From Cockpit to Countryside: pilot cultivates aromatic acre

You wouldn't think an airplane pilot would be too keen on being grounded - but for Damian Paine, a move to the countryside was exactly what he needed.

And he has found his balance growing roughly an acre of lavender alongside his house on the outskirts of Cambridge.

"We just wanted to enjoy it primarily. There was no pressure to make sure that it was going to sustain us commercially. 

"So worst case, I can sit in the lavender fields and drink my gin."

It's a sunny autumn morning when we meet Paine before he takes a quick flight to Tonga for the afternoon.

But due to the season, it, unfortunately, means the 1700 lavender plants of three different varieties are not in bloom.

The 120-metre-long rows look more like a hedge, pruned back and ready for winter.

Paine says usually in October, the plants would burst into life again, where he would then cut some for bunches, and harvest the Grosso variety for its oil to make a haul of different products.

"It's all a voyage of discovery really. You're always learning something doesn't matter whether it's lavender or something else so like I said, I've got the best-smelling man shed in town."

Six years ago, Paine and his wife Kate moved down from Auckland and haven't looked back.

"We didn't cash up out of Auckland and make millions of money to come down here. It was just a lifestyle choice for the family and Cambridge hit the mark.

"And then it was a case of what are we going to do next."

Paine says originally, the paddock was used by a neighbouring farmer for additional grazing.

"They asked me if I wanted to keep the cows on the property, and I said no. 

"Then he saw me mowing the grass and thought I was mad, being a farmer."

Paine wanted to try something different landing on lavender as a niche idea for the area.

Six months after moving in, the lavender was in the soil, and Acre Farm was born.

Eight to 10 wool sacks can be harvested of the Grosso variety. The Super and Pacific Blue are generally left for the blooms.

Paine tries to harvest in the morning, before taking it to a friend in Auckland, where they distil it that afternoon.

"We would get about five litres in a year...which is standard for us and enough to keep us going through the year with the things we make."

Inside the "best-smelling man shed" you will find dried lavender strung from the roof along with all the amber bottles of moisturiser, infusion spray, surface cleaner, and hand soap.

Paine says he likes to keep it simple, although he is always buying a different jar in case he can package his products differently.

"It just depends on what you're into. Some people want to do lip balms and other things but having 15 products gets complex."

Paine says he has also been lucky enough to take home a few Silver Awards for his lavender oil. 

Growers are somewhat of a competitive bunch, he says, keen to have a crack and see what others thought of the oil.

"Different oils by different growers distilled in different ways - they come out different.

"But even over time, the oil qualities can change and the fragrance can change so you don't throw it out, even if it smells really bad."

Boutique accommodation is also offered at the site. And at the top of the lavender field stands a soon-to-be chapel.

Paine says he drove to Christchurch to save doors off an old church that had been red-stickered.

And with his wife Kate being a celebrant, the chapel should come in handy, with the lavender fields making a nice backdrop.

"It all kinda just fits.

"But I'm never going to retire doing this ... it just seemed to be the right thing to do for us."