Passionate advocates of farming seize the chance to tell their story. 

Earthbrooke farm, Waikato

With a self-described multipronged business, Megan and the team at Earthbrooke have a small farming business and an adjacent a consulting business.

Complimented by a broad view of the food and fibre industry, they saw Open Farms day as an opportunity to shine farming in a positive light for those who may not have had much exposure to it.

“It was a chance for us to show people that farmers aren’t destroying the planet. That they love the land, they love their animals and they’re looking after them. I’m a great believer in wool so I like to encourage people to realise that it’s a wonderful fibre and it’s not harming the sheep to shear them”.

An unexpected component of their Open Farms experience was the variety of people visiting their farm.

“We had more people than we expected attend, and a lot of new immigrants from a wide range of countries, and they were curious and interested” explains Megan. “For some it was a bit scary getting near a sheep or going on a tractor, but they had fun, and I think they left with a favourable impression of farming”.

Earthbrooke created an opportunity for a connected community to rally together around their common cause.

“I was really grateful to our neighbours who came and helped, it’s a lot of work to run the actual day, but it’s worthwhile. And people felt good about having done something nice for the world, helping promote farming and something they all dedicate a lot of work, effort, and time to” says Megan.

The collaborative approach was a chance for some people who wouldn’t have otherwise hosted an event to get involved.

“Some of our neighbours don’t have a property well suited to an Open Farm. But they were more than happy to pitch in at ours, by shearing some sheep or cooking some sausages on the BBQ for us, and everyone who helped us was keen to come back next time”.

Megan from Earthbrooke farm