Carol Stockdill has a busy life on the family orchard in Christchurch. Campbell Organic Orchard was established by Carol's parents-in-law Bruce and Jillian Campbell in 2000 and was the first fully certified organic export apple orchard in Canterbury. Stockdill and her husband Hamish Campbell now help support the family operation, which features on an upcoming episode of Country Calendar.
But when she's not working in the orchard, Stockdill can be found among the flowers. She launched her business Koha Iti (meaning 'small gift') in 2022, as an online retailer offering 'mindful flowers' delivered locally. With Koha Iti, Stockdill is also addressing a problem that many floral fans find frustrating – plastic packaging. Koha Iti's packaging is biodegradable and there is no plastic in sight.
"It's about making sure that we're Earth-friendly and anything that we use is going to break down and not leave a lasting impression on the Earth. It's respect for Papatūānuku really and the fact that we have this gorgeous thing that nature has given us. Let's enjoy it, but not cause any harm in the process," says Stockdill.
Stockdill grows a small number of flowers on the orchard, but sources the majority from local growers in the warmer months − and from around the country in winter.
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