Full Description
Offering peaceful, comfortable accommodation 5-15 minutes from Havelock marina, cafes/wineries, many recreational activities and the local airport. Jefferswood is a unique eco-friendly adobe homestead, on four hectares of rural splendour between Blenheim and Havelock. The property includes hundreds of trees, native birds, a large pond which attracts a range of wildlife; an organic orchard/vegetable garden and many restful spots to relax. Generous guest rooms have sumptuous beds; pampering ensuites with huge walk-in showers and abundant solar heated water. A large sitting room with an extensive music selection, bookcase and daily newspapers. Delicious breakfasts served and refreshments, home baking is available during the day.
Environment Friendly Action
We conserve heat
We conserve water
We reduce/limit oil/gas carbon emissions
We employ alternative energy resources: wind/solar/water
We recycle where possible
We compost food waste
We use bio-degradable cleaning agents
We use reclaimed or low embodied energy building materials
We use renewable natural furnishings
We include green room info packs
We mention green/eco issues on our website
We conserve/care for wildlife in our area/ natural pest eradication
We participate in community environmental initiatives
We use principles of permaculture and/or biodynamic method of farming
Other Environment Friendly Initiatives
We purchased the land at JEFFERSWOOD in 1998 with the dream to create a healthy, environmentally sustainable homestead and to enhance the landscape for wildlife.
The homestead was designed to be part of the landscape and sympathetic to the environment. A study of the sun angles in the area over a year was undertaken by us and we decided 8 degrees west of north would maximise the sun’s warmth and light. We designed the homestead layout as a thermal sink with all rooms utilising the properties of the adobe bricks and the sun in both summer and winter. Under all north/northwest facing windows Italian porcelain tiles, to a depth of one and a half metres, to catch the winter sunlight and release the warmth over the evening.
Central Otago schist was used in the gallery room as another attractive medium to utilise the sun. Solar panels were planned for the roof space to supply solar hot water to all bathrooms and the kitchen. Roof pitch is a low 25 degrees with a two and a half metre wide verandah surrounding the homestead for extra living space and to protect the adobe bricks from the weather.
Mature trees, with the use of a portable mill, were felled and milled where they were grown in Marlborough. Many cubic metres of Macrocarpa, Totara, Matai and Oak were cut from this renewable resource into a variety of sizes and stored in our various sheds to dry over five years.
We had 6,700 adobe bricks made using Moutere clay from Nelson, wheat straw and water. The clay is a beautiful rich, golden colour. Each adobe brick weights 12kg and measures 300mm x 150mm. These adobe bricks were stored for three years so that they were completely dry when we erected the homestead.
Since 1998 hundreds of trees have been planted on the property. Trees were chosen for their food value, habitat for insects and birds, and their amenity value. Three large Totara trees were on the property when purchased, they are thought to be up to 350 years old. These trees are the home to Bellbirds, Tuis, Wood pigeon and many small birds. In March of each year, when the tree fruit drupes mature, the raucous calls of the Tuis and Bellbirds as they battle over the drupes is a joy.
A water well was dug which supplies abundant water and is channelled through a full filtration system.
The latest environmentally friendly septic chamber tank was installed with no residue being released in the soil. All hardstanding areas are gravel to allow water to seep naturally through the soil.
All storm water goes by a system of drains from the homestead roof, garage roof and land to our very large pond. The pond is planted with native grasses and flaxes, which is a habitat to numerous birds and insects. The pond is alive with insects, frogs and is a welcome resting place to Swallows, Herons, Ducks, Plovers and numerous small birds. A spring is also piped into the pond to keep freshwater feeding into it for the inevitable Marlborough dry times.
The homestead was created in stages over three years. We have endeavoured to use all natural products to keep the homestead healthy. No paints, chemicals, fibreglass, wallpaper etc. All timber whether lintels, tongue and groove ceilings and door or kitchen joinery is finished with natural oil.
The adobe bricks breathe naturally – some 400 hours of manual wall finishing to get to the standard we wanted. Walls also received 95 litres of cellulose to hold any dust, yet still allow them to breathe. A huge task! Jeff lost 3kgs and Sandra has arm tone to die for.
Our builders were sympathetic to our natural environmentally sustainable property philosophy and worked with us to achieve this. The homestead is double glazed throughout and has skylights in each south side room to maximise light on dull days. Under floor heating by way of hot water pipes through out the floor slab was installed. A gas fire gives the aesthetics of a fire for those chilly winter nights.
Woollen carpet, New Zealand’s’ best is throughout the homestead except for porcelain tiled bathrooms and the thermal sinks under windows and in the gallery room.
Woollen insulation was used in the ceiling space as a healthy, renewable resource alternative to the dreaded fibre glass.
Many “treasures” collected on farms and in second hand stores were integrated into our homestead design. An old Kauri fireplace, covered in lashings of cream paint, was stripped back to its natural timber and utilised as a wine rack in the kitchen cabinetry.
A bath, being used as an animal drinking trough, was refurbished and feet found in an Invercargill second hand store added to be used in the main bathroom. A cast iron grate and cast iron gate have been included in the homestead as were a variety of door hardware and old farm implements.
The telephone and power poles that support the verandah were sourced from through out Marlborough.
All household organic waste goes to the three bay compost bins or to our livestock - pigs and hens. The hens supply eggs year round and the pigs are grown only over the winter. Recycled inorganic waste is taken to the local transfer station.
The homestead surrounding field grass is kept to a length that protects the soil from summer drought and provides a habitat for insects and birds. Our orchard of pip and stone fruits is totally organic. Borage and phacellia is grown under the trees to attract beneficial insects. Grass is kept long and the trees are fed liquid seaweed made on the property.
The huge vegetable garden is set out in the four bed rotational organic method. No sprays are used, companion planting is undertaken. Only animal manure, our own compost, green crops and pea straw are used for a healthy soil.
The developing arboretum is another aspect of our environmentally sustainable property that we are passionate about. Over 700 trees ranging from New Zealand native species like Hoheria, Kowhai through to the deciduous exotics such as Acer, Oak and Tilea. We have over 90 different species and growing! Growth on our property is phenomenal owing to good rainfall at the right time, warmth and our management,
We love living in our own created homestead, listening to the constant bird song, watching the numerous insect life flourish and living with the land with as little detrimental effect as possible.
We trust you enjoy our vision.
Dietary Selections: We offer
Vegetarian
Organic Food
Locally sourced food
Home-grown spray-free produce
Organic Meals
We prepare breakfast using our own produce in season, herbal teas etc. Our guests have free access to the organic orchard/vegetable garden. Take a look at our SPECIAL GOURMET BREAKFAST menu on our website.
Home made cereal, yoghurt and bread. Poached or fresh fruits from the orchard plus all jams/jellies homemade from our own berries, currants. Cooked dishes utilise our own tomatoes, courgettes and organic eggs.
Facilities
We have two rooms.
The Bellbird Room features a queen-size bed.
The Kingfisher Room features a super King/Twin.
Each room has an en-suite with walk-in double shower.
No smoking and no children due to our large pond.
Total Capacity
4 guests.
Electronics
Phone & Broadband
Activities
Bush walks, star gazing and bird watching from the property. Kayaks available, hiking on Queen Charlotte Track at Anakiwa or local tracks know to hosts, farm tours at a neighbours, wine tasting and wineries only 10 minutes from property. Boat cruises from Havelock and trout fishing Pelorus River.
Tariff Includes
Afternoon tea on arrival, pre dinner wine, accommodation and breakfast. Guest wireless laptop and property facilities.
Directions
From Havelock drive 15kms south towards Blenheim on SH 6 and look for the B&B sign on the corner of Camerons Road on your right. Jefferswood is 300m down that shingle road. From Blenheim drive north on SH6 towards Havelock. Once you have crossed the Wairau River Bridge drive approx. 6kms and look for a large layby on your left with the B&B sign on the corner of Camerons Road. Jefferswood is 300m down that shingle road. Sign at the gate entrance.
Please wait