Visitors to the hop gardens on Simkins farm in the Land of Promise, Karamea, ca 1908.

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DescriptionThose in the photo include - Elva Johnson, Ted Issell, Mrs Satchell, Miss Bentley, Nora Connor, Lizzie Simkin, Lea Carter and Mary Connor.

The growing of hops on the Karamea river flats for sale in Nelson was the only attempt to grow crops for commercial purposes.
Robert McNabb established the first hop garden at the Land of Promise (Umere), probably in the second half of the 1880's.
From roughly 1890 on, other gardens were planted in the Land of Promise, possibly in the second half of the 1890's. There were 7 hop gardens all told. Two were in the Promised Land (Arapito) and Karamea.
The market price fell, and the acreage in hops declined as dairying increased.
Simkins' hop garden, (next Tunnicliffs' farm) was the only one which continued for any length of time, and kept going till about WW1.
Older residents recall hop-picking at Simkins' during the early 1900's, with meals for all the pickers being prepared over 2 open fires and a wood stove.
Pickers were paid 3d a bushel, and picking often concluded with a moonlight picnic centered on the hop kiln, which had to be kept stoked all night with carefully prepared charcoal.Date of Photo1908.Map^[1]ContributorClaire Ward

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Location (city or town)Land of PromiseKaramea.

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Visitors to the hop gardens on Simkins farm in the Land of Promise, Karamea, ca 1908.

Editing is temporarily disabled