The Longtable
Lynette has an organic farm in Central Otago. We grow a variety of fruit and nuts, we produce honey, and have a dispensary at the farm.
I chose the name The Longtable, as it represents the things in life that are important to me like sharing a meal with family and friends, community, no rush- leisurely dining and good old fashioned home cooking with plenty of produce from our own garden.
I also have a home in Wellington which is my home town. One of the most contrasting aspects between Central Otago and Wellington is food. In the country there is an abundance of food, it’s hanging off the trees and all over the ground. I drive past the trees and imagine them in the city and how great that would be for the neighbours to wander down to the fruit trees and pick some fruit.
The Longtable proudly supports and sponsors community projects and events.
(Picture: One of the original apricot trees that will have a good prune this year, beautiful apricots that make the best jam.)
The Heritage Orchard
The Longtable are currently establishing a neighbourhood organic heritage orchard in Lyall Bay, Wellington, we have planted six trees and will be planting another nine this spring.
It would be great if our public areas were planted out with fruit and vegetables, there could be so much food grown in the city for the community, making life just that little bit easier. My berm in Lyall Bay has a plum tree, a peach tree and an apple tree.
(Picture: The trees are protected by windbreak from the salt winds from the beach.)
We have a number of animals at the farm, they are there for a long time and a good time, such as the apple eaters on the right.
This is the first tractor I have owned, my Grandfather was a horticulturist and I have fond memories of riding around on the back of his tractor.
I like to do as much of the physical work on the farm as I am able to, physical work, good food, creativity and good company are essential parts of a healthy life for me.
Fred the Goat
Fred got sick when he was a week old, it affected his legs so he couldn’t walk. (You’ll notice his nobbly front knees in the photo’s above.) Because he couldn’t walk he would sit there wailing, so we pushed him around in the pram for three months. Fred was often seen at the local cafe in his pram. With all the fussing over him and attention Fred got, he learnt to walk and rejoined the herd.