Two of their boys — Max and Patch — attend the school, while Charlie is at the nearby Paikea Kindergarten. Both schools have a strong environmental focus which continues to drive Max, Patch and Charlie’s interest in all things science.
“As a family the farm is our playground,” says Sarah. “We go eeling, hunting and exploring, and recognise how fortunate we are to be farming this coastal paradise, with a strong desire to share it with the wider community.”
Soil was the focus of term one for Wainui Beach School. With the support from the House of Science, the under-seven Wai Syndicate headed en masse to Turihaua to get mud on their boots and dig their fingers into the soil.
“The kids were buzzing as they fossicked in the leaf litter in our QE2 reserve, learnt about the poplar and willow plantings that were literally holding our hills up along with the natives supporting our gullies and recently planted streamside to stabilise the banks,” says Sarah.
Paul led the youngsters through a visual soil assessment, discussing worm counts, sniffing the soil, and looking at diversity of plant species in the pasture.
“We were blown away by the knowledge and curiosity of the children about the soil,” said Sarah.
“The five and six-year-olds are learning concepts that were first introduced to me in soil science papers at Otago University. If we can get kids out on the land coupled with the Enviroschools and science learning at primary schools, then the future of our Tairāwhiti environment is in safe hands.”
Wainui Beach School’s Enviroschools lead teacher Jodie Saunders says the value of her students getting out onto Turihaua and living and breathing farm life cannot be underestimated.
“There is so much to be gained from our tamariki going to our local farms,” says Jodie. “We want our tamariki to connect with our community, especially in the areas where great things are being done to enhance and protect our environment.”
The main focus for the farm trip was whenua.
“We had been conducting a school-wide inquiry into soil — why it is important, what makes good soil and how do human actions impact the soil. Going up to the farm gave the kids hands on, practical insights into the soil and the soil cycle.”
Visiting the QE2 reserve let the students see first-hand how the forest floor and decomposers that live there, cycle dead and decaying material into soil, which then nourishes the trees and so the cycle continues.
Jodie said the students had been fascinated by the worms and other life they found in the rotting logs and leaf litter in the bush. Seeing the native planting that had been done over the past few years along waterways running out to the sea gave them all an opportunity to reflect on how the land is connected to the ocean.
“It is just fantastic getting the kids out in the fresh air, connecting with each other, papatuanuku and the whenua.”
That connection is a key component of farming for Sarah and Paul.
“The importance of getting out in nature for mental health and connection to the land is important for adults and children alike,” says Sarah. “Multiple times when the children were bouncing about, Jodie asked them to shut their eyes and focus on the sounds. This mindfulness practice out on the farm really cemented our ‘why’ for Turihaua for its environment direction and the importance to connect it to the wider community.”
Turihaua is run under a biological farming programme with a strong focus on sequestering carbon into the soil. Over the years 26,000 natives have been planted on riparian margins, and reservoirs to provide corridors for birds with pest control and bush restoration the next step as members of the Whāngārā Community Catchment Group. Nothing is done in isolation.
Wainui Beach School principal Nolian Andrew was hugely grateful for the opportunity the Williams whānau had given her students over the past seven years.
“It has been so successful and interesting for all,” she said. “We appreciate that it is time-consuming to set up everything for our visits and are grateful to the whānau for enabling this to continue.”
Teachers had seen high levels of interest and engagement from Wainui tamariki.
“The knowledge and understanding of the need to protect the land by planting and trapping has grown.”
Sarah says the combination of the property and business is magical.
“It is the heart and soul of our family’s past, present and future,” she says. “It is truly a Garden of Eden. We are so grateful to be farming this piece of paradise beside the ocean and to have taken on the cow herd of Turihaua Angus that was so well managed by (Paul’s parents) Hamish and Angela. We hope to continue this legacy and love of cattle tied in with environmental stewardship for our three boys and many generations to come.”
