WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Volunteer Work

​We enjoy working with Glacier Valley Eco Tours who run a community trapping project at Lake Matheson named Project Earlybird.

This was set up to combat predators and protect birds and invertebrates.

The project takes care of the recently released Rowi Kiwi, as we work towards a Predator Free 2050 goal in New Zealand. 

We make ourselves available for community clean-ups and Gorsebusters.

Energy

We have partnered with a hydroelectric power provider situated just 15 km away. Our cottage has an energy-efficient heat pump, while our house features a contemporary solid-fuel stove fueled by firewood from trees at the property. We have installed insulation with a vapor barrier beneath the cottage and added extra insulation to prevent thermal bridging in the house. We've also embraced energy-saving light bulbs and appliances reinforcing our commitment to sustainable living and carbon footprint reduction.

Reduce & Recycle

We separate waste as much as possible by sorting paper, glass, aluminum, and tin cans to be recycled. Green material is also separated and composted for use in our garden.

We make our own soap and provide guest shampoo and conditioner in convenient pump bottles that reduce the waste of small plastic bottles and packaging.​

We audit our suppliers to ensure they align with our sustainability ethos and prioritise products handcrafted in New Zealand and organic.

Carbon Reduction

​We measured our carbon footprint over the last 2 years through the Toitu Emissions Calculator and offset this with a donation to Trees That Count.​Ribbonwood Retreat selected Trees that Count because they help make an impact on climate change and improve our environment. Our donation was focused on planting long term native forests on degraded farmland in North Canterbury.

We valued our carbon at $50 a ton and purchased credits by donating the equivalent amount.

Conservation

Ribbonwood Retreat are sponsors for Avis, the Kea you see in this photo. Citizen science is very powerful and we feel we have had a small stake in the success of the Kea program.

We invite you to read our blog about this experience.Here is a link to Avis's profile.Ribbonwood Retreat has purchased credits with Trees that Count to offset their carbon. We are also avid backcountry hikers and donate to the Backcountry Trust. 

Sustainable Design

​Ribbonwood Retreat was designed with sustainability in mind.We used timber framing to conserve energy, with insulation in the walls and the ceiling and double-glazed windows to maximise passive solar heat. We used natural materials where-ever possible.

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Hazelnut Orchard

As a child Jonathan's family had mixed nuts as a Christmas treat and his favourite was hazelnuts because he found the larger nuts were difficult to crack! Upon purchasing our land at Franz Josef 20 tears ago, he was pleased to learn that hazelnuts suited the poor silty soils here.​ Over the years we have planted nearly 100 trees of five different varieties to enhance pollination. We use hazelnut pruning's to make biochar and dig it into our land.

Edible Garden

We have a large garden and tunnel house, producing vegetables and berries for our guests. In the large, walk-in berry house we grow strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, especially for our guests' breakfasts.

Raised and covered garden beds provide a variety of seasonal produce including spinach and silver beet. ​All green waste is composted with leaves and grass clippings and layered onto the beds to enhance soil fertility and drainage.