New Zealand
At the foot of Te Mata in the wine-producing region of Hawkes Bay, the garden of Havelock North is located on the North Island of New Zealand. Around 50 medicinal plant species are cultivated in this Mediterranean climate with its long, warm summer months. Warren Pearce and other gardeners of New Zealand work the fields here according to the principles of biodynamic farming. The harvesting is mostly done by hand, avoiding the use of heavy farm equipment, which keeps the soil light and airy. Three cows provide the necessary manure, which improves the quality of the soil, together with suitable compost. The variety of plants is large, as is the birdlife, with a tuneful abundance of native birds such as the tui, the New Zealand pigeon kereru and the comical pukeko.