Suburban
Homestead Project
The
Transforming Suburbia into Self-Sufficient Living
Follow our journey as we turn a 1960s Auckland bungalow into an abundant, efficient and circular homestead … and show you how to do it too.
Many Kiwis dream of lifestyle blocks and self-sufficiency… But most of us live in suburbia.
We're proving you don't need to move to the countryside. Follow our journey as we transform an ordinary Auckland home into a thriving suburban homestead - harvesting rainwater, growing food, generating clean energy, and creating a circular lifestyle on just 476m². We're doing it first and creating the guides so you can follow.
Follow Our Journey
About the project
Discover why we're doing this, who we've partnered with, and what we're aiming to achieve by 2027.
Garden & Food
Productive landscaping, veggie gardens, chickens, food forests and growing abundance in small spaces.
Inside the home
Insulation, efficient heating, water systems, waste reduction and creating comfortable, healthy spaces.
Energy & Power
Solar panels, battery storage, electrification, energy efficiency and reducing our environmental footprint.
Outside the home
Roofing, solar installation, rainwater harvesting, composting systems and building envelope improvements.
Latest Updates
This is our Suburban Homestead journey, shared in chronological order – start from the beginning or catch up on the latest updates below.
Built on Credibility
To ensure authenticity and avoid greenwashing, we’ve partnered with Eco Choice Aotearoa - New Zealand’s official ecolabel. Their certification is based on independent, third-party assessment and full lifecycle impact, meaning products are evaluated across manufacturing, materials, use and end-of-life - not just what marketing claims.
Our Partners
This project is made possible through collaboration with values-aligned brands committed to sustainable building and living.
The majority of partners are either Eco Choice Aotearoa certified, progressing toward certification, or independently vetted through the Ethically Kate audit process (where ECA categories don’t apply) - ensuring credible environmental and social standards.
Our Big Vision
We’re inspiring Kiwis to bring rural values - food, resilience, low waste and wellbeing - into suburban life. Starting with our own home, we’re building a circular, abundant model others can follow.
Construction is one of New Zealand’s largest waste streams, thefore, suburbia is where true change can begin. Our goal: establish a Suburban Homestead standard and see 2,700 homes across Aotearoa proudly registered by 2029.
Starting with a typical 1960s Auckland bungalow (3 bed, 2 bath, 122m² on 476m² land), we're creating:
Energy independence - Solar panels and battery storage
Water resilience - Rainwater harvesting and greywater systems
Food production - Productive gardens, chickens, food forests
Circular systems - Composting, waste reduction, resource efficiency
Comfort and health - Proper insulation, ventilation, non-toxic materials
Climate adaptation - Future-proofed for New Zealand's changing climate
Why It Matters
This isn't just our home - it's a blueprint. We're documenting every decision, every trade-off, every success and failure. Creating guides, videos, and resources that everyday Kiwis can actually use.
Because suburban homes can be homesteads too.
If you’re a values-led business ready to help reshape how Kiwi
homes are built and upgraded, we’d love to connect...
The Challenge We’re Solving
The building and construction sector is one of New Zealand's largest contributors to environmental impact. Meanwhile, housing costs keep rising and many Kiwis feel locked out of the sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle they crave.
Follow along as we document
every step of the journey.
Questions about the project?
Interested in partnering?