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Biogro Certified

Biogro Certified

Milmore downs is BioGro licensee 019, making it one of the very early certifications as it joined the BPCC in 1986 just three years after gaining Demeter certification. This move was intended as an indication of support for the fledgling organisation but the hope was also to draw Biodynamics and main stream organics closer together. The two standards have differences in detail, but are nevertheless not very far apart and cooperation is the only sensible relationship.

Subsequently, after becoming an approved Third Party Agency with the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) for exports to Europe and the USA, Milmore Downs along with a number of other Demeter growers have used BioGro certification to gain access to overseas markets. Although our aim is to concentrate on domestic sales for several reasons but also to strengthen the comsumer producer relationship. Currently we still need to use the export market for our lambs and cattle, and they go there under the BioGro banner.

BioGro is New Zealand's main organic certification agency. Established in 1983 as the BPCC (Biological Producers and Consumers Council) in conjunction with the Biodynamic Association and Henry Doubleday to support all organics, it later registered the BioGro logo and now certifies over 900 operations New Zealand wide.
Eva

Eva

Eva was born in Germany and studied agriculture there. She has always had a strong interest in ecology and organics and with her green thumb gardening skills became committed to Biodynamics. Eva had developed an organic community garden as part of the ecology faculty of Stuttgart Polytech. Her years of experience with alternative ideas and green philosophies was put to good use developing courses on a wide range of topics including nutrition, fitness and other areas of sustainable living.

Ian and Eva are now in a supporting role on the farm. What that actually entails varies a lot depending on season, work load and availability of labour, but in any case they keep a close eye on Biodynamic preparation making and use. Eva loves working outside, but also processes farm products for the family. In addition to her practical gardening skills her strengths are in communications and public relations.

Xmas not too far away


Xmas is almost upon us and after a challenging year we are looking forward to taking Xmas R & R. As such our site will be closed from midday Thursday 23rd of December to Friday 7th of January 2022. Please ensure that you have your December requirements to us as early in December as possible. Thanks a lot for the wonderful cooperation.
Warm regards from the Milmore Downs Team
November 20, 2021
Matthew and Alice

Matthew and Alice

Matt and Alice came back to the family farm in 2009 and manage it in partnership with Ian and Eva. They look after the day to day running of the arable and livestock operation and are working on increasing production efficiency and diversity to ensure long term sustainability. They are both strongly committed to continuing organic development on Milmore Downs for future generations.
(contact about general farm inquiries, Matt 0274373539) 
Sam

Sam

Sam joined Milmore Downs in 2018 as a co-worker with main responsibilities for grain processing. He previously worked in the food industry in Christchurch while studying for a B.Com at Canterbury University. He realised that being cooped up at a desk for 8 hours a day was not his idea of a fulfilling career, so decided to remain at Sanitarium in the position of Marmite manufacturer. In 2013, Sam and his family set about a change in lifestyle and relocated to Scargill, just a stone’s throw from the farm, to enjoy the quiet, country life and establish an organic food forest.
Certified Organic Wheat Flours, Grain, Bran & Semolina

Certified Organic Wheat Flours, Grain, Bran & Semolina

Wheat is one of the oldest and most important cultivated food plants. Like all the seven grains, wheat is a member of the grass family. It prefers good fertility levels and sufficient moisture throughout the growing season.

Wheat is mostly used for baking bread and cakes. There are 3 main types of wheat:
  • So called biscuit wheat with a lower protein content ideal for cakes and pastries
  • Durum wheat, a very hard variety for making pasta
  • Hard or bread wheats with high protein levels and good baking characteristics.
Milmore Downs and partner farms grow hard wheat varieties with excellent baking strength.

All wheat products are BioGro certified

OUR DINKEL/Spelt is harvested!

All Dinkel/spelt products will be available very soon. Lots of customers will be pleased that it is available again. Again it was not easy with the new even less predictable weather patterns to grow a healthy grain. We had to wait so long before we could bring the seeds into the ground, it was June, which is extremely late. But the harvest looks good and some hot days made it possible to harvest our favourite grain!  

January 30, 2022

Baking Rye Bread

We personally like a wheat/spelt (about 80%) rye (about 20%) bread very much. The bread stays longer moist and is very tasty.

 

Christmas Break 2023

It’s the end of the year and a good opportunity to thank to all our customers who’ve been supporting this demanding but essential type of farming production. It was never an easy job, but with the increasing climate developments it's getting to be a real challenge. Nevertheless, the Milmore team is taking a well-earned break over the solstice/New Year period. Our last dispatch day will be 21st Dec, final orders should be with us by the 18th December. Orders received over the holiday period will only be logged and will be dispatched between 10th and 14th January 2024. We are happy to take up normal ordering again from Friday 5th January 2024.
In the meantime may the Milmore Team wish a very blessed, calm Christmas time and a safe transition into 2024!
December 08, 2023