A Northland mum and her three daughters have launched a book reflecting on their three-year journey from botanic novices to setting up a pick-your-own dahlia farm on a converted Girl Guides campground at Awarua south of Kaikohe.
The book, The Dahlia Kids, launches on November 11 2023 at Ngawha Innovation and Enterprise Park, where the kids themselves – Milly 12, Gracie 11 and Lexi, 8 – will give an interactive talk followed by a book signing, homemade nibbles with pink lemonade, dahlia seedling giveaways and prizes.
Printed in October after six months of writing, The Dahlia Kids tells the story of the Ives family starting a flower farm completely from scratch – including the tale of how the family settled on dahlias as their flower of choice and chose homeschooling on a run down, rural bush property ten minutes south of Kaikohe, building the successful flower farm from scratch, and overcoming obstacles including cyclones, droughts and lockdown. The book also covers the struggle of raising three daughters as a solo mum with no connections in the region.
The family flower farm, called The Green Footed Kiwi, was inspired by a single pretty flower mum Jen Ives showed her daughters on social media a few years ago. It wasn’t long before the girls grew their own dahlias, won prizes at a Northland A&P Show and received a pack of seeds in the post.
“The book is about the infectious enthusiasm the Dahlia Kids give off as they let their flower filled photos walk you through their property detailing their journey, their experiments, successes and failures, their perseverance and hard work is heartwarming,” Ives said. “The book represents hard work and a true Kiwi lifestyle in which family and teamwork are central.”
“I wrote it because I wanted to inspire others to think up ideas, however crazy they are, and find a way to go out and just do them. Start an idea and see where it takes you. The benefits of learning and spending time together with your children are boundless.”
“Our lifestyle is a bit unique in that the girls are homeschooled, they do all their learning through the dahlia business they have set up themselves.
“Seven years ago, I came to Northland as a newly divorced single mum with three children under five, not knowing anyone. I made the decision to throw myself and my children into new life experiences. Dahlias were a little unexpected, but I can’t think of any other way of life I would rather be living. Dahlias, homeschooling and this unusual lifestyle have created a community of support around us and have changed us all for the better.”
Second-eldest child Gracie said making the book has been “A once-in-a-lifetime journey for me.”
“I have learnt lots from writing everything we have done over the last three years down on paper, and it has made me realise how unique our lifestyle is and how it has made me the person I am today. I’m pleased Mum found a way to buy our property. I couldn’t think of a better way to grow up.”
“Be careful, an idea can get big very quickly,” daughter Lexi said. “A tiny garden can turn into a huge garden in three years. Make sure you have enough space if you want to start growing dahlias!”
RSVPs are encouraged for the Saturday November 11 book launch in Ngawha.
The brand-new Ngawha Innovation & Enterprise Park has been developed and is managed by Far North Holdings Ltd, working in collaboration with mana whenua Ngāti Rangi, Northland Inc and the local business community.
RSVP at
https://www.greenfootedkiwi.co.nz/shop/product/713312/book-signing-event/
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