A wee bit of Scottish (Alan) and a wee bit of Kiwi (Dot) started the Wee Red Barn in 2007 in the Wairarapa valley on State Highway 2 about 5 minutes drive from Masterton centre heading north out of town.
We came over from Scotland to have a wee adventure. With our chickens, pigs, ducks, goat, sheep, rabbits along with the cats all enjoying our vineyard and berry patches. Looking out towards the Tararua Ranges with the Wairarapa warm summers and reliable dry autumns it is great conditions for growing grapes and berries.
A wee bit of history
Over in Scotland Alan had been managing a soft fruit farm for just over 12 years and Dot was assistant manager on another soft fruit farm for 3 years before working together on the same farm for 4 years.
On this soft fruit farm, we also managed a farm shop as well as growing 32 ha of strawberries and 2 ha off other soft fruit.
At the end of the season in 2006 we made a plan to move over to New Zealand and to have a wee adventure.
Alan found the Wee Red Barn on Trade Me, it was looking very rundown and that is where the adventure started in 2007.
12 years of growing and training gave us the know how, to do what we are doing now for ourselves.
What we grow
The Wee Red Barn is made up of 8.1 acres total land, of this there is 3.5 acres of vines, 2 acres of strawberries, 1 acre of raspberries, 0.7 acres other berry fruits (currants, blackberries, boysenberries and gooseberries), 0.5 acre of blueberries and a veggie garden. The remaining 0.5 acre is our house and the farm shop.
With our passion and enthusiasm the transformation over our 5 years is amazing - starting with the barn, was turned into a shop for all our produce and gifts. Out the back of the shop we now have an area to hold our wine tours when weather is not so kind, otherwise these are held outside in the fresh Wairarapa air. This venue can also be hired out for that special occasion or just a get together.
We have some lovely friendly pigs who have 2 litters of piglets each year. The piglets are sold onto others who also have an interest in pigs.
Free range eggs come from our 40 happy chickens, these are collected daily and usually available in the farm shop.
We love to share
All the farm animals are for people to come and feed or just chat and see, summer or winter as long as you don't mind a bit of mud on your boots . Nothing goes to waste here; left over veg goes to the pigs, the fruit that is not up to standard provides the ideal ingredient for our wine and jam.
We love it when people come and have a look.
Venue Hire
If you like the sound of what we have to offer here at the Wee Red Barn and you are looking for a venue with a difference, please do contact usas we would love to discuss your plans.
We would love you to come and visit us.
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