MEET THE MAKER
We korero with Alex of Little Farms.
“Alex is the organiser who always has dirt in her finger nails. She spilts her time between growing vegetables and supporting the network of farmers that supply the collaborative Farm Boxes. She hosts gardening workshops, works with community groups and speaks at events to spread her passion for growing and eating local. ”
Can you explain your work and what you do/make?
I run a Farm Box business, where we collate goodness for a wide range of local growers and producers from the Wairarapa into weekly Farm Boxes. Our boxes support organic and regenerative small scale farmers doing epic things.
Tell us more about the business. How did it start?
Back in 2019 I wanted to eat local organic produce, and even though it is grown in the Wairarapa it wasn’t readily available to buy in the Wairarapa, as it was being sent to the big cities. So I started a market garden, growing organic produce for myself and our friends. Then covid hit and many local small scale growers and producers suddenly didn’t have a way to sell their produce, so we created the collaborative Farm Boxes, where we combined other growers vegetables in our boxes with ours, and then added in fresh bread and eggs and many other local products.
Where do you find your creative inspiration?
From nature, she is the greatest artist. I am very inspired by the beauty of the gardens and use those tones and textures in all our branding and imagery.
How important is it for small businesses to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?
Very important, we have found it’s almost impossible to thrive as a small business doing it alone. We have some pretty hefty big business competition to compete with, so we need all the collaboration and grass roots support of each other we can get. It also just makes sense, when you own a small business you understand how hard it is, so want to support other small businesses.
What is the most important message you want to send out to others thinking about starting a business?
Do it for passion not for profit. Starting a business is hard, and if your objective is a good income it probably won’t provide that straight away, so you need the passion for the business to tie you over through those start up years, where you keep pouring your soul into it because you believe in it.
Do you have any daily rituals?
Take it easy for the first hour of the morning and then get outside.
What every day things inspire you?
Flowers, I’ve really come to love them, I used to only grow edible plants, but I’ve come to appreciate that existing for beauty's sake is a good enough reason to exist, we don’t have to be able to eat a plant for it to be worthy.
Cooking, taking time to prepare a meal without rushing is such a beautiful thing.
Top 3 fave small businesses?
Pickled Compost (everyone needs to bokashi)
Little Gem Seeds (the cutest seed subscription service)
Milla & Saber (the only kids clothing I’ve bought in years)
Where can we see more of you?
Instagram | @growing._goodness
Web | www.wearelittlefarms.com
