FOOD AND FLORALS GROWN WITH HEART
Photos Alice Cagnat
Tended by Marisia, Fable to Table is a small regenerative market garden grown from her home in Makarau – a place where magic happens in the soil each season.
Known as Mish to the regulars who line up each Saturday at the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market, she arrives with crates of freshly harvested greens, fragrant herbs, and whatever abundance the season has provided that week. Over the past two years, her stall has become a favourite for those seeking produce grown with genuine care.
Her journey into growing was not driven by trends, but by health. While studying naturopathy and medical herbalism, Marisia began to question the disconnect between modern food systems, soil health, and human wellbeing. What started as a desire to better nourish her own family gradually developed into a deeper commitment to caring for the land in a more mindful way.
She began by moving into the back section of her property, starting with a few raised garden beds, chickens, compost piles, and a strong sense of curiosity. Through experimentation and observation, her small project steadily grew.
Today, Fable to Table is a regenerative, spray-free market garden built on no-dig principles. In a region not widely known for fertile soils, restoring the land has taken patience and consistent hands-on effort. Techniques such as cover cropping, composting, and careful attention to seasonal rhythms have all played an important role in rebuilding soil health and creating a thriving, productive garden.
The result is produce grown with care and intention, including nutrient-dense greens, vibrant herbs, and seasonal flowers that reflect the landscape they come from. Customers return week after week, often commenting not only on the flavour, but also on how good the food feels to eat.
As the garden continues to expand toward a developing food forest and more than 90 cultivated beds, Marisia remains committed to small-scale, thoughtful growing. She harvests everything by hand and brings it directly to market each week. She says she loves being in the soil, observing beneficial insects, soil life, and plants with her whole body—hands, heart, and eyes.
You can find Mish every Saturday morning at the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market, where she shares whatever the land is offering that week—fresh, local, and naturally grown.