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Friday 18 October 2024
Marking Rural Women's Day
Steven Lee, manager of Ren Xue Farm in Onekakā, speaks at Monday's gathering of Golden Bay Rural Women in Collingwood. Photo: Joyce Wyllie. JOYCE WYLLIE
Rural Women’s Day, celebrated globally on 15 October, holds special significance in our community. Golden Bay Rural Women Provincial mark this occasion with an annual luncheon at the Collingwood Tavern. This year, the guest speaker was Steven Lee, the manager of Ren Xue Farm in Onekakā. His talk drew record attendance, reflecting local interest in the farm’s transition from dairying to an innovative management model. Steven began by honouring the contributions of women to rural communities and highlighting their pivotal role in the future of farming. Steven’s agricultural career has taken him to diverse countries, including Samoa, North Korea, and Pakistan, before a stint with Dairy NZ. He later managed a lemon orchard near Motueka before taking on the Ren Xue project in 2022. This venture is his first farming role, allowing him to integrate his varied experiences. Ren Xue is based on the Qigong philosophy of “harmony,” which Steven’s wife,
Jackie, a health practitioner, explained as a practice now embraced by Western medicine for health and personal development. Ren Xue’s vision is structured like a tricycle, comprising the farm, a yet-to-be-built centre, and the community. The goal is to foster care for people and the environment through “regenerative” farming practices, focusing on nurturing the soil. The Albrecht approach to soil and fertiliser is used, with encouraging results from testing and visual assessments. The farm has planted vegetation along its five waterways, which run from Kahurangi National Park to the coast. One stream boasts the “best biodiversity found in NZ,” monitored across six water sites. The land, previously cared for by the Bennett family, exclusively raises cattle, balancing dairy grazers and beef cattle to reduce risk. Additionally, 1200 fruit and nut trees have been planted in four “horticultural diversification areas,” including olives, feijoas, stone fruits, quinces, figs, avocados, pine nuts, hazels, pecans, edible acorns, and 42 apple
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Golden Bay is hosting a festival of football over Labour Weekend. The Mussel Inn Masters tournament promises two days of top competition for “mature” men and women footballers from across the district – and beyond. Although the entries have not yet been finalised, up to eight men’s teams – including one from Wellington – and five women’s teams are expected to compete. Golden Bay is fielding two of those women’s teams – the Mohua Maidens and the Vintage Vixens. Last Sunday afternoon, watching the women practising skills and drills at the Rec Park, coach Debbie Jones pointed out that, training alongside experienced players, were numerous novices. “Around half are very new.” Mohua Maidens’ skipper Jess CurrinSteer explained how she managed to recruit such a large squad. “I really pushed it,” said the veteran Shield Maiden. “I was going around to everyone I knew, saying ‘bring the kids, have some fun’. It went from 12 to 18, then to 24 and so we had enough for two teams.” Eligibility rules for masters participation varies across competitions but for the Mussel Inn Masters, women must be at least 30 years-old while, for men, the minimum age is 35. Each team, however, is allowed to include up to two younger players. The tournament kicks off at 10am on Saturday with matches continuing until around 6pm. As day turns to night, events take on a tropical theme with DJ Galanjah on the decks. “This will be koha entry for non-players and should be fun,” says lead organiser for Golden Bay Association Football Club (GBAFC), Duan Evans. Further fixtures continue through Sunday before the weekend rounds off with prizegiving at around 5pm. As well as the action on the field, there will be plenty happening on the sidelines, says Duan. “The plan is for a festival-like vibe... It’s family-friendly; there’ll be lots to keep the kids entertained.” Helping to create that vibe, local food stalls and trucks will be serving everything from gourmet doughnuts to barbecue meats, pies, and other delicacies, with beer and soft drinks supplied by the Mussel Inn. Sideline physiotherapy for players is being provided by sponsors PhysEx, who are offering pre-game strapping, warm-up and cool-down massage for $10 with all proceeds going to GBAFC. Continued on page 2
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varieties. The Retreat Centre will eventually receive fresh produce, with plans to sell locally and create jobs, countering the trend of larger farms employing fewer people. The redundant dairy shed and feed pad have been leased to OK Grow Nursery. Steven envisions engaging in social enterprises that align with the farm’s harmony ethos, such as chicken partnerships, community gardens, or cycleways. Education is central to Ren Xue, with ongoing scientific research. A professor of plant biology and two students are investigating pākihi soils and the biological control of giant buttercup, with hopes of community involvement and benefits. Steven acknowledged the importance of continuous learning and the role it plays in achieving the farm’s objectives. Steven’s engaging presentation concluded with discussions about Ren Xue’s philosophy and daily farming practices, including pest control within the harmony framework. The interest was so strong that a summer picnic is planned for locals to visit the farm.
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