridge into a productive organic dairy unit.
As Alexander Organics, they now supply organic milk to Fonterra, sell organic raw milk from the self-service dispenser at their roadside shop, and grow seasonal organic fruit and vegetables for sale.
LEARNING FROM MENTORS
Over the years, they followed their natural leaning towards organics and learned much from mentors and friends, such as Gavin Fisher, an organic farmer in Te Aroha.
“The first time we went to Gavin’s farm, we were sold on organics,” says Jesiah. “It gave us a vision of what our place could look like and fuelled our passion. He’s been organic for 20 years and farming on that property for more than 40 years, and he learned lots of the organic principles doing the hard yards, using trial and error on his own property.
“We are standing
