Silver Sponsor Spotlight: From Soil to Start-Up – HEI at Mahakaruna

From Soil to Start-Up – HEI at Mahakaruna
Silver Sponsor Spotlight – Organic Market Report 2025

Innovation meets purpose at Mahakaruna Farm, home to the HEI Organic Education Centre, our second Silver Sponsor for the 2025 Organic Market Report. Nestled across 75 hectares in Ngātīmoti, at the top of the South Island, this centre is not only growing organic produce – it's growing the next generation of organic entrepreneurs.

Backed by the legacy and leadership of Gary and Meg Hirshberg, the HEI Organic Education Centre is rooted in the teachings of the Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute, which has helped hundreds of organic enterprises thrive across the globe. At Mahakaruna, that vision is localised and brought to life through workshops, mentorship, and a living example of what organic stewardship looks like on the ground.

Their mission is clear: to empower farmers and entrepreneurs to build viable, values-driven organic enterprises. The belief at the heart of the centre is that organic agriculture is a powerful solution to the ecological damage facing our planet. With more than four decades of advocacy and 25 years of entrepreneurship education experience, Gary and Meg bring a wealth of knowledge and an infectious passion to their work.

The Centre offers a range of workshops, both online and in-person, covering practical and business-critical topics such as ‘How Not to Run Out of Cash’, ‘Native Reforestation’, and ‘Organic Beekeeping’. All are designed to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to run sustainable and successful organic ventures. Their classroom facility on the farm is also available for hire, supporting learning and collaboration within the organic community.

Mahakaruna Farm itself is a living classroom —a work in progress that features heirloom apple orchards, organic vegetable and herb gardens, native plantings, organic honey production, and livestock care. The Centre also plans to incubate small-scale, organic micro-enterprises onsite, providing space, support, and real-world opportunities for growth.

We’re proud to spotlight the HEI Organic Education Centre and grateful for their support of this year’s Organic Market Report. Their vision for a thriving, regenerative organic sector, along with their actions to make it a reality, reflects the very future we’re working towards.

🔗 Learn more about their work and upcoming workshops at organic-ed.com.