"Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food."
Hippocrates
At KoruKai Herb Farm we offer workshops that reconnect you to your primal being and teach you how to grow your own, organic produce, filled with nutrition and love. We help you to create wholesome, nourishing food and bring back health and wellbeing to the home garden and kitchen where it belongs.
Enjoy your own Artisian Food
Sourdough bread baking
Gluten-free sourdough bread baking
Natural cheese making with traditional cheese cultures
Take your health in your own hands
Forage wild edible and medicinal plants
Fermentation, microbiome and gut health
Medicinal herbs for winter wellbeing
Start your regenerative journey
Organic and regenerative gardening with the soil food web
Regenerative management and soil health workshop for lifestyle block owners
Online: Compost making workshop
Workshop facilitators Cornelia and Kai Holten
Cornelia is a soil health educator and herbalist with a passion for soil health, growing nutritious food, fermentation, herbs, and self-sufficiency. Kai has a passion for silvopasture, trees, permaculture and the regeneration of landscapes by clever design. He supports Cornelia during workshops and makes sure everyone is fed and watered. Cornelia is grateful for all her teachers and mentors. She holds a certificate in Organic Horticulture, has completed training with Dr Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web School, an Apprenticeship in Herbal Medicine at Valmai Becker's Phytofarm, training in Allan Savoury's Holistic Management, Permaculture Design with Geoff Lawton and received hands-on training with natural cheese master David Asher. Living on a farm in Pigeon Bay equip her with a lot of knowledge and practical experience about soil health, holistic food systems, growing and preparing nutritious food and fermentation. A Master's Degree in Integrative Learning at Endicott College enables her to weave her vast knowledge into easy-to-understand and fun workshops.
Workshop facilitators Cornelia and Kai Holten
Cornelia is a soil health educator and herbalist with a passion for soil health, growing nutritious food, fermentation, herbs, and self-sufficiency. Kai has a passion for silvopasture, trees, permaculture and the regeneration of landscapes by clever design. He supports Cornelia during workshops and makes sure everyone is fed and watered. Cornelia is grateful for all her teachers and mentors. She holds a certificate in Organic Horticulture, has completed training with Dr Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web School, an Apprenticeship in Herbal Medicine at Valmai Becker's Phytofarm, training in Allan Savoury's Holistic Management, Permaculture Design with Geoff Lawton and received hands-on training with natural cheese master David Asher. Living on a farm in Pigeon Bay equip her with a lot of knowledge and practical experience about soil health, holistic food systems, growing and preparing nutritious food and fermentation. A Master's Degree in Integrative Learning at Endicott College enables her to weave her vast knowledge into easy-to-understand, fun workshops.
your private experience
Talks, private farm tours, or workshops for you or your group
Contact us to discuss your topics, timing and catering.
what participants say about their time at KoruKai Herb Farm
Can't thank you enough for a lovely day. It was such a delight to step into your wonderful piece of paradise hidden away on the Peninsula—such a charming location with stunning views. I learnt heaps and can't wait to start putting some of your knowledge into practice. Huge thank you!
Thank you, Cornelia and Kai, for creating a really useful course that contains so much knowledge from your years of experience. I thought it might be a little daunting, however, the different stages are conveyed in a way that is logical, easy to understand and with a sense of humour too! Enjoyed the process and I recommend this course to all. Lots of fun and skills that are useful for a lifetime.
This is the second course I have done with this amazing family. The drive over is awesome. The view is beautiful. The lesson itself is friendly and relaxed, and we laughed a lot. You can ask questions when you need to. Came home with amazing ideas and lunch again was gorgeous. As a whole family, they are a beautiful team full of inspiring ideas. Look forward to my next course.
The workshop was great, it really filled my cup, inspired and invigorated me! I love what you do and look forward to coming to another one of your courses in the future. Thank you also for the amazing lunch - your food is the best!
KoruKai Herb Farm is situated in Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula, a 1-hour drive from Halswell, Christchurch.
Access to the farm: The last kilometres to the farm are unsealed, but drivable with all cars. The herb farm itself is terraced and sloped. There is no wheelchair access, but we have had people here with crutches and in their 80s and 90s. Sturdy footwear and comfortable clothes are best for workshops and farm tours.
Carpooling: 5 days before a workshop, you will get detailed directions to the farm via email. A list of participants with email addresses and approximate locations is also sent to you. You can contact people near you to arrange carpooling. Carpooling from Chch is generally not a problem and Halswell offers a great place to meet before heading out to the Peninsula.
Accommodation
There are a few accommodation options directly in Pigeon Bay, 5 minutes by car from the farm. We recommend "The Red House", "Rustic Cabin", "Retro Hut", and "Kereru Haven". They are all available on Airbnb. Our neighbour runs Wild Cattle Hill. A self-contained cottage on canopycamping.co.nz.
Pigeon Bay also has a campground next to the rocky beach for $20 per campsite. It is located on Wharf Road with basic amenities (toilet, water) and no showers. Prebooking on long weekends is a must.
In Duvauchelle, 20 minutes away from KoruKai, is the “Duvauchelle Seaside Motel” and Akaroa is a 30-minute drive from the farm. It is a great option for a weekend away. This wee French-inspired seaside town is great to explore on foot, with lots of restaurant options and accommodation to suit every budget, including a campground. Search on Airbnb, Book a Bach or Holiday Houses.
The closest airport is Christchurch. There are many rental car options from Chch airport to get out to our farm.
ONLINE CLASS: Fermentation, Microbiome and Gut...
UNAVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT. Sign up below to get an email once it is available again.
We are excited to bring our very popular fermentation workshop to your home!
Classes consist of videos, online lectures, step-by-step instructions, recipes and tips and tricks. We will also answer all your questions and help you along the way. You can join anytime and watch the content at your own pace. You get 6 months to view the contents and ask questions in the forum.
Biochar Making & Activation for Soil Workshop
Next Date to be confirmed
Time: 1pm - 5pm
There is the option to stay longer and enjoy some dinner cooked on the fire. An extra charge applies for food.
Location: KoruKai Herb Farm, Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula
Please find Terms & Conditions as well as our cancellation policy here. When signing up for this workshop you automatically agree to the Terms & Conditions. Please make sure to read them.
Farm and Garden Tour
Guided Farm & Garden Tour
Date: To be confirmed for 2026
Time: 1:00–4:00pm
Location: KoruKai Herb Farm
Children under 12 are welcome to attend free of charge with adult supervision. Please let us know if you will be bringing children under 12 years of age.
Join us for a guided tour of KoruKai Herb Farm and gain insight into the work we do to cultivate healthy land, food, and ecosystems.
The tour includes aspects of:
- Self-sufficiency and resilient living
- Growing nutrient-dense food and medicinal herbs
- Permaculture design and forest gardening
- Biological and regenerative horticulture
- Worm farming and compost making
- Grazing management to support soil and plant health
Hot Compost Making Workshop
We are not offering this workshop at the moment as we have put together an amazing online composting workshop, which is much more comprehensive than what we can teach in a day on the farm. The videos make you think you have actually been here and are so engaging that you won't miss a thing.
You can also go back again and again to watch content and ask questions! We are here to help.
Please book our Online Compost Workshop instead.
Online Compost Making Workshop
Join anytime and start learning how to make powerful, nutrient-rich compost with confidence.
This online workshop brings together over a decade of real-world experience making compost on both small urban sections and larger rural farms. You’ll learn our simple, effective no-turn hot composting method, refined over years of practical use.
We also cover how to make and use compost extract to further boost soil life and plant health.
A practical, experience-based course designed to help you build healthy soil wherever you are growing.
Sourdough Bread Baking Workshop
We will be working on an online version of this workshop. So stay tuned for that.
Learn how to make artisan sourdough bread successfully at home.
Please note that this workshop uses our rye sourdough starter and wheat, spelt and rye flours in the finished products.
For our gluten-free sourdough workshop please go here.
Date to be confirmed.
Time: 10am - 3pm
Lunch and some afternoon tea is included!
We started our sourdough bread baking journey 15 years ago and now bake a large variety of breads and sweet treats for our family and friends.
You will walk away with a recipe booklet and a free rye sourdough starter (valued at $19.90).
Gluten-free Sourdough Bread Baking Workshop
Learn how to make gluten-free sourdough bread as well as gluten-free pizza dough and focaccia successfully at home.
To book our regular sourdough workshop please go here.
Next Date: to be confirmed
Time: 10am - 3pm
Location: KoruKai Herb Farm, Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula
Gluten-free lunch included!
You will walk away with a comprehensive recipe booklet and a free gluten-free sourdough starter.
Please find Terms & Conditions as well as our cancellation policy here. When signing up for this workshop you automatically agree to the Terms & Conditions. Please make sure to read them.
Using Medicinal Herbs for Winter Wellbeing
In this workshop you will learn about a range of wild and cultivated medicinal herbs with antiviral and antimicrobial properties to boost immunity for the coming winter months. You will also create a unique herbal winter tea, a foot soak and an inhalation blend.
Next date: to be confirmed
Time: 10pm - 2:30pm
Location: KoruKai Herb Farm, Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula
Please find Terms & Conditions as well as our cancellation policy here. When signing up for this workshop, you automatically agree to the Terms & Conditions. Please make sure to read them.