Nature's Corner Free-Range Eggs

Carl's Story

Longtime stall holder, Carl Ebbers, sells his Nature’s Corner Free Range Eggs at Grey Lynn Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.

Where did you grow up?

On a farm, in the Bay of Plenty. Dad started on a dairy farm then moved to a chicken farm, and he also grew around 200 avocado trees.

Were you always going to be a farmer?

Not really. I did a master’s degree in business at the University of Waikato before working as a commercial analyst at Waikato Link. It was super interesting because I got to work with some high-profile investors and entrepreneurs, including a project for a free-range egg company where I learned a lot about the egg industry. Setting up my own farm was a natural next step.

Where did you set up your farm?

My first farm was in Patamahoe, on the outskirts of Pukekohe.  Over the years, the area became more urbanised with new “townie” neighbours who didn’t appreciate the noisy and busy reality of living near a working poultry farm. Moving back to a rural environment became inevitable.

Tell me about setting up the next farm

It took five years to find my new farm across the river from Mercer.

Timing was challenging – everything collided with covid restrictions, and we were close to the covid border which was patrolled by the army. Seeing guns was surreal. We often had to cross the border and sometimes waited up to 3 hours in traffic queues. It felt like war time.

We hear a lot about cost of living, how is the cost of business?

Tough - rising grain and electricity costs are just some of the ongoing challenges facing our business. Establishing the new farm had lots of resource consenting hurdles. It took a long time because the council couldn’t always visit during covid. Building costs skyrocketed, and it was hard to find contractors – especially specialist poultry engineers.

And you had a scare a few weeks ago in a big storm

I have never experienced anything like that before. The storm was fierce, lightning was flashing through the house at the same time as the thunder rumbled through. Appliances were fried and we needed an electrician to straighten everything out again. Luckily none of our animals were physically harmed.

How did your hens react?

Hens can be sensitive to changes and that storm has rattled them. Hopefully, they will settle down soon and resume their usual laying routine.

Your hens are free range

Yes - I designed the barn to give them lots of ways in and out, and I chose a breed that I get on well with. They are good at ranging with an instinct for foraging, good at exploring and finding their way home.  Like kids, spending their day running around outside tires them out so they sleep well. I often bring vegetable scraps back from the market and they love picking through those.  Boredom is bad for chickens.

What other animals do you have on the farm?

I graze Wiltshire sheep with the chickens. They work well together because the sheep keep the grass down and create a dense pasture. I also have dogs with the chickens to protect them from hawks, roaming dogs, and possible intruders.

What happens when your hens get old?

I work with a local animal sanctuary who finds homes for older chickens – most end up as backyard chickens.

Does the free-range lifestyle make a difference to the eggs?

Definitely - customers tell me that our eggs are the best quality, with rich yolks.  Many of my customers want to poach their eggs and our super fresh eggs are perfect for that – they are usually laid within a day or two of arriving at the market.

What do you enjoy about coming to the market?

The people - over the years many of the customers and stallholders have become good friends and I love catching up on all their stories. And of course, I love trying all the new and tasty foods there.

You were on the market committee for several years. How was that?

At the time I joined, the market was in a financially precarious position. It was rewarding to help turn that around. I actively recruited new stallholders that I met at other markets. It is satisfying to see the market is now in a strong position, with a dedicated cohort of stallholders and a strong following of loyal customers. The future looks bright for the market now.

As published in Ponsonby News : October 2024