Christchurch self catering cottage, New Zealand

Since 2000, our organic B&B and ayurvedic clinic has been independently owned and operated by local ‘kiwis’ (Nz-ers), ensuring our community benefits: we provide income to a dedicated team of 4 part time therapists, who are paid well above NZ wages. In addition, local families and companies own every service we use and recommend – organic shops, restaurants & cafes, markets, taxis, scenic tour operators and cultural events.

At our Christchurch self catering cottage, we encourage our guests to get to know our city and stunningly beautiful South Island by supporting, promoting and working together with local environment-friendly shops, cafes, restaurants, markets, eco resorts and travel companies. We buy locally produced food, oils and clinic supplies whenever possible (such as NZ made duvets, soaps and toiletries, rosehip oil, washing powder, detergent, cleansers, Christchurch organic honey, fruit & vegetables, milk and dairy products, etc).

Bicycle hire is available and our garden cottage accommodation and clinic have been renovated and decorated using recycled and natural building materials: a recycled wooden kitchen unit, windows and doors, natural stone flooring, recycled antique furniture, lampshades, stove top, resurfaced porcelain bath tub, second hand water cylinder, taps, door handles etc.

The sustainable energy sources we use are NZ carbon neutral electricity by Meridian and a clean-air approved wood-burner. We use energy saving light bulbs. We would like to install a photovoltaic energy source as soon as possible and we are currently gathering information with the aim to start collecting our own clinic’s waste (organic) sesame oil, as well as waste oil from restaurants and recycle these into bio-fuels which will enable us to help generate clean energy in the near future. We hope to trade or donate our waste oils with local organic farmers. We separate our rubbish and have our own composting system and this coming spring, a friend will be donating a worm farm to our clinic. Our aim is to be as self-sufficient as possible: we have an organic vegetable and herb garden and grow many different fruits.