Soil from a Taranaki backyard wins international gardening award
A Taranaki living soil and plant food producer has won Garden Product of the Year by a German gardening and DIY magazine.
Herbi soil was developed by Frank Lachmann - toiling away in his Urenui backyard just north of New Plymouth.
His early attempts to develop biologically active soil began after a failed effort to grow hemp on his 14-hectare property with his wife and business partner Michelle Lachmann.
Now, Lachmann's soil has been named Garden Product of the Year by Baumarktmanager, a German gardening and DIY magazine.
Michelle and Frank Lachmnann produce Herbi soil which is produced in Germany under licence.
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Judges were impressed with the sustainable growing mix that can be reused season after season.
Lachmann said he was aware he had a fantastic product for growing strong healthy plants, but he wasn't expecting to sell it under licence overseas, or to partner with one of the world's biggest producers of potting mix - Floragard.
"We're absolutely thrilled. We launched in Europe about half a year ago, and our business partner Floragard [the licence holder in Europe], put an application in for the award."
The Floragard deal came about by a suggestion from a close friend, Lachmann said.
"We never planned to be active in Europe but a friend of mine in my hometown of Oldenburg in northwest Germany suggested it. He said 'why not pitch it in Germany?'".
"By coincidence that's also where Floragard has its headquarters."
Frank Lachmann's Herbi soil has been named Garden Product of the Year by Baumarktmanager, a German magazine for the gardening and DIY.
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The self confessed soil geek spent many years scouring scientific publications to create better plant biology for growing plants.
Lachmann said Floragard tested samples of Herbi soil before committing to any deal. The company, which also produces soil substrates, did its homework after receiving the first sample.
"They seemed not to believe it so they ordered more and tested it another two times," Lachmann said.
"Each time our product delivered better results than their own products. That was enough to make this franchise deal with them."
Floragard will distribute Herbi’s soil across Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, and Austria.
"They export in 140 countries," he said.
The soil is also sold in gardening centres and online in New Zealand.
"We have an online shop and a range or retailers here, but in Germany we have the exclusive partnership.
"Biosecurity regulations wouldn't allow for living soil to be exported. We gave them the formula and we worked together to develop the same product."
