For 120 years, the Franklin family has been cultivating New Zealand soil, with their current market garden producing a unique combination of celery, flower fields and a large butterfly house.
Today, the 28ha (12ha effective) Franklin Farm is under the stewardship of Luke and Jasmine Franklin. While celery remains the commercial backbone of the business, the operation has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem where horticulture and sustainability work hand in hand.
Luke and Jasmine are the fifth generation of growers, with today’s business being a true, extended family affair. Four generations currently live and work on the property, from Luke’s grandparents down to the couple’s young children.
To the Franklins, the farm is not just a business – it’s a lifestyle, a living legacy, a teaching tool, and a community hub for the future. Their approach and deep-rooted history mean the farm has blossomed into a sanctuary for biodiversity.
Alongside the production of 61,000 cases of celery annually, the farm features a butterfly house dedicated to supporting species on the brink of becoming endangered – in particular the monarch butterfly. Here, the family breeds and releases 60,000 butterflies every year. The initiative serves a dual purpose – protecting vulnerable species while educating thousands of visitors and children both online and on-farm.
The family’s commitment to environmental stewardship is visible, with fields featuring numerous flowering cover crops during summer. Their primary role is soil regeneration – and the strategy is working. After 65 years of continuous cultivation, the soil remains exceptionally healthy. The judges were also impressed with how the crops attract and feed bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Water conservation is equally rigorous. The farm is self-sufficient, utilising dam water that is filtered through grass berms and wetlands before reaching the Kaipara Harbour.
Expansive native planting over the past 40 years means the bird population is thriving. The judges said that the presence of 32 different bird species highlights the success of the family’s habitat restoration and pest management.
