We reduce our energy needs e.g. by use of passive solar energy for heating, excellent thermal insulation, efficient appliances, LEDs, solar hot water, line drying our laundry etc.
The little electricity that we buy is from 100% renewable sources.
In the 2019/20 year The Pear Orchard has consumed 625kWh on average per month, which is at the lower end of a typical New Zealand home with 2 adults and 2 children.
Water in the lodge is primarily heated by collectors on the roof, using solar energy.
LPG and electricity are backup options to make sure our guests can always have a hot shower.
In the 2019/20 year The Pear Orchard has used approx. 162kg of LPG (18x 9kg bottles).
We utilise an electric vehicle (EV) for most business related trips.
Only a minimal amount of petrol and diesel are used to power the tractor, lawn mower and the chain saw.
Many building components used in the lodge buildings have been recycled or produced on site.
These include the corrugated iron and bricks, all from the old farmhouse, furniture items made of recycled pear bins and Eucalyptus flooring from trees grown and milled on-site.
We also use as much vintage / recycled furniture as possible, in decorating the lodge.
Water-efficient taps, shower heads and toilet systems help reduce our water usage.
We are harvesting rain water from all the roofs to source our drinking water. Backup is supplied through a well on our property.
Our wastewater is treated on site in an active treatment system which exceeds the high quality standards required for treated effluent in our area.
This is then dispersed in our orchards to reduce the need for irrigation water.
All lodge waste is collected and separated into organic waste, glass, paper and cardboard, recyclable plastics and other rubbish.
All organic waste is composted on site and feeds our chickens. Only the waste that is not recyclable is going to the landfill.
In the 2019/20 year The Pear Orchard has sent approximately 580kg of waste to the landfill, which is about half of the average waste that would currently be expected from an operation of our size.
Parts of the profits generated by the lodge and generous amounts of our time are invested every year in native bush regeneration on the property.
We are in the process of converting 1.6ha of gully and lowland area into a native habitat.
This includes riparian restoration around our creek and the pond, the creation of a wetland area and enhancing the native forest on the gully slopes.
We raise our own animals for meat production, maintain a large organic vegetable garden and have planted a home orchard with plentyful varieties of fruit trees (in addition to our commercial pear orchard).
This way we minimise the food and staples that we have to buy externally and if we do, then we make sure that these are grown locally rather than shipped around the world.
Tiaki means to care for people and place. New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.
By following the Tiaki Promise, we are making a commitment to New Zealand, to act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home – for now and for future generations.
Nau Mai, Haere Mai Ki Aotearoa, Welcome to New Zealand.
We estimate that in the 2019/20 year The Pear Orchard’s annual carbon footprint was approx. 8t of CO2, with a consumption of approx. 13t (including a 10t allocation for our few cattle and sheep) and an offset of 5t through tree plantings on our property.
This is a bit less than 17% of the average carbon footprint expected from an operation of our size.
The Pear Orchard Lodge is a peaceful self-catering lodge on a working orchard with beautiful sunny rooms, excellent facilities, friendly hosts & amazing views in the heart of the Nelson Tasman region in the South Island of New Zealand. Ideal for groups, events and individual travellers.
