Helen Dorresteyn said that her route to becoming a farmer was circuitous, stemming from the dream she had of living on a farm at the age of six.
Helen Dorresteyn began her career having gained qualifications in science horticulture, fine arts and a teaching diploma. After starting her family, Dorresteyn founded a kitchen table business, the Clevedon Farmers Market, which is still running after 20 years.
Her husband came onboard with the market and has since become a cheesemaker, as the pair established Clevedon Buffalo Co. They now farm 200 head of water buffalo, turning their creamy white milk into fresh cheeses and yoghurt.
Dorresteyn has taken on the marketing role for the company, while both have a hand in the day-to-day operations of the farm.
Aside from farming, Dorresteyn has lent her hand to ceramics, which she has been working on for the past nine years. Over this time, she has built her skills and confidence to a point of exhibiting and creating a space where food, farm, dairy, art, and garden can come together as one.
The most important advice Dorresteyn has been given was to stay away from business partnerships. She said this is because they are complex and often difficult, and can often become like a bad marriage.
Dorresteyn’s biggest mentor has been Melody Brook, whom she described as a lady of incomparable artistic flair, much kindness and great wisdom. She added that Brook has worked all her life, run a business in the past, has kept very busy and has never stopped giving.
Since she joined the industry, Dorresteyn has seen many small cheese makers go under and give up.
“The ability to make a small artisan cheese company work has diminished as compliance has become more expensive and arduous. The sophisticated marketing reach of large manufacturers and the economies of scale make it difficult,” she said.
Heading into the future, Dorresteyn would like New Zealand to be renowned for its regional food.
“I believe that we will never be able to compete in the longer term with commodities we need to hang onto and nurture the fresh and pure nature of the environment in which we farm and market our primary products around this.”
The prospect of owning her own farm and building the facilities her growing company needs has kept Helen Dorresteyn going throughout her career, and has inspired her to continue in the future.
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