Emily Waterhouse and her Kiwi husband Jason are no strangers to a challenge having competed in many multisport races; however, moving their lives from the South Island of New Zealand to the Isle of Wight mid-pandemic could have been one of their biggest, and best achievements to date.
Now with seedlings on every windowsill, growing and selling beautiful flowers as well as providing movement rehabilitation in the form of Pilates, and keeping sheep, the good life has come home to Havenstreet.Having spent twenty one years living in
New Zealand, working as a physiotherapist and teaching Pilates, when the pandemic hit and her parents needed extra support, it seemed like an ideal time for Emily to return to the Island. Whilst she went to school off the Island, she had enjoyed holidays as a child in Seaview and had the luxury of her grandparents living around the corner.
A move across the world was to be the start of an exciting new chapter in their story, and with Emily having studied food and agriculture alongside her work as a physio, an ideal business, Island Stems was born.
‘We were living in the mountains, in an area where generally people thrived but weren’t healing as quickly as they should. I decided to research the food industry and agriculture, to see how that was impacting people’s health as an aside to my day
job. I studied organic primary production looking at farming from an organic perspective and after looking at buying a biodynamic vineyard I went on to study horticulture with a specialisation in fruit production. When we were looking for somewhere
here on the Island, we did think about a vineyard and there are some great spots where you could grow grapes. Fortunately, I was given a soil map by a family friend from Seaview. This was a fascinating map of the Island’s geological structure which is so
varied. Initially, we struggled to find somewhere to buy as in 2020 we were in the midst of some very strange times. We were advised to speak to Charles at Spence Willard who thought that he might have the perfect property for us, and we got the keys on
Christmas Eve of 2020.’
Outside the house, the whole of the surrounding area had been flattened and there was nothing in the way of a garden which although beginning from scratch, allowed Emily a blank canvas to decide exactly what she wanted. ‘It meant that we could put in a more functional driveway, build a barn and create optimal garden beds. I’ve been trialling all sorts of plants to see what does well. Jason took down a huge hedge so now we have fabulous views, and I am working on breaking up the wind with new planting as it can get a bit breezy up here!’
The original part of the house dates from the 1800’s and was the old woodman’s cottage originally surrounded by forestry. It’s been added to over time and Emily and Jason have built a porch that gives a pleasing symmetry to the front of the house, as well as a large barn to house garden paraphernalia and plants. The garage had previously been converted into what is now the kitchen and a sweeping staircase leads to a large landing with bedrooms in both the original and newer 1980’s part of the house, giving an abundance of character.
I think we have got the best of both worlds here
‘Moving here meant that we needed to see what we could do, what there was a market for on the Island. Vines need freer draining soil which we don’t have, ours is a silty clay but with the potential to greatly improve, and I realised that there was
a flower-growing need here. I know it will take a while to get established, but the saying goes that ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’. I think thanks to the great community of forward-thinking farmers and people around us this can be achieved. To create
a more sustainable environment here on the island, locally grown flowers are a huge plus. They may be more expensive than greenhouse ones grown abroad, but the tiny carbon footprint and the fact that they are grown just down the road are important. I grow a mixture of stems; from native flowers to other fabulous floriferous beauties such as tulips and peonies which thrive here. At the moment I am growing on about half an acre but have another field we are regenerating. I grow using biodynamic gardening principles. It is a sensory and holistic approach to growing. The moon has a significant influence on the Earth. In the same way it governs the tides, it influences all living organisms, including the way plants grow.
We may occasionally miss the mountains, but I think we have got the best of both worlds here. A quiet place to live and somewhere that we can be outside regenerating the land, cycling, and enjoying the Island with its supportive community.
I’ve been very fortunate that Jason said “We should go and be there” when my parents needed us, and we are looking forward to being here for many years to come.’
