Saffron Growing The purpose of this blog is to document an experiment we are running on the viability of growing Saffron in Nelson, New Zealand. It’s Saffron season and our team is busy picking, processing and packing saffron spice. Saffron is known as the world’s most expensive spice and is widely reported as being more Read More…
Category: BLOGS
Monthly Blogs
A Little Luxury for Mum: The Ultimate DIY Peony Spa Day
A Little Luxury / Peony Skincare Mother’s Day is coming up soon, the 10th of May, and while a bouquet of our fresh peonies is a classic gesture, it is the wrong time of year for these fresh cut flowers. So, we have to give Mum something even more precious: time and tranquility. At JSP, Read More…
The Winter Wardrobe for Your Skin: Transitioning Your Skincare for the Big Chill
As the leaves begin to turn and that familiar New Zealand crispness settles into the morning air, it’s a gentle reminder from Mother Nature that things are shifting. For many of us, this early autumn season is a favorite—the golden light is gorgeous, and the pace feels a bit more grounded. The leaves all Read More…
Improving our Dirt Part 2: The Coral Experiment
Coral Experiment You might remember a while back I shared a bit of a “mad scientist” project we started on the farm. If you missed it, you can catch up on the backstory here, but the short version is this: we decided to stop guessing and start testing how to make our dirt—well, better. As Read More…
Things I Worry About… (And Why You Should Be Thinking About Your ‘Main Thing’ Too)
During a recent catch-up with a fellow business owner, they asked me a pretty simple question: “What’s keeping you up at night with the peony farm?” I gave them the quick, surface-level answer, but later that day, as I was walking the rows, the question really dug its hooks in. It got me thinking: If Read More…
Robots Can’t Swim! An Update on Training Our Burro
Hey team, I’m back with an update on our little robot helper, the Burro. A few months ago, I shared our excitement about bringing this autonomous robot onto our farm, and I promised I’d let you know how it went. Well, if you’re picturing a triumphant tale of a shiny new robot zipping Read More…
A Whisper of Spring: The Magic Before the Peony Harvest
Hey flower friends! Here in our little corner of the Moutere, something’s in the air. You can feel it, can’t you? (Hopefully, it’s not more rain!) The sunlight’s got a new sparkle, and the chilly mornings have a whisper of warmth to them – or maybe that’s the sun shining on the frost, who’s Read More…
We Aren’t Just Peony Growers; We’re in the Peony Business
Peony Growers Growing up on a sheep and beef farm, I learned a lot about what it means to be a commodity producer. It’s a lot like the traditional flower business. You grow the product, you send it to the market, and then you cross your fingers and hope for a decent price. The market Read More…
Building Our Dirt: Our Multi-Year Experiment in Getting it Right
Building Our Dirt: Have you ever looked at a challenge, perhaps something really fundamental to what you do, Have you ever looked at a challenge, perhaps something really fundamental to what you do, and thought, “There must be a better way to tackle this?” That’s exactly how we felt about our soil here in Upper Read More…
Unearth Your Glow: Our Ultimate Guide to Clay Masks
For centuries, civilizations across the globe have turned to the earth for its healing and beautifying properties. From ancient Egyptians to Roman spa-goers, the secret to purified, glowing skin has been hidden in plain sight: clay. Today, the ritual of applying a clay mask is more than just a skincare step; it’s a moment Read More…