Meet the Farm Team

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.

Ian

Ian although being part of the farm since a child – his parents shifted to Scargill when he was ten years old – has an engineering background with experience also in teaching English as a foreign language. He has over 35 years experience as a practicing Biodynamic farmer and Demeter licensee at Milmore Downs and was one of the Biodynamic pioneers in New Zealand agriculture. Under his guidance Milmore Downs developed from a conventional sheep monoculture into a diverse livestock mixed cropping farm. He also has responsibilities with Demeter New Zealand and is involved in international certification work with Demeter International.

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.

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.