Moturata Gardens

We are Jane and Dan, owners of a small block on the coast overlooking the Mouth of the Taieri River. Aside from our green-fingered interests we also enjoy the coastal lifestyle, surfing, beach walks, camping and fishing. We have three teenagers and a number of animals to keep us busy. We have an interest in sustainable, chemical-free growing practices. Garlic is our first foray into commercial growing, and we hope to expand to a range of edible crops next year.

The garlic that Jane Schofield & Dan Gabbott grow on the gentle slopes of Moturata Gardens, are lucky to have the most glorious views overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Moturata Island near the Taieri Mouth.  Sitting on 6 hectares, the varying varieties of garlic grown & trialled there are lavished with feeds of a comfrey, seaweed tea (garlic loves seaweed), compost, more seaweed & animal manures and are naturally grown in a rich mushroom soil last year from fellow vendor Brightside Gourmet. 

With clay soils on the rolling land, they had to build layers of organic material on top of a base of cardboard to create no dig planting beds which took effort but worth laying down this ground work (Dan is the ‘compost man’ of the couple & enjoys managing this additional soil) then adding straw on the top layer means little weeding.  Parts have been companion planted with a good friend of garlic, coriander with the odd lettuce plant scattered or self-seeded throughout – it all seems to create a happy marriage on their little farm with its coastal breeze!

2023 was their 2^nd year in production & with the season at the Otago Farmers Market selling during February & March they sell their bags of bulbs & garlic plaits along with lemongrass stems & kaffir lime leaves when available up on the Railway platform.

Specialising in garlic has been a dream come true around their full-time asphalt family business, surfing in the ocean below the property & juggling family commitments, but they have no regrets giving garlic a go and seeing where it will take them as they plan on retiring on this land eventually – it’s a keeper and you can see why when you are there.

They really appreciate the opportunity to sell at the Market and say it’s actually a lot of fun talking to different folks.