That’s the mantra of Jagdish (Sam) and Harsad (Harry) Das, after growing together for nearly 45 years they are now in the process of retiring their farming tools with a focus on family, hobbies, travel and simply ‘living the now’. I was privileged to interview these two gentlemen and learn about their lives - Two brothers, both with quite different upbringings.
Where did your farming history start?
Without a doubt both men are emphatic their business and life skills were ingrained into them by their father Mr Bhula Das who was quite the role model to these boys and their families.
In 1950 at the age of 20, Bhula Das arrived in New Zealand from India as a student, eager to study dairy farming at Massey University. His career began with a brief stint working on a dairy farm in Wellington before moving to Auckland, where he ran a fruit shop on K Road for about six months, then eventually settled in Pukekohe.
“During this time, he married my Mother, Ichhaben,” states Sam. "Dad was such a savvy businessman actually purchasing his first farm on Blake Road in 1956, where he and Mum grew vegetables.” By this stage, they had three children (Sam being the youngest). However, life had different plans for Ichhaben and she sadly passed away in 1958 at the young age of 26, leaving Bhula, a widower. Sam was only 14 months old at the time that his mother passed.
“Life was tough with Mum gone, Dad did what he could to put food on the table. Burying dead cows for £1 each and even cycling to and from Waiuku to work in the fruit shop in the weekends to make ends meet. His determination paid off and around 1962 he was able to buy our current site here at Dazeley Road (40 acres). The land had a Bill of Sale with a couple of local markets which were held for several years”.
After a few years he married his second wife, Maniben and over the next few years they had four more children with Harry being second. They were now a blended family, some of the older children had left home and for Sam a different journey began.
Sam’s Story
With so many children and work commitments Sam’s father had to send him to India for four years to attend boarding school at the age of 12. Sam’s demeanour changes as he recalls how lost he felt when he first arrived in India. “I didn’t know the language, or the customs and I missed my family so much”.
“I had to go to school six days a week, Sunday was our only day off, we would get dressed up and go for walks with our friends. I have fond memories of my friends all contributing their coins to buy a 10-cent peanut snack and sharing it with me, I had no money so I couldn’t do anything. There were no phone calls, only letters which took months to arrive.”
As tough as this experience was, Sam proudly reflects, "I learned two languages, learned how to look after myself, and if I could survive four years there, I could survive anything.
“I returned to New Zealand when I was 16, moved into the family home, and attended Pukekohe High School. It was another huge adjustment in my life - a real culture shock at school and at home. I didn’t even know my family very well. Dad believed that getting an education was everything. However, I had no interest in attending university; I wanted to work on the farm. So, I became Dad’s labourer for the next 5-6 years.
“For the first time in my life I felt settled, I played hockey for the Pukekohe Indian Sports club in my spare time and most importantly I got to know my family”.
“Eventually in my mid 20’s it was time to get married, as per our customs this was arranged. I travelled on my own to India to meet my future partner Sita (born in Trinidad & Tobago) and we married two weeks later, sadly my father was not able to attend. Sita and I stayed in India for a couple of months then it was time to come home and help Dad on the farm. We settled with the rest of the family at the Blake Road house where both our children were born and grew up. At one stage there were 10 of us living together. Working on the farm was my life”.
“Finally, after 14 years of living with the family on Blake Road after marriage, we were able to build on Kitchener Road, Pukekohe. This is now home base for my family and I”.
Sam started working on the farm when he was 17 years old in 1974 and now exactly 50 years later, he’s retiring from what he loves doing the most, Market Gardening. He has thrived on being a Farmer and it’s deep-rooted within him.
Harry’s story
Harry had a much more relaxed childhood, born and raised on the family farm, working on the land before and after school was the norm. “I was very academic, top in maths, played rugby a couple of years for Pukekohe Rugby Club. It wasn’t until I was at Intermediate that I actually got to meet other Indians in the community and made new friendships, this is when I was introduced to Hockey.
“Money was tight when we were young, we couldn’t afford to go out. We only had a work truck, if Mum and Dad had a function, we all travelled in the back of the truck, it was cold but fun.”
Harry didn’t develop a relationship with his brother Sam until Sam returned to NZ. “I remember being the sober driver, we’d go to the city to the movies, I even remember Sam getting asked for his ID even though he was 18 years old. As kids we’d go out together with enough money for a movie, milkshake and burger, if we came home late Dad was waiting at the door, he never slept until we were all home safe. Then he would make us get up early and go and work on the farm.
“I completed 6th form and attended 7th form for one day and thought ‘this is not for me’. I actually wanted to be a pilot but was colour blind. My friends had all left school to work on the farm, so it was the tradition to do the same, so in 1979, I joined Dad and Sam.
“We couldn’t marry anyone in NZ due to traditional social barriers, so Dad sent the children to America for a better life (in his eyes).” At the age of 20 Harry was sent to the States to get a green card, but he missed his friends and decided to come back home after six months.
“Like Sam, the time came for me to meet my future wife, Roshni (born in Zambia). We met on the Monday and were married two days later in a little white chapel in Las Vegas (not to be confused with the ‘Little White Wedding Chapel’) followed by an Indian wedding a month later which Sams wife Sita, and their daughter attended.”
Harry and Roshni joined the family back in the Blake Road house for the next three years before moving to their home on Kitchener Road, where they had their two children. “Very chuffed to get out and have some space, we had no furniture and no TV etc for a couple of years.”
Sita and Roshni
Both ladies must have wondered what had hit them when they came to NZ, I can’t imagine what it must have been like to move from your home, culture and mostly away from your families.
Both men are very proud of their wives, saying “they struggled for years, yet never complained. To be honest they went to hell and back”. They would get up at 6am in the mornings to cut lettuce and do manual work, bring up and raise the children, then go home, cook and look after the household. I remember our daughter sitting in a little box outside watching her mum work. Both have supported every business decision we made.”
What about your mum, Harry?
“Mum always kept us well fed, a serious, strict mother. The younger kids were quite spoilt really. She’s still alive and living in the family home at the age of 91, both of the wives take care of her, she’s like an Iron Lady” states Harry, “she knows what she wants and gets things done even at this age.”
Back to your dad, tell me about your dad as a person
The love and pride both boys show towards their dad is enviable. “Dad was a family orientated man, every Sunday we sat together and had lunch which he cooked. He loved it when the grandkids sat around him. For several decades every lunchtime, we had lunch together with Dad at the Blake Road family home. It was a set routine, every day from 12 noon to 1pm – Lunch with Dad was daily, no matter how busy things were on the farm.
“He was a visionary, he diversified in commercial investments, he didn’t want our children on the farm, he wanted them to get an education and do something different. In his day Dad grew kumara and assisted the kumara industry when it was struck by disease. We used to roll the kumara in bunches of newspaper and send them up north to help the growers regenerate their diseased crops.
“He was one of the first to grow slender stem broccoli.”
“He was involved in helping get the new Indian Hall get underway and established, even being the first to donate to this facility. It was important to give back to the community, something that has been bred into us – he always gave.”
You joined forces
Harry states, “Dad was ready to retire, he wanted to travel, farming was in our blood and all we knew. The new B.Das & Sons company was started in 1994 - Sam and I bought the old business off Dad for $1.”
“Dad trained us well, nobody influenced us more than him, he started with nothing. ‘Do a little bit but do it properly’” says Sam.
Harry adds “He believed that quality comes first, and he always said, ‘if you can’t afford it don’t buy it.’ He never believed in hire purchases. The first couple of years were tough times but we always had Dad’s support, he’d come and have a cuppa, drive round the paddocks and check out the crops. He was an exceptional grower in his time.”
Dad’s advice was simple:
“If you don’t grow good stuff don’t bother growing - don’t drive around the field, walk around - work with the workers and be a part of the ground.”
“Quality was our motto, our produce sold on name, much of it was sold unseen”
.
“At one point we had 40 staff and were cropping around 600 acres. We focused on potatoes, onion, pumpkin, cabbage, cauli, lettuce, spinach and silverbeet – Across a dozen different varieties.
“Over the years we’ve cropped in Pukekawa, Te Kohanga, Onewhero, Glenbrook, Pukekohe East - mainly keeping 90% within a 5km area.
“We believe in land banking; we didn’t spend money on luxury items. While we have been together, we have purchased several farms - A huge achievement. All have water, are well managed and maintained.”
“Collectively through hard work, determination and perseverance on the farm and we can’t believe what we have achieved.”
Harry, a little bird told me you have a few achievements?
A humble Harry states he’s had the privilege of meeting a few famous people over the years through his role as a Community Leader with the Indian Association. Notable figures such as The Governor Generals, India President, Sir Bill Birch, David Lange, John Key to name a few. He has also received the Community Service award recognising dedication to the Indian Community and remains the current President.
“Together we have donated funds and produce for years to St John’s, IHC, Westpac, Pukekohe Indian Sports Club, Associations, Food banks, Temples, Local schools, Rec Centre - wherever we could,” states Harry.
Where to from here?
“Not quite retired” says Sam - “Still tidying things up here, kick some pigeons around and wind things up. The focus for me now that I’m nearly 68 is my health and wellbeing. I want to potter a bit more on the farm (home garden) and spend more time in the city. It’s time to travel and do my hobby things, spend time with my children and enjoy my grandchildren.”
Harry states “As I look ahead my priority is to spend as much time with my family whilst I can. I also look forward to more travel, Roshni and I plan to travel back to Zambia to her homeland. Another passion of mine is the gym, (my family outside my family) I love the friendships and social life, a great diverse group of people.
In life, I believe think smarter not harder, farming has always been an integral part of who I am and always will be, I am committed to being there to help and mentor other fellow growers and the next generation.”
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all the associates in Franklin who have played a key role in getting us to where we are today, you know who you are and each of you have played an important part in helping Sam and I leave the industry on a high note. We’ve made life long friends and made some beautiful produce along the way, and for that I am truly grateful.”
A note from the writer….
Well done to you both, Seed & Field would like to thank you for your support to us over the years. Both Dean McMiken and Craig Birch have always appreciated working alongside you offering valuable agronomy advice. The pride you take in growing your produce has been truly inspiring to all of us. On a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed fulfilling your compliance requirements for the past four years, there was always an offer of a cuppa, good chatter and some first class produce to take home, it’s been an honour to work alongside you and your team.